Page 183 of Debts and Desires
At that point, I didn’t think I could handle anything else.
“I think maybe you should sit.” I scoffed, but didn’t argue, grumbling to myself.
“Okay, so talk.” I realized how clipped my tone sounded and scrubbed a hand down my face. She wasn’t leaving, I told myself. She wouldn’t have told me we needed to go back for the rest of her stuff if she was leaving. I hated all these new emotions, how they fucked with my mind. I did my best to soften my face, still on edge from my father.
“I’m sorry, baby. It’s been a shit day and none of it was your fault. Please tell me whatever it is.”
“Okay,” she breathed, relaxing a little, not much, but enough. “Okay,” she repeated. Her bright blue eyes met mine, welling up with tears almost immediately. I wanted to ask what was wrong when she spoke.
“I’m pregnant.”
Every buzzing thought ceased. A warmth spread over me.
I stood once more; the stool rolling out behind me and squeaking until it halted. She startled at my sudden movement.
Wordlessly, I rushed to her, pulling her as close to me as I could. I grabbed the back of her neck, forcing her head upwards before my lips crashed onto hers. The little gasp and groan made me kiss her deeper.
Just when I thought I knew what love was, she proved me wrong.
Emogen Brighton was my everything.
78. I REMEMBER IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY
March 11
Carter was ecstatic, pulling away from me. He peered down, as if studying my face, pushing my hair behind my ear. He cupped my cheek and I leaned into it, the weight finally lifting off my shoulders.
“How far?”
“Thirteen and a half weeks.” He pondered my words, as if trying to figure out what it meant. I could’ve laughed. “Baby is due in September.”
“Why were you so upset when you got here?”
“Because Mia waited until I was halfway home to tell me that she packed a bunch of the baby’s stuff and that there was no way you’d miss it.”
“Okay? Why’s that a big… you weren’t going to tell me?”
“I mean, I would’ve had to, eventually. I just, I don’t know. I wasn’t ready. Didn’t know how you’d take it.”
“You didn’t think I’d be happy?” He looked a little hurt.
“I don’t know, Carter. A baby is a lot… and we never talked about it until this morning. Granted, you did admit to screwing with my pills, so I guess it’s safe to say you did want one. I just didn’t think about it and I—” He cut me off with another kiss that reset my brain.
“You’re pregnant, I’m happy. That’s all that matters.”
“Says the psycho,” I challenged. He raised a brow.
“Don’t think that just because you’repregnant, I’m gonna let that bratty ass of yours off the hook.”
“Do you mean off the hook like get away with it, or off the hook like the one in the basement?”
“Guess you’ll find out.” He gave a Cheshire grin. “But for now, let’s get home and get unpacking. I wanna see the baby’s stuff.” Just like that, my heart melted.
However, when we got home, I immediately wanted to throttle him. I wasn’t allowed to do anything but sit there and watch asheunloaded my car.
We decided that the room across from Carter’s would be the nursery, not the other guest room that I used to stay in. And it was no longer Carter’s room butours. Mia told me she had put in four boxes, three of which were already inside. The bitch. Her calling and telling me that had me in a damn near panic.
“Because I know you won’t tell him until the last possible minute. And if he figures it out first, he’s going to be upset,” she had said. “You’ve got to stop hiding and just do.” I hated her logic.
