“I wasn’t with anyone else. That week wasn’t usual for me.”
I shook my head. “What does that mean?”
She covered her face with her hands. “That was the first time since…”
“Sincehim?” I asked hesitantly. I had a feeling that was the case back in July, but I didn’t want to pry or risk bringing up bad memories by asking her.
She nodded.
“Okay, so, you’re pregnant.”
She whimpered and her hands flew to her temples. “I am not used to that word yet.”
“With my…” I held off on sayingbaby.
She laid her forehead against the wheel of the car.
“Wait…” Seeing her in the driver's seat had my stomach twisting in pain. “You were going to run away?” She knew how I felt about that. She of all people knew all about my abandonment issues. “You weren’t even going to tell me?” I couldn’t keep the betrayal out of my voice.
“Well, I don’t know, Jameson,” she snapped. Her brown eyes went a little wild. “I just found out, like, five days ago, so please, give me a fucking break. I haven’t even thought that far. All I know is that I’m doing this. I’m not asking you to do anything. I didn’t ask you to chase me out here,youwanted to do that.”
I stared at her.
“What?” she snapped defensively.
My eyes drifted to her abdomen. “How did it take you so long to figure out? What about your period?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve never been regular, probably because of skating. I have no clue when my next period will ever come. Sometimes it's four weeks, sometimes it’s eight, most times I just don’t pay attention because there's usually no reason for me to. I didn’t think I could…” She choked up. “It never happened in the past. I thought I couldn’t have a baby. And I thought I was overeating and gaining weight because I wassadbecause ofyou.” Her pointed glare had me shrinking back in my seat. “So cut me some slack here, okay?”
Feeling like a total asshole, I nodded hurriedly. “Yeah, okay, sorry.”
But that response had her crying.
“No, Ali.” I reached to comfort her but pulled back. I didn’t know how to handle this kind of situation.
“I wanted this. I just…not like this.” She shook her head. “And I know that’s a stupid thing to complain about. It’s the fucking hormones. I can’t stop fucking crying. This is allyourfault,” she blubbered.
My eyebrows pulled together. “My fault?”
“Your stupid idea! Your stupid”—her eyes dipped down—“dick!”
I grimaced. “I’m sorry. I thought we were careful.” I swallowed hard. “We used condoms.”
“I guess they don’t always work,” she said bitterly.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, because what else could I say?
“Me too. But now I’m out of a job, and I don’t have a place to stay, and I don’t know—” She shuddered. “I don’t know anything, JP.”
She was spiraling and stress wasn’t good for the…yeah. “C’mon, let’s go.”
Her eyebrows pulled together. “Go where?”
“To get some coney dogs.” My eyes darted to her abdomen. “Wait, fuck, can you eat hot dogs?”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re pregnant,” I said slowly.
