Hayden takes my hand and ducks so we’re eye to eye. “Is everything okay?”
I nod, though I can’t keep my lips from trembling and tears from welling in my eyes.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He strokes my wrist with his thumb.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Dr. Bell says as she shuffles for the door.
When we’re alone, I whisper, “I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah, I gathered that.” His expression softens. “And how do you feel about it now that you know for sure?”
“I-I don’t know… I never thought I’d have a baby. Not after what I’ve been told…”
The corners of his mouth turn down. “What do you mean?”
I pull my hand out of his grip and wipe a tear from the corner of my eye. “When my thyroid tanked, my period went completely off the rails. I could go months without it, and then, when it showed up, it would be hell. So, Mom took me to a doctor.” I suck in a breath. “She told me that, with my issues, I’d be lucky if I ever got pregnant.”
His jaw goes slack. “What? She told you that when you were fourteen?”
I shrug and swallow past a lump in my throat. It was all very clinical. She probably didn’t bother to think about how crushing it was for me to hear. “Even after my levels stabilized and I had regular periods, the fear gripped me. I was sure I’d never have a child, and now…”
He steps closer and pulls me into his chest. “And now, you’re pregnant,” he whispers. “With our baby.”
I slot my head under his chin, desperate for his warmth.
“You’re not alone,” he murmurs. “I’m here. I’m with you, and I’ll always be here for you.”
His scent envelops me, the heat of his skin setting mine on fire. I lick my lips and tell him what I’ve wanted to say since yesterday.
“I want to keep it. I want to keep this baby.”
He leans back, eyes searching my face. Then, a beautiful smile spreads across his full lips. With a kiss to my forehead, he says, “Then we’re keeping this baby, Ry.”
29
i guess i got myself a roommate
HAYDEN
Riley’s skinglows beneath the summer sun, her eyes bright and gleeful. She’s in a simple white tee, light blue jeans, and golden sandals. Twirling one blue lock of hair around her finger, she stares at a little orange dog perched on an old lady’s knees two tables away on the café’s terrace.
“So…are we keeping the news from our families for now?” I ask. It’s like walking on thin ice. One wrong step, and I’ll end up in frigid water. I don’t want to offend her, but there are things we need to discuss.
She nods, focusing on me. “Yeah. I think that would be best. When they find out, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
I chuckle. “We’ll have to tell them eventually.”
She sighs. “Let’s wait a month—or two.”
I tip my head. “Okay. Do you want to tell Nastya sooner? That would give you someone to talk to.”
She bites her bottom lip. “If that’s okay with you, yeah.”
“Whatever you need, Ry.” I pick up my tea and watch her as I take a sip.
Her attention strays to the dog again. It’s like a small cloud of fur, with beady eyes and a foxy face. Does she like it?
“Um, I talked to my manager. He’s going to help keep the newsunder wraps. If my fans find out, it’ll be chaos. You’ll be put on blast, and every aspect of your life will be under a magnifying glass.”
