This is not going well. And I have a feeling it’s about to get worse.
He reaches out and grabs my arm, his grip biting. Panic spikes, praying my parents come inside. Maybe I need to yell.
“Trey, stop. You’re hurting me.”
“Oh, I’m hurting you? I’m sorry. You’re throwing our plans away! You’re so selfish, Kenzie. Have you thought about me at all?” He yanks me back to face him, he releases my arm finally, but then his fingers clamp my chin up in a punishing grip forcing me to look him in the eye. I’m going to bruise tomorrow. Tears well as I prepare myself for his wrath.
“This will be fine. You don’t need to work anyway. You can travel with me and we can figure it out as we go.” His voice is deep, serious, and the tone cuts to the bone. There’s no emotion, like he’s cut off from his feelings. It’s terrifying to witness.
“No, Trey. I’m not doing that. I think we should break up. We both know this relationship has been over for a long time.”
He releases my chin and takes a step back, covering his face with his hands for a moment. I hear him take a deep breath, then he takes two steps back.
“No.” He laughs—cruelly—before walking back into my space, so close I have to lean back so he doesn’t knock me over. “Listen to me, Mackenzie. You think you can end us? No. I’m ending it. This is over. I only stuck around because I felt bad for you. I won’t let you pull me down anymore. I should’ve listened to everyone when they said not to keep you around.”
“It’s time for you to leave, Trey.” My dad’s booming voice cuts in and I immediately relax. Trey didn’t know my parents were home, or he wouldn’t have acted that way. I’m grateful for the timing and now they see who he is at his core.
Forever trying to save face, Trey plasters on a smile. “Mr. Banks, I didn’t realize you were there.”
“Clearly. I don’t want you coming here again. You’re not welcome and you best stay away from Mackenzie, too.”
The mask falls off Trey’s face. His jaw grinds. “You’re dead weight, Kenz. I don’t know why I stayed so long. You’re pathetic. All those rumors about Kayla? They were true. Every single one.”
My dad lunges, but I haul him back just in time.
Trey turns on his heel and barrels out the front door, slamming it behind him.
My dad reverses us, holding me in his arms instead. “Thank you, Daddy.” I whisper, barely keeping it in.
He kisses the top of my head and holds me tight to his chest as the first tears escape. “Mackenzie, baby girl, if I’d known… I’m so sorry you’ve been going through this alone.”
At that, I lose it. I sob and scream and cry. I let out the pain, anger, and hurt that’s been my life with Trey over the past year. I mourn what we had—when it was love. I’m not sure when it died, but what came after is nothing I ever want again. I don’t know how long I stay in my dad’s embrace, but my eyes are red and puffy.
“Mack, we’ll sort this out. Your mom and I will be more than happy to have you here, or do whatever we can to help you.”
I nod. “Thank you. I think I’m going to go lie down, but I’d like to talk to y’all about my plans after dinner.”
I squeeze my dad once more and trudge upstairs into my bathroom.
I look in the mirror and see a girl I barely recognize. But she’s there. She came back today—when she finally put herself first. And she’s never leaving again.
I walk out and into my bedroom, I make myself a promise: I will never cry another tear for Trey Spencer.
Time to start living my life for me.
A week later,I walk into a cold, sterile room and the stark white walls do nothing to ease my nerves. All the bruises have faded on the outside, but internally, I’m still a mess.
I sit in a chair, and don’t bother hauling myself onto the exam table with its annoying crinkly paper. I already know what’s coming. What I’m here for.
A knock sounds, and the door swings open as a beautiful woman with dark wavy hair and twinkling brown eyes walks in, taking a seat across from me on a stool.
Silence stretches because she doesn’t need to say it for me to know it’s true, but she does anyway.
“Well, Mackenzie, you’re pregnant.”
And just like that, my world changes.
CHAPTER
