“A-are you okay, miss?” he asked. “Do we need to stop somewhere? The hospital or the police?”
“No!” I replied a bit too quickly. “I’m fine, well, I’m not fine. My boyfriend is a jackass, but I’m physically fine.” None of them were technically my boyfriends, but that phrase was a lot easierthan calling them the pack I had mind-blowing fuckies with, accidentally bonded, got knocked up by, and then got into a fight with.
The driver nodded, turning to look forward, but I could see him glance in the rearview mirror several times to check on me.
I had him head in the direction of one of the public beaches, so I could be miserable in peace, but halfway there, I changed my mind. “Actually, can we go to the airport instead?”
All I needed was my ID to get on a plane, and I had that in my purse. I had a few clothes at my dads’ house, and I knew they’d let me come home, no questions asked.
The driver gave me a quick nod before turning his attention back to the road. “Preference on which one?”
“Whichever is closest.”
“Sure thing.”
Roughly wiping the tears off my face, I picked up my phone and quickly rejected a call from Avery. In the few minutes I’d been in the car, I’d already had seventeen missed calls and texts between Logan, Hunter, and Avery. I hadn’t received a single one from Parker yet.
As far as I was concerned, he could take a long walk off a short pier.
I called Meadow and poured everything out. I’d mostly meant to call to tell her I was going back to Seattle, but the second I heard her soft voice, I’d broken. She learnedeverything.
“I don’t want to face them. I know it’s not the best idea to fly away from Logan again now that we know we’re bonded, but I survived last time and I can survive this time too.”
“I want to fling that asshole into the sun,” Meadow huffed. “Honey, you do what you think is best. Obviously I don’t want you to go, but I totally understand you need to for a bit. What can I do?”
“Nothing.” I sniffled. “I’ll be okay, I?—”
“I love you.”
Another sniffle. “I love you too. I’ll call you when I get to Seattle.”
Logan would be willing to mail me a hoodie. That had helped alleviate my symptoms before—it probably would again. My clothes smelled like him now, and it was the only thing keeping me together.
Rejecting another phone call, this time from Hunter, I scrolled through my contacts until I found Poppy’s number.
“Hey, peanut,” Poppy greeted happily when he picked up. “How are you settling in?”
“Can I come home?” I asked, my voice watery, even though I was doing my best not to start crying again.
“What the hell is happening? You just got back to LA,” Poppy asked, his voice suddenly tense. Gone was the cheerful, easygoing tone—now he was pure concern and worry.
“I’m pregnant,” I said.
My father was quiet on the other end for a moment.
“How do you feel about that, so I know how to respond?”
I sniffled. “I’m not sure. What was your first reaction? Good or bad?”
“Shock more than anything. You already know we’d be more than happy for a grandbaby, we just weren’t expecting one for a few years. If you’re not ready, that’s okay too. We support you no matter what. Do you know who the father is?”
“Sort of.” A sob broke free. “It’s a pack—but one of them was a real asshole and I need to get away and clear my head.”
“You’re welcome here whenever you want,” he said softly. “We only made you go back to LA for your own well-being. Have you talked to Meadow about all of this? What did she say?”
“She said to do whatever I thought was best.”
“Okay, you’re coming straight home. We’ll help with everything.”
