“Riley? Are you okay? I’ve been calling you for hours!”
I scoff as I lean back against the pillows. “You’re kidding, right? Do you know what happened because of you?”
“Riles, come on. I had no choice but to tell Kieran! He forced my hand, and lying would have only made it worse. You know that.”
“You had one job: to keep your mouth shut. And you couldn’t even do that.”
“That’s not fair.”
“I’m such an idiot,” I laugh, though it comes out a little hysterical. “I actually thought you had changed, but of course, you threw me under the bus at the first opportunity.”
“Riley—”
“You knew Kieran would be pissed. And then what, you thought I would come crawling home with my tail between my legs?”
“That was the last thing I wanted. Regardless of what you might think, I want you to be happy, and if that neanderthal is what does it, then so be it. I also know that you want Kieran and me to get along, and we would never have been able to do that if I lied to his face about his own kid.”
“He’s not a neanderthal.”
“Seriously? That’s the part you're focusing on?”
“He might hate me, but he is still my husband.”
“Yeah, well, we can agree to disagree on that one.”
I chew on my lip as I pull the comforter up to my chin.
The curtains are still drawn despite it being daylight outside, but I can’t bring myself to open them. I just want to bury myself under the covers and not come out.
“I’m so tired, Oscar.” I rub my eyes with the palm of my hand.
“I know.”
“I…I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure where we can go from here. I’ve never seen Kieran that angry.”
“You did what you thought was best.”
“I guess I don’t have much of a motherly instinct, seeing as I’ve just driven the father of my child away.”
“He’s not turning his back on his kid, is he? Because if he is, I swear to god?—”
“No, he’s not. He wants to be there for the baby, but…”
“Not for you,” Oscar finishes.
The words have me swallowing a sob, and Oscar sighs on the other end of the phone.
“I can’t believe I’m about to stick up for Kieran Sullivan of all people, but you have to give him the benefit of the doubt here, Riley. He just learned he’s going to be a dad, from me of all people, and he’s likely freaking out.”
“So am I!”
“You’ve had a few weeks to process this. Kieran, on the other hand, has had less than twenty-four hours. You have to give the guy some time to adjust.”
“It doesn’t bode well that his first instinct was to shut me out.” I wipe at my cheeks. “I know I don’t deserve his forgiveness, but I thought hearing the heartbeat would soften the blow. God, I’m so stupid.”
“No, you’re not. You were scared and not thinking rationally. Kieran will understand that…eventually.”
“I hope you’re right because I don’t know how I’m going to get through this without him.”
