Page 11 of Shot Through the Heart

“Oh, Stella.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Moreno,” I say, forcing a polite smile.

A look of pity flashes across her features before she can stop it. Running a perfectly manicured hand over her hair as if to tame a nonexistent flyaway, she paints on a pained smile as she speaks again.

“I’m sorry, honey, he hasn’t even left his room today. I don’t think he’s up for visitors.”

My eyes slip closed and I suck in a deep breath while trying to hold back my tears.

“I really need to talk to him,” I whisper. There’s no way I can do this on my own. Greyson needs to know. If she would just let me get past the doorway, I could help him through this now, then we can figure the rest out together. I just need to see him.

With a newfound resolve, I peel my eyes open and square my shoulders.

“I can help with that, getting him up and in better spirits. If you would just let me in, I could?—”

“I don’t think that’s wise, dear. Why don’t you call me in a few days and we can see if there will be a better time.” She starts to close the door, and without thinking, I fling myself forward. My hand hits the door with a loud and painful thud.

“I’m pregnant.” The words slip out before I can think twice. They feel foreign, like they don’t belong leaving my mouth.

Even still, no matter how unusual they sound or feel, the fact remains the same. I might only be nineteen, but it’s no longer just myself that I have to think about.

Mrs. Moreno gasps, her head snapping back in my direction so fast, I’m almost worried her neck will break.

“You’re…excuse me?”

In all of my limited interactions with Greyson’s mom, I have never seen her look baffled. She’s always the perfect picture of poise and wealth. Seeing the look of complete shock on her face now almost makes me laugh.

“Pregnant. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to blurt it out to you. I just need to see him, please. I would have called him, but my phone was damaged in the accident and texts don’t seem to be going through to him, and I can’t get it fixed until this weekend.”

Her jaw snaps shut, her thoughts finally catching up with her.

“Oh, Stella, here, why don’t you join me in the study?” She moves quickly, ushering me inside and into the front office room that I have only ever passed a glimpse at. Shutting the door behind us, she wraps an arm around my shoulder and directs me to the small leather sofa.

“Dear, you must be so rattled. How are you feeling?” she asks, turning slightly to face me.

“I’ve been a little nauseous, but other than that everything seems to be okay. They had me go back yesterday so they could do a full check-up since we didn’t know right after the accident.” I hold out the folder for her to see. “I made sure to get a copy of everything for Greyson to see for himself.”

“How far along are you?” Mrs. Moreno asks, taking the papers from me but making no move to look at them.

“About eight weeks.”

She nods, setting the folder down on the wooden coffee table before pushing to her feet.

“Why don’t you let me go talk with Greyson? Who knows, maybe this will finally get him up and moving! You wait here and we’ll figure all of this out.”

Fighting the tears that threaten to spill, I let out my first relieved breath. “Thank you.”

Once she leaves, it feels like I wait for an eternity in the study. I’m just about to get up and go find Greyson myself when a door slams in the quiet house before the sound of distinctive high heels click on the floors. After what seems like forever but was probably only another minute or two, Mrs. Moreno appears back in the doorway. The moment I see her face, I know something’s wrong.

“What?” I shoot to my feet, glancing over her shoulder as if the answer will be there. As if Greyson will be there.

But he’s not.

“Stella.” Mrs. Moreno sighs and there’s no stopping the tears that gather in my eyes now.

“Where is he?” I demand, ignoring the way my voice cracks.

Closing the distance between us, she gathers me in her arms and pulls me into an embrace. That’s when I lose it.

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