Page 70 of Honest With You

“Right here.”

Reese sighs and goes back to talking to Stephen. “Her phone’s dead. What? Oh-Okay, well hurry because–” She looks up at me again when I rush to her, squeezing her knee in warning. “Right. Okay well, just hurry home. She’s going to need you.”

She groans as she jumps off the bed and heads straight to my vanity, where she picks up my brush and a pink organza scrunchie. She grabs my silk robe from my closet– the one that matches the pastel pink pajamas I’m wearing– and comes back to me.

Giving me a sympathetic look, she positions herself behind me, hands me my robe then proceeds to brush my hair.

“Tito Evan called Dad about the doctor and he’s on his way.”

My stomach plunges and I can’t help the sob that breaks out of me. I press a hand against my chest, trying to calm the increased tempo of my heart as it hammers heavily.

I’m so scared. So freaking terrified.

“That’s-that’s not the worst thing…” Reese’s hand trembles slightly.

I shut my eyes, bracing myself for what’s to come.

“He called Uncle Adam. They’re all on their way here.”

Reese wraps her arms around my shoulders, her chin resting on one.

“Stephen is on his way too. Remember, Ava… No matter what, you’re not alone in this.”

I wash my face, hoping it helps tame the redness and puffiness. Reese takes a few minutes to shower and change before meeting me back in my room. Now, she’s sitting in the alcove with me, my head on her lap. Unconsciously, my hands curl around my belly.

I still can’t make myself say it out loud. There are more tests to run but the doctor pretty much confirmed it earlier.

I’m…pregnant.

And since I’ve only ever been with Jesse, there’s no mistaking it.

I’m barely eighteen, pregnant with my ex-boyfriend’s baby.

I’ve only had a few hours to process it, but it seems my dad is already making decisions for me. Part of me is pissed the choice was ripped away from me, but another part of me is relieved. I won’t have to face Jesse on my own.

I have no idea how he’s going to react.

I shut my eyes when I hear the sound of our front doors swooshing open downstairs. Ten minutes pass and before either one of us can try and figure out what our dad is doing, the doors swoosh open again. It’s raining and this time, a gust of wind causes the doors to slam shut, rattling the walls with the force.

Reese checks her phone and groans. “Stephen is stuck in traffic. There’s an accident on the 15.”

I grip her hand that’s stroking my hair and hang on to it as we both listen to the heavy footsteps thundering up the stairs. Within seconds, my door bursts open.

We both whip our heads up, finding our dad standing in the doorway of my bedroom, his suit jacket clenched in his hand. His eyes fly around the room until he spots us in the corner of the room.

He hesitates a fraction when he sees Reese with me, but then his eyes zone in on me and I feel the tension coming off of him in waves. He looks angry, but there’s something else in his face… something that looks a lot like fear.

A weary sigh escapes him and his face falls slightly before he composes himself and extends a thumb over his shoulder.

“Ava. Downstairs. The Matthews are here. Weallneed to talk.”

I rise slowly, jutting my chin out to hide the tremble but before I can say anything, I feel Reese’s hand slip into mine. Without a word, she leads me out of the room and past our dad, who she doesn’t even bother to acknowledge. She starts for the stairs when suddenly she pauses, noticing my unsteady gait and she guides me towards the elevator instead.

All while Dad watches us. Silent. Like always.

A minute later, the elevator doors open to Yaya Ella, who is making finger sandwiches in the kitchen. She takes one look at us before dropping everything on the counter. She rushes to wrap her arms around me.

“It’s okay,anak. I’m here. We’re here.”

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