Page 69 of Because of the Dar

I cap the test and wipe the other end with toilet paper, setting it on the sink. Mags already started the timer, and we both stand there, staring down at the piece of plastic that will determine my future from here on out.

We wait two minutes before a faint second pink line starts forming. With every passing second, dizziness spreads through me further. By four minutes, the line is solid, and I clamp my hand in front of my mouth.

I'm pregnant.

Sittingon the couch with a glass of water in both hands, I stare at nothing. I expected to be upset. Being happy would be a stretch. I'm twenty-two years old, and the father of the baby is only twenty-one. A baby. But none of the emotions come. I'm numb. There is nothing.

Mags says I'm in shock or denial, but wouldn't denial mean I don't believe that the little stick displayed the truth?

"You need to tell him." Her words rip me out of my catatonic state, and I stare at her.

"Come again?"Tell him what?

"He deserves to know. He's been kept in the dark too much in his life. Don't make that same mistake."

Is she seriously psychoanalyzing my relationship right now?

There is an emotion.

I stand up, squaring my shoulders at her. "Are you fucking serious? How do you think this will go over?"

"He is part of this, too," she pushes.

"Oh, sure." I throw my arms up. Heat is spreading through my body, and I welcome the sensation. It's better than the void I was feeling for the last few hours. "So, I'll walk up to him and say, 'Hey, baby, guess what? I forgot to take my birth control the day I told you I'm a murderer. Congratulations! You're going to be a daddy.'" Sarcasm drips from my tone, and Mags crosses her arms over her chest, cocking her head.

She doesn't grace me with a reply, and I know what she is doing, which pisses me off even more. She is right. I can't keep this from him.

"King," her voice softens, which makes it worse.

The red haze still clouding my vision disintegrates, and her form becomes blurry in front of me.

Goddamn it, no more tears.

My phone begins to vibrate on the coffee table, and both of our heads jerk in the direction. Wes's picture lights up the screen, and I peer over at the clock over the TV. I missed my class, and he just figured it out. Shit.

I meet my roommate's concerned eyes. She also skipped her lecture to stay with me.

"Do you want me to answer?" She's trying to help.

"NO!" I screech. Covering my face with my hands, I look through my fingers. I steady my voice. "If you pick up, he'll immediately know something is wrong."

"So, what do we do?"

I draw in a deep breath. "I'll text him that I'll see him tonight after practice. He'll come by The Grizz with the team, and I'll have time to figure out how to break the news to him."

How to ruin his life.

Mags's expression morphs. She's proud of me. Standing a little bit taller, a small smile tugs on the corners of my mouth. I'm going to do the right thing. I move toward her, and she meets me halfway. I hug her, resting my chin on her shoulder. "I'll tell him tonight." She pats the back of my head. Pulling away, she plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Everything will be fine. Wes is not someone who will run for the hills, trust me."

I dip my chin, despite the nausea building in my throat again.

He may not abandon me for the unplanned pregnancy, but when he finds out what else I've kept from him, I'm going to lose him.

The thoughtof running without coming clean crossed my mind several times as I got ready for my shift, but at the same time, I couldn't do that to Wes. I refuse to be like his friends who made decisions for him. I love him too much for that. Love. God, I never thought I would experience that emotion.

The first three hours at work keep me busy, and I don't have time to think about what's about to happen. All my concentration goes into mixing drinks, and one of my regulars compliments me that this is the best I've ever served him. The things I can do when avoiding reality at all costs.

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