The hammering of my heart is audible in my reply, “Perfect.”
* * *
When I walk into Taylor’s office, her usually charming personality has been replaced with an angrier, colder version. After wiping the sweat from my palms on my jeans, I sit in the chair opposite her. My knee bobs up and down, my body’s way of ridding itself of the nerves fluttering in my stomach.
When Emma exits, closing the door behind her, I lock my eyes with Taylor. My heart races more with every second she delays freeing me from the noose wrapped around my neck.
Believing I’ve squirmed enough, she discloses, “You’re not going to be a father anytime soon.”
I let out the biggest sigh. I may even throw a fist pump in the air and slap my thigh a few times as well. “I fucking knew it,” I murmur under my breath. “I never have unprotected sex.”
Taylor slides an envelope stuffed to the brim with paperwork across the desk. “Here’s the full doctor's report and your bill.” Still pissed, she nudges her chin to the door. “You can show yourself out.”
She could be breathing fire right now, and I wouldn’t care. After the news she just delivered, I could kiss her!Or better yet, I could kiss her daughter.
After hightailing it to my truck, I drive to Jenni’s house, eager to share my news with her. I take the stairs two at a time before banging on her front door. Not long later, an elderly Italian-looking lady answers the door.
“Hi, I’m here to see Jenni.” I peer past her shoulder, seeking Jenni. I didn’t pay much attention the first time I picked her up, but her house is fucking huge.
My eyes snap back to the lady guarding the door when she says, “Jenni is gone.”
“Gone where?” She isn’t scheduled to fly home until tomorrow morning, so she must mean somewhere local.
I’m proven wrong when she responds, “Back to school, she left yesterday afternoon.”
I stare at the woman, utterly confused. When she closes the door, I head back to my truck. During my travels, I yank my cell phone out of my ripped jeans and dial Jenni’s number. I’m shocked when my call is sent straight to her voicemail. No matter the time or the day, she always answers my calls.
“Hey, Jenni, it’s Nick. I didn’t think you were leaving until Tuesday morning?” I wiggle my tongue around my mouth to loosen up my next set of words. “I’m not the father. I just found out, and I wanted you to be the first to know.”
Chapter Twenty
Jenni
Ican’t believe I stupidly fell in love with a player. When Nick arrived at Jacob’s house, I knew I would never enjoy the festivities. Just looking at him hurt. I had wondered the past few months if he was being exclusive. I prayed he was, but it was stupid of me to do. He didn’t get the reputation he has by not sleeping around.
When I arrived home from Jacob’s, I checked if there was any availability to catch an earlier flight. Thankfully, if I could get to the airport in an hour, I'd be back in New York in under four. Needing as much distance between Nick and me as possible, I jumped at the chance. If possible, I would have flown to Australia.
My dad was disappointed when I said I had to go back to NY earlier than expected. I made out that I had to study for an important test I’d forgotten about. He said he understood, but I could see his disappointment. He drove me to the airport on the promise he'd pass on my apologies to my mom for not saying goodbye.
After my abrupt departure yesterday, I fielded calls from Emily and Nicole, wanting to know why I left without saying goodbye. I lied, blaming horrific PMS cramps for my disappearing act. Nicole bought my lie, but Emily was more reserved. She knew something was off with me but didn’t want to push. I even got a text from Slater Sunday afternoon asking if I was okay. I gave him the same excuse I had given the girls. He replied saying I was disgusting and that I was to never share that type of information with him again. That was the first time I had smiled since Saturday afternoon.
Nick also called me several times Monday morning. When I listened to the voicemail he left on my phone, I couldn’t miss the excitement in his voice when he said he wasn’t the baby’s dad. I was glad he was relieved, but it didn’t lessen my hurt in the slightest.
When he continued calling my phone every hour on the hour for the next two days, I googled how to block a number. The very first number I blocked was Nick’s.
It was time for me to remove the blinders and start looking at the entire picture again. This snapshot doesn’t have any room for players.
* * *
Today is a public holiday, so the university is deserted. It’s a cloudy day, and for the most part, it’s been drizzling with rain. It's the perfect weather to match my sullen mood. I’ve spent a majority of my morning snuggled on the couch, reading a book. I gave up when I realized I was reading the same chapter repeatedly. Now I’m watching TV.
When my cell phone rings, I expect it to be another call from Emily checking in to see how my cramps are going. My nose screws up when I see it’s from an unrecognized number. Since the area code is local, I answer it. “Hello.”
“It’s been years, yet your voice still makes my heart race,” croons a male I don’t instantly recognize. It's only when he asks if I'm “ready to beg yet,” do I realize who’s calling me. I haven’t seen or heard from Christian in over four years. I’m surprised he even has my number.
After laughing at my shock, he explains when he was in town last month visiting his family, my mom let it slip that I was studying in New York. When he told her he was coming here to film a movie, she gave him my number.
“I was hoping you’d want to catch up?” He doesn’t attempt to hide the sexual undertone in his voice.
