Page 123 of Until He Confesses

"Can I confirm something from you?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Of course."

"Callie's pregnant, isn't she?" At my words, her mom froze. And then, slowly, as I watched, the blood drained from her face. I realized that she wasn't aware at all.

"What?" she asked, and I looked at her once again. She had truly kept it from everyone and not just me.

"Lucas," her mom called for my attention. "What do you mean by she's pregnant?"

"I'm certain that it's one of the reasons she broke up with me. I didn't understand why earlier, but now, I'm sure. On the occasions I've met her so far, she hasn't touched any alcohol, which is unlike her."

"She doesn't drink that much usually," her mom pointed out, and I nodded.

"True, but she's never been completely cut off from it for a stretch as she has now. It's just a suspicion anyway. I could be wrong, which is why I wanted to confirm it with you since we're not exactly on the best of terms currently."

Her mom paused and glanced back to look at her daughter from across the room. She looked at me, and I could see the fear in her eyes.

"She was… she was dating someone," she said, her gaze lowering. "So... I’ll ask her." I smiled.

"I'm the one she was dating," I told her. "If she's pregnant, then it's most definitely mine. No one else."

Her mom was confused for a little bit, and then she understood. She nodded then and glanced back to look at her daughter, and it made me smile.

"Constantly doing that is going to drive her crazy," I said, and she returned her gaze to me.

"Yeah," she muttered under her breath, but I heard her loud and clear. "I hope it does."

"Anyway, I'll be leaving now," I said, but her mom stopped me. However, she couldn't quite say or ask what she wanted to, so she simply rubbed my arm and nodded.

"Be safe," she said, and I leaned down once again to place a kiss on her cheek. I didn't have to reassure her, but at the uncertainty in her eyes, I couldn't bear to just walk away.

"No matter what happens, I will take full responsibility," I told her. "You know this. You both are precious to me, even if she doesn't believe it."

She took a deep breath, and then she nodded. This time around, she pulled me into a huge hug and then kissed me.

"Thank you," she said. "And I'm so sorry."

"For nothing," I replied.

I moved away afterward and exited the hall.

60

CALLIE

The moment he left the hall, I hurried toward my mom. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, especially at the look in her eyes. She stayed in place as I approached, which didn't bode well for me, but I ignored all this and simply asked what I wanted to.

"What did Lucas say?" I asked, but she remained silent and just stared at me.

"Mom," I called, and just then Anna arrived as well.

"You know, don't you?" she asked Anna, and my heart dropped into my stomach. Anna shared a nervous look with me.

"Know what?" she asked in the shakiest voice ever. "I mean yes, they were dating?"

My mother's gaze darkened on her, so she lowered her head and, to my surprise, abandoned me.

"Anna," I called, but she had hurried so far away that she was immediately lost in the crowd.

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