Page 32 of Two Minutes for Holding

“I don’t think so. It’s been almost eight weeks since we were last together, and we used protection.”

“So then, the baby’s father is the guy from Vancouver?”

Instantly, my mind went to Clay. To that first night, and the other nights in Vermont. I’d heard Knox talk about him, about what kind of player he was, and while I knew he’d been with many women, I didn’t think he was as bad as Knox and the other guys made him out to be. In fact, I didn’t find him to be a player at all.

“I think so,” I whispered.

“Do you…do you know how to get in touch with him?” she asked.

I nodded, sniffling at the same time. The fear of having to admit things to my family, to my brother, scared me to death. I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. Actually, that wasn’t true. I knew how Knox would take it, and it wouldn’t be well. In fact, I’d probably end up raising the baby alone after Knox finished him.

“Maybe you should call him. There is probably a good chance that Tor isn’t the father, after all. Maybe you should just let him know that something is up, but that—”

“But what?” I said, whipping around.

Elsie looked at me, a guilty look on her face.

“That what?” I asked again. “Let me guess, that I’ll take care of it?” I said, swallowing hard.

Elsie slowly nodded her head. “I…well…I figured you’d want to put the baby up for adoption or something. I mean, in a couple of months, you’ll graduate and be ready to start up your career.”

“Elsie, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t even know how Clay is even going to feel about this. He’s on the road so much, and I doubt he wants to be tied down with me and a baby,” I whispered.

“Clay? As in Clay Harris?” Elsie questioned as she placed the pants she’d folded into the suitcase. “You got involved with Clay Harris?”

I looked over my shoulder at her, not realizing I’d said his name out loud, or that she’d be able to guess right away who the other party was to the mess I was in. When I said nothing right away, I’d practically admitted to her she was correct.

“You slept with your brother’s teammate?” she questioned again.

I slowly nodded my head as shock lined her face.

“What about the promise you made to your brother?”

I swallowed hard. Yep, the promise I’d made that I still now felt like shit about. Secretly, I’d always had a thing for Clay, and he’d only been doing what Knox would have expected—protecting me from being picked up by someone who would have probably become more of an issue than Tor. Neither of us had planned for things to go as far as they did. At least, not the first time.

“It’s not like we planned for this to happen, it just sort of did,” I said, anxiety creeping into my body, a tear slipping down my cheek.

“Oh, Peyton,” she whispered, coming up behind me and wrapping her arms around me. “What are you going to do?”

I stared ahead and placed my hands on her arms, thinking for a moment. “I guess I am just going to take it one day at a time. Wait until I see my doctor and go from there. Now, can we finish packing so that I don’t miss my flight?”

“Sure thing, and call your doctor’s office back and give them my number. That way, you can keep things somewhat quiet and deal with it when you get back.”

Chapter 10

Peyton

Knox and Mompicked me up from the airport, and the three of us went for dinner. Now we were back at the house, and I lay in the spare room watching TV. Lorelai was in bed, Mom was watching TV in the living room, and Knox had gone out with the guys.

The moment I got into the car, Mom immediately asked me if I was planning to move to Vancouver, and while I wanted to tell her yes, I hadn’t. Things had changed since I found out the news of the pregnancy. If this were Tor’s baby, which it very well could be, but probably wasn’t, then he had the right to be in his child’s life. If it was Clay’s baby, well, he had a right as well, but until I found out just how far along I was, I’d have to wait to give her an answer. It was the only conclusion I’d come to on the flight here.

The worst part of the entire situation had been the searing look I’d gotten from Knox as he stared at me through the rearview mirror when I’d told my mother, followed by the look of disappointment at my answer.

I couldn’t get the look out of my mind as I rolled over onto my side and picked up my phone, messaging Elsie. I’d done as she suggested and left my doctor’s office with her number instead of my cell phone. I didn’t want to be questioned about anything right now. I was scared, confused, and felt so alone in all this. I wanted to tell my mother and my brother, but I knew he’d jump to conclusions and finish it with ‘I told you so.’ That wasn’t exactly the support system I needed right now.

I quickly messaged Elsie, then placed my phone back on the table, turning my attention back to the movie I was watching. The moment my phone vibrated; I grabbed it.

Elsie: Appointment booked for next week.

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