Liam marched past me, and his cologne wrapped around me, dragging me straight back to that night.
For a moment, he just stared at me. Said nothing. Somehow making the situation even more uncomfortable than it already was. The tension in the room was so thick you could’ve cut it with the dullest knife imaginable.
“I don’t know what to say,” I finally blurted. “I missed my period, so I took a pregnancy test, fully expecting it to be negative. I thought maybe it was just hormones or something. But eight tests later, every single one was positive. Digital ones. Regular ones. All positive.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “And you’re sure the baby is mine?”
His question caught me off guard and stung me straight to the core. I wanted to yell at him for even asking, but that wouldn’t help the situation.
“Yes, Liam. It’s yours,” I said, my voice tightening. “You’re the only person I’ve slept with in over a year. I don’t just go around town sleeping with everyone, you know.”
He didn’t respond.
“I’m as scared as you are,” I added softly, trying to salvage the moment. “But we can figure this out together. I’ll call my doctor in the morning and find out what the next steps are. I’m not exactly sure how all of this works. Ellie tried to explain it, but—”
“Ellie knows?” he cut in, his eyes widening.
“Ellie and Cassie both know. They were here when I took the tests. But I made them swear not to tell anyone.”
“Jace is going to kill me,” Liam muttered, pacing back and forth now.
“No he’s not,” I said, reaching for his arm, trying to stop him from spiraling.
He jerked away, taking a step back.
The rejection surprised me. The last time I’d seen Liam, we’d been connected on a level I couldn’t explain. And now, standing in my living room, it feltlike we were strangers. Not two people who’d created a life together—just strangers sharing the same air.
“How did this even happen? We used protection.”
“The condom must have broken. That’s the only explanation I can think of.”
His pacing picked up speed.
“I can’t do this,” Liam said, running both hands through his hair, panic etched into every movement. “I’m sorry, Molly. I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready to be a dad.”
Before I could even respond, he was moving toward the door.
He yanked it open before I could say another word. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing through the house as I watched him through the window—practicallyrunningto his truck, climbing in, and peeling out of my driveway.
Just like that, he was gone. My worst nightmare had become my reality.
Chapter 8 – Molly
I went to work the next day like nothing had happened. I didn’t have a choice. Until I was ready to tell people what was really going on, I had to pretend everything was normal.
Not opening the bakery would’ve set off alarm bells. I didn’t miss work for anything. Unless I was on my deathbed, Molly’sopened on time.
All morning, whenever Clara walked by, I did my best to act like I wasn’t on the verge of throwing up. I’d taken extra care with my makeup, hoping it would hide how pale I’d gotten from being sick nonstop for the last twenty-four hours. I thought morning sickness only happened in the mornings, but apparently, I was wrong. It was midday, and I still felt like absolute crap.
I put down the piping bag, hunched over the stainless-steel countertop where I did all my cake decorating, and closed my eyes. Maybe if I relaxed for a few seconds, the wave of nausea would pass without a trip to the bathroom.
Clara was up front helping customers and restocking the display cases with cupcakes and fudge brownies. She was distracted for now, but it was only a matter of time before she came to check on me. I hadto pull it together before she walked back here and saw me hunched over the table. She’d at least suspect I was sick and convince me to go home.
But what would happen when I started getting sick every morning? She’d catch on eventually.
I took two more long, deep breaths. In through my nose, out through my mouth.
Repeat.
