Page 8 of The Rough Rider

“You have a father. He’s just a dick who left.”

“Well, same as my baby’s dad. Except, this one won’t even know their dad at all. Because I was a dumb... I guess I was kind of a slut.”

“Stop that. That’s bullshit.” The ferocity in his voice shocked her. That he was taking time over this at all shocked her. “You don’t need to do that to yourself on top of everything else.”

“That’s what everyone’s going to think.”

And the scrutiny would be unbearable. Them all wondering who she’d been with, what had happened.

It had been like that when her dad had left. Everyone had been curious—caring, sure—but it was hard enough managing a crisis without everyone being involved in it, worrying about, trying to give advice and...

She couldn’t bear it.

She could feel her throat getting tight with tears.

He grabbed her chin and his eyes blazed into hers. And she felt her stomach bottom out. “Who the hell cares what everybody thinks?”

Then he released her, straightening and letting out a harsh breath.

Hedidn’t. She knew he didn’t. He never had. He was Angus McCloud, and people already thought the worst of him. Not that anyone blamed him; that was the thing. His father had been the meanest man in all of creation and everyone knew it.

And one day, he’d gone.

She stared at him. At his ruined face, barely visible in the dark. And she wondered if he’d done it.

“I don’t know how not to care,” she whispered.

She was going to look like exactly what she was. An immature idiot. Who had been running away from her pain and had run right into trouble.

“You want the baby?” he asked.

“I’m having the...baby.” It wasn’t the same as wanting it.

He grunted. “Right. So, what’s the problem?”

For the first time in her memory, she didn’t have answers somewhere deep inside herself. For the first time in her memory, all her worries poured out of her.

“Everything. I don’t want to be a single mother. I don’t want the baby to not have a dad. I don’t want everyone knowing I slept with Travis or...”

“Or that you were in love with Hunter?”

Her eyes were scratchy. “Whatever. Gus, let’s just go back to the bonfire.”

He lifted her up from the ground as he stood, his hands rough, his hold strong. Her heart thundered hard, her eyes still burning.

But he propelled her back toward the bonfire and her misery felt managed, if only for a moment.

When they emerged from the shadows and into the firelight, Fia was there, her arms crossed. “Where have you been?”

“I was...”

“You threw up, didn’t you?”

Shame burned her cheeks. “Oh... Fia, I...”

“Tell me honestly,” she said, her eyes flicking from Gus, then back to Alaina. “I found... I found a pregnancy test in the bathroom, Alaina. And no one ever said anything so I didn’t either. I was waiting. Was it yours?”

Alaina felt like the ground had tilted onto its side. “Fia, I... I can explain. I can...”

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