CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
LANEY
Well, this is weird.”
My mom’s head snapped toward me, along with my dad’s and Matt’s.
Matt was in the room with me… why?
“Did I travel back in time? Am I in high school?”
“Now is not the time for jokes, missy.” My mom squeezed my forearm before resting her head on the spot next to my stomach. “You scared us.”
My dad’s face was tight with worry. Despite wearing bright green Christmas overalls, he glared at me. “You are staying under my roof, and we didn’t even notice how sick you’ve been. Honey, what is going on?”
Flashes of the night came at me fast. Feeling dizzy. Taking photos. Matt. Matt demanding I go to the ER. I moved my attention to him. He stood in the back, hands in his pockets and a grim look on his face.
“Did you drive me here?”
“You passed out against me. We rode in an ambulance, Laney.”
Shame flamed my face. I should’ve listened to my bodymore. All day, I’d felt weird but pushed through it because it’s what I always did. It had been selfish of me. I couldn’t just think about myself anymore. Immediately, my hands went to my stomach, and I gasped.
“I-I need to talk to the doctor.”
“We can page the nurse, sweetie. Are you in pain? What do you need?”
“I need…” My eyes welled up as panic clawed at me. What if my neglect hurt the baby? Oh my God. Connor.
“Where is my phone?”
“I think it’s in your bag, but Laney, I haven’t told them.” Matt’s face was more serious than I had ever seen it. No smile or quirk of his lips. “I’ll try to find the nurse for you.”
He stepped out but left the door open. Something shuffled outside the room—loud footsteps.
“What is he talking about?” My mom sat up straighter, her gaze narrowing on my face. “Laney, please.”
“I haven’t had a chance… Connor…” I squeezed my eyes shut as guilt and pain and stress swirled into one ball of emotion that closed my throat. I couldn’t breathe or swallow. I had to tell them the truth, even before I could tell my husband. “I’m pregnant.”
Neither of my parents spoke. They stared at me, wide-eyed.
“I’m pregnant. I found out a few days ago. It’s why I’ve been so sick, not able to eat.” I sniffed as tears rolled down my face. “I didn’t know how bad it had gotten.”
“Does Connor know? You could’ve told us. We could’ve helped. Oh, honey.” My mom hugged me tightly. “I have so many emotions, I don’t know how to deal with them.”
“I’m gonna be a grandpa.” My dad clapped his hands and laughed. “Holy shit.”
“Laney.”
I jumped at the deep voice at the door. Connor stood there, lips parted, as I stared at him over my mom’s shoulder. He looked terrible. He had done a full one-eighty since our FaceTime just hours ago. His styled hair was disheveled. His tie hung half undone, his shirt untucked. His jacket wasn’t buttoned. He looked so messy and distraught that my heart broke for him. His mouth parted as he ran a hand over his face. Then he neared me and kneeled on the floor. Even on his knees, his height matched me in the bed, and he rested his forehead on my stomach.
“You’re okay. You’re okay.”
“I’m okay, yeah.” My eyes prickled, and I ran a hand through his hair, digging my fingers into his scalp as his shoulders shuddered. “How are you here?”
“We’re gonna step outside to grab a coffee, okay, honey? You two should talk.” My mom patted my shoulder and then squeezed Connor’s before leaving and shutting the door.
Once the handle clicked, absolute silence greeted us, and it suffocated me. I had kept the pregnancy from him. He would hate me. This wasn’t what I had planned.
