Footsteps sounded nearby, and I itched to peek through the crack in the door and see who this mystery person was. But I already felt guilty for ruining her evening, so I sat back against layers of wool, polyester, and rayon, waiting to be let out.
Finally, the door to the closet cracked open, and I let myself out to see Maya going to sit on her couch. She pulled a throw blanket over her lap and folded her arms across her chest. “Sit, doggy. Tell me what’s going on.”
My lips flickered into a smile but quickly fell at the prospect of acknowledging the truth. In my experience, though, waiting for a hard conversation was worse than actually having it. “Jada’s pregnant, and it’s not my baby.”
Maya’s mouth fell open. “What?Did she cheat on you? Already?” Her lips formed a tight line.
“No, she’s already six months along.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “But she doesn’t look pregnant. Are you sure you didn’t hear her wrong?”
“What words rhyme with pregnant, Maya? Besides, it’s hard to misread a sonogram.”
“Wow,” Maya breathed. “I’m suddenly a lot less pissed off at you for interrupting me.”
I huffed a laugh, but it mostly came out as a puff of air through my nose. “Maya, I don’t know what to do.”
Maya frowned. “How did you find out she was pregnant? Did you feel it move or something?”
“Feel it move?” I asked, confused.
“You know, when you were...”
Suddenly, my face felt hot. “God, Maya. No, she told me.”
“Oh...” She winced. “Did she just find out?”
I shook my head.
She cringed again.
I nodded. “I know.”
“Not the best way to start a marriage—but then again, neither is getting married for a business arrangement.”
I nodded again. I hated every part of this. “Fucking Simon.”
Her lips pursed. “I’m not his biggest fan either, but we’re not talking about him. We’re talking aboutyou.”
I leaned forward on her couch, which was so soft I felt like I was practically sinking to the floor. “Yes, Maya?” I could tell she wanted to say something, and she wasn’t very good at holding back her opinions.
“When’s the last time you had a serious girlfriend?”
I scratched my chin.
“Exactly. And you know why?”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” I muttered, both grateful and annoyed. Somehow Maya managed to cut to the quick of things faster than most people I knew.
“Because you’re afraid that they want you for your money and not for you.”
I raked my fingers through my hair. “So basically my worst fear was confirmed.”
Maya shook her head. “Your worst fear wasalleviated.”
I stared at her, beginning to question why I came here. “How’d you come to that conclusion? Because from where I’m looking, Jada agreed to an engagement with the sole purpose of getting my money.”
“No, Bryce, you idiot.” Maya threw a throw pillow at me.
