Page 114 of More than Friends

Someone gasps, and every eye falls on me.

Elizabeth looks from me to Maggie and back again. “Maggie?”

Maggie is blinking back tears. She’s just staring at me with big, watery, hurt eyes. I’m being such a dick right now, but I can’t stop.

“Isn’t that right, Maggie? Why don’t you tell everyone?”

“Declan,” Will hisses. “Stop.”

“Yeah, man, why are you doing this?” Eli says, his eyebrows low.

I don’t stop. “Why, Maggie? You should tell them.”

She shakes her head. “Declan. Please don’t.”

“Dude, shut the fuck up,” Eli says.

James jumps in. “Declan, if Maggie doesn’t want to talk about it than it’s none of our...”

“It’s mine,” I say.

Maggie’s eyes flicker as the words come out of my mouth and then go cold as ice. There’s no going back now, and she knows it. Whatever glimmer of hope that she had that maybe I’d just fall into line has shattered.

It’s so silent. I’m sure no one is even breathing.

“What?” James says, his voice is low, measured – calm. He’s sure he misheard me.

“Maggie’s baby is mine. I’m the father.” I’m not looking at James. I’m looking at Maggie. She’s looking at me like no one has ever done anything worse to her.

Without taking my eyes off Maggie, I say softly, “I’m not keeping this a secret. I never promised I would.”

James stands up so quickly that his chair falls over.

“What?” His voice is not calm and measured now.

I finally turn to him and repeat. “I’m the father.”

“That’s what I thought you said the first time.” His nostrils are flaring as he struggles to control his breathing.

“Tell them, Maggie,” I say, looking back at her. Tears stream down her face.

“Dude, why are you being such a dick about this?” Eli says.

“Yeah, shut up.” Will looks like he’s about to jump out of his chair and take a swing at me.

“Declan, can I talk to you privately?” James says. He nods toward the door, but I don’t move.

Elizabeth and Celeste have gotten up and walk over to Maggie, who is sobbing now. Everyone else is sitting like statues, watching this scene unfold.

“Declan, it’s not a request,” James booms as he walks out of the dining room.

I stand up and follow him all the way down the hall into an office. Will gets up and trails behind us. James slams the door once we’re all inside.

“How long?” James roars.

His eyes are filled with murderous rage – I expect no less. It’s what I anticipated would happen if he found out about me and Maggie.

“How fucking long, Declan?” he says.

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