Tenley… pregnant?
“Warner?”
My gaze refocuses. I’m not sure if my mom or my sister said my name. “Yes?” I say into the space between them.
“Is it true?”
I look back at the image still glowing on Jessie’s phone. Tenley normally smiles for the camera. Here she looks… defensive.
My head shakes slowly. “It’s not impossible.” I don’t know what to say.
“What are you going to do?” My mom’s voice is hard, like tough love. She’s trying to coach me through the shock.
There isn’t a goddamned doubt in my mind what my next step is. “Mom, can you pick up the kids from school?”
She nods. “What are you doing?”
I push away my lunch and stand. “Going to LA.”
***
I hate this place.The smog. The traffic. The sheer number of people. I’ve never been claustrophobic but being here is making me rethink that.
My phone spouts directions at me, and I do my best to follow them. As I get further from the city itself, the more I like the surroundings. Maybe it’s not so bad.
I think I’m here now. Tenley’s house. I gaze up at the tall fence, the metal gate. I lean out of my open window and press a speaker button on a keypad.
“Hello?” The female voice is excited. And it’s not Tenley.
“Yes, hi. I’m looking for Tenley Roberts.”
Sarcastic laughter. “You and everyone else. Is this Warner Hayden?”
“Yeah?” It comes out sounding like I’m unsure of my own name.
“The truck gave you away. Come in.”
I look down at the side of the truck and remember the logo emblazoned there. The gate rattles as it opens. I drive in, and it closes behind me. Tenley’s house is… not too huge. It’s nice, but not ostentatious.
I get out of my truck. Take one big stride up the three concrete steps that lead to her front door. The door opens before I can knock.
A man looks back at me.
I stand up straighter. My chest puffs out. What the fuck is happening here? Has Tenley moved on? Is this guy the father?
“Hey dude.” The guy sticks out his hand. He has a man bun. I hate him instantly.
Ignoring his offered hand, I ask, “Where’s Tenley?”
He makes a show of dropping his hand, but I swear to God his eyes are laughing.
“She’s taking a nap.”
A nap… because she’s pregnant. Pregnancy is exhausting. I remember. My stomach contracts.
I stand there, unsure of what to say, and whoever the fuck this is doesn’t have shit to say either.
“Warner?”
