“Ugh… Callie… it’s killing me. You have no idea how thankful I am that he’s gone for ten days so I don’t have to look at him every day and think I’m keeping something from the man I love.”
I cringe. “I’m sorry.”
And I really mean it. I wish the circumstances were different. I doubt Hayes will want to kick Foster’s ass, but he will be upset with us to a degree.
“I know, and I want to give you the space you need to figure this out. And since I’m the one who fell in love with your brother, I’m partly to blame. So, I’m going to stop giving you a guilt trip.”
I really have the best friend anyone could ask for. “Okay, well… are you ready for the big news? Do you already know? Did Hayes message you?”
“No! Now he’s keeping secrets from me?” She sounds offended. “What is it?”
“Well… I’m in Foster’s condo right now.”
“Are you trying to slyly tell me who the baby daddy is without outright telling me?”
I laugh and sink into the couch. “No. It’s a weird situation because Foster happened to be with me when I went home and found Jerry in my bra and panties.”
A sound rings over the line, and I think it might be her gagging. “Say that again?”
“You heard me. And he happened to be wearing my favorite set—the first date one, you know.”
She sighs. “Not the black mesh one with the flowers?”
I nod although she can’t see me. “Yup.”
“I’m so sorry. How are you doing? You must feel so violated.”
I’m not sure I’ve had time to process my feelings about what went down with Jerry. I do feel violated, and it only heightens my trust issues and my lack of confidence at being able to determine someone’s character—men especially. I reported the incident to the building owner, but I have no idea what happened since I’m no longer there.
When I finally took a shower after all that, I swear I took off a layer of skin.
“Honestly, I’ve been more processing the fact that I’ve moved in with Foster Davis. I mean…” I let my sentence fade.
Leighton is a smart girl. She knows I wouldn’t hang out with Foster on my own, so telling her I moved in with him pretty much confirms he’s the father of my baby. I mean, I wouldn’t be moving in with him if Decker or Easton were the dad. But I don’t want to officially confirm it. It would just be one more detail she has to keep from my brother.
“Were you at a doctor’s appointment with Foster?” Then she quickly says, “No. Don’t answer that. I can’t know.”
“Anyway, he was kind of adamant about me moving in with him. And now I’m in his condo while he’s gone for their back-to-back road series, and I’m not sure what to do.”
“Want me to come over? I can help you unpack.”
I’d love for her to, but this feels like something I need to do on my own. “How about we meet down at Peeper’s later?”
For some reason, I want to have some time alone to reflect on everything that’s going on in my life—how I got here, where it’s headed.
“Sure. I’ll call my mom and Aunt Iris to watch the kids.”
“Great.”
“Hey, Cal?” she says, and I know she probably hears it in my voice. “You got this. Like, you know that, right? You’re going to be a kick-ass mom, and if Hayes gets upset, he’ll get over it. And maybe…”
“Don’t say it.” I bring my legs up and hug them to my chest.
“I am going to say it because once upon a time, I needed someone to tell me when I was about to get in my own way. So humor me, okay?”
I don’t say anything.
“I know your hang-ups, and the reasons you have them are beyond valid, but you get to choose this. You’re in control, and if Fos… er… whoever the dad is doesn’t step up or somehow isn’t a good person, you can pivot. I’ll help you move out and everything, but I just want you to give yourself a chance at this.”
