Page 43 of Psycho

She brushed Dane off her and rounded the island, pushing past Maddox and swallowing me in a bear hug as we both started crying. I didn’t realize until that very moment just how much I needed her support. And once I had her arms around me, I broke.

I finally let go of all the fear, and the shame, and the uncertainty. And Peyton absorbed all of it, holding me and reassuring me in ways I didn’t know I’d ever have.

When we finally pulled apart and wiped at our tears, Maddox pulled out another stool for her and we sat down with the guys lingering around us.

She spoke first, staring at me like she’d never seen me before. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

I shook my head, taking a deep breath, “Because I was so ashamed. I didn’t think I was strong enough to keep it.”

“Keep it?” She gasped and then her eyes fell to my stomach, still hidden behind all the layers, “But you did, right? You kept it?”

I nodded and wiped away the tears, forcing myself to take another deep breath. “Maddox kind of forced me to pull my head out of the sand and face reality.”

She looked at the big guy standing at my back, “How did you know?” And then her eyes snapped back to me, “Did you tell him before you told me?”

I grinned at her outrage. “He figured it out.”

“Intuitive.” Dane grumbled with a smirk, and Maddox grunted in some wild man’s response.

“Maddox made me an appointment with an OB and went with me so I could at least figure out what to do with the help of a medical opinion.” I shrugged, “Turns out I’m already over halfway through.”

Her eyes widened, and she looked back at my stomach. “That’s why you’ve been living in baggy shit, isn’t it?”

I chuckled softly and nodded, “I was still struggling with it. And I wasn’t ready to admit it to you.”

“I’m so sorry.” She got a weepy look in her eyes again, “I’m so sorry that I gave you any indication that I’d be anything but supportive and loving to you if you told me. I’m so sorry, Liv.”

“It wasn’t you.” I reassured her quickly, taking her hand in mine and squeezing it. “I had so much guilt for getting myself into this situation and so much fear about having a baby by a man I hated.”

Her eyes rounded, and she looked up at Maddox and then over her own shoulder to Dane. “You plan to kill him, right?”

Dane raised one brow at her like there was any question to that at all, and Maddox replied for the both of them. “He’s earned himself a very long visit from us.”

Peyton went on, “Andyouplan to—” She nodded to me and tilted her head knowingly.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned down to kiss the top of my head. “As far as I’m concerned, this baby is mine.”

Her eyes rounded even more, and her lips parted, “Ooh, I like it.” And then she snapped out of it. “Wait, you said you’re halfway through the pregnancy already. Do you know what it is? Boy or girl? When are you due? Jesus Christ! I have to plan a baby shower.” And then she gasped, “What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?”

“Ew.” I rolled my eyes and shook off the thought. I truly believed that my parents tried their best with us as kids, but that didn’t mean it was ever enough or the right thing. As an adult, I didn’t talk to them even though they still lived in the house we grew up in and had the same phone number. There was just something that broke between us when I realized they always loved the idea of us more than us personally.

So, as an adult, I chose not to have them in my life.

Maddox answered those questions for me, knowing that thinking too far ahead stressed me out. “We have the gender in an envelope we haven’t opened yet. Liv wanted to wait until you knew before we celebrated with finding out the gender. And she’s due at the end of March.”

“March!” Peyton screeched, “It’s already almost Christmas!”

“I know.” I sighed, “Just stop stressing it and simply be happy for a moment. Please.”

P’s smile held a hint of understanding as she pulled herself back. “You’re right. Let’s enjoy this right now. Because this can be a good thing, Liv. You’re going to be a mom!”

“Hey,” Dane held his hand out to Maddox, “Congrats, Dad.”

I looked over my shoulder and caught the massive smile Maddox gave his friend as he shook his hand and the last little bit of doubt I’d been having faded away. These were our people, our family. And if they were happy for us, then I had no reason not to be.

“Let me see your belly.” Peyton started pulling at my clothes and I laughed and obliged, standing up and pulling open my layers and releasing the hold I had on my muscles to relax my baby bump. “Oh, my god!” She gushed, laying her hands on my stomach like she was holding the most precious thing in the world and cooing to it like a crazy lady.

Maddox kissed my temple as I soaked in the happiness around us and looked up at him. “Thank you.”

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