Page 42 of Learn the Play
“He loves you.”
She nods. “Do you want me to stay with you?” she asks.
“Do you mind waiting in the bedroom for me?”
“Of course.” She steps closer and wraps me in a hug. “No matter what the outcome is, it’s all going to be okay. Reid Montgomery is a good man. He’s not one to not take care of his family.”
There’s so much conviction in her words, it’s hard not to believe her. As she steps out of the bathroom and closes the door behind her, I send up a silent prayer that if this test is positive, that its daddy wants to be a part of its life, even though he’s a football player.
It’s too late to turn back now.
With shaking hands, I grab a test out of the bottom drawer and read the instructions. “Here goes nothing,” I mutter as I take the test, place it on some toilet paper on the counter, and wash my hands. I glance down, not expecting to see a result yet, but it’s already there. Glaring at me like a beacon in the night.
Pregnant.
I grip the counter and bow my head. It could be a false positive. I could take another one, but that would just be wasteful of Corie’s generosity. I know the test is right. I’ve been feeling off and overly emotional for a couple of weeks now. The signs were all there. I just ignored them.
I can’t ignore them anymore.
My hands rest on my belly, and I pull in a deep breath. Single and pregnant is not the plan I had for my life, but it’s the one I’ve been given. Grabbing the test, I wrap it up in toilet paper and step out of the room. Corie sees my face and smiles widely.
“Congratulations,” she says, hugging me tightly. “He’s going to be thrilled, Bellamy.”
“He’s going to think I did this on purpose.”
Corie tosses her head back in laughter. “That’s going to be the furthest thing from his mind. I know there’s something in your past with your dad that has you keeping him at arm’s length, but Reid is his own man. He’s not going to blame you, and he’s not going to walk away. If you thought he was persistent before, watch out.” She grins.
“He is persistent,” I agree. He’s never wavered, not since the first minute I met him. He’s not my father. He’s this baby’s father, and I need to find a way to give him the chance he’s been asking for. I owe it to our baby.
“So, how are we doing this? Keeping the news to ourselves? Telling the others? Tell me what you need.”
“I don’t want to lie to them. Can they keep quiet until I can tell Reid?”
“You can trust us,” she says, linking her arm through mine and leading me back out to the living room.
“Well?” Amanda, Rowan, and Sloane ask as soon as they see us.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, choking on the words, as I hold up the wad of tissue paper and plop down on the couch. I don’t bother to check the tears as they race down my cheeks. I’m lost in my head, in my feelings, and they give me the time and the space I need to work through both.
Chapter Twelve
Reid
“We should probably tell them we’re coming,” Foster says.
“Why would we do that?” Landry glances at him in the rearview mirror. Foster, Baker, and I are in the back seat of his truck, while Landry and Knox are up front.
“You’re crashing girls’ night,” Foster explains. “We’re men.”
“Camden’s there,” Landry argues.
“My son is not even a year old yet.” Baker laughs.
“Still, they’re doing women shit, and we’re just going to barge in on them.”
Knox turns to face us from his spot in the passenger seat. “I haven’t seen my wife in five days. Five long fucking days. We’re going.”
“I’m not saying we should turn around, just that we should warn them. Besides, it was your choice to stay at camp and not come home every night.”
