Page 72 of Piper's Pyro

I hate you.

I despise you.

I fucking loved you with every cell in my body, and you threw it away.

“Please come back to me,” I cried like a baby. “Please, come back.”

It had been three weeks, twenty-one days, and five hundred and four hours since Russell threw me away. I wasn’t doing well at all.

Mysteriously, I sensed he wasn’t doing well either.

I would call him if I had his phone number. No, I wouldn’t because my pride wouldn’t let me. I only needed to ask Cobra if I wanted his number. My brother would get it for me. He felt enormous guilt for his part in what happened during church and would do anything to make me happy.

But I wanted nothing from him or any of my brothers. They hurt me deeply, and I would never forgive them.

I carried a tray to Brady’s hospital room. He was healing well and would be released in a few days. I took Mercy’s place when she wasn’t working to check in on him.

My stomach roiled, and I swallowed. I stopped at the nurse’s station and put my hand on my stomach. It wasn’t the first time the smell of certain foods made me nauseous.

Just breathe and it will go away.

“Everything all right, Piper?” Patty asked.

“Mhm. Just feeling off.”

“I can take Doctor Hayes his supper.” She smiled excitedly.

“No, I got it.” No way would I let anyone near Brady who wasn’t Mercy or one of the married,oldernurses. Brady and Mercy may not own up to their feelings, but it was easy to see they cared deeply for each other.

“You look like you’re going to vomit.”

I bolted for the closest bathroom and spewed into the sink. It was like just hearing the word vomit had set me off.

I fished out the test stick I’d been carrying in my pocket since the first day of my missed period.

Do you honestly need a pregnancy test to tell you what you already know?

Yes.

I rinsed my mouth and went into a stall. I tugged down my scrubs and peed.

It didn’t take long for the results to appear.

“I’m pregnant,” I whispered, placing my hand on my stomach. And with Russell’s baby. “I promise to love you enough for your daddy and me. I’m sorry he’s not here.”

I choked back my emotions so I could get back to work. The last thing I needed was for the nurses to gossip about me.

I’d cry when I got home.

Four hours later, I sobbed in my momma’s arms after telling her I was pregnant.

“It’s gonna be okay, sweet girl. You’re not alone. You have your family to support you. This little one will never want for anything.”

“Except they won’t have a father.”

“Oh, baby. Call Russell and tell him. Let him decide what happens next.”

“No. I don’t want him to be with me because of the baby.” I pulled back. “Don’t you go meddling, Momma. Don’t send the boys after Russell. I’ll figure out what to do later.”

---