Vanessa watched me, tilting her head as her brows crashed together. “Okay, I get the anger. I feel your rage, babe, I do, but you seem…different somehow. Is everything okay?”
And just like that, I burst into tears. Full-on sobs that made my shoulders shake; my breath caught in my throat as I tried to speak. Everything felt like it was ending, like everything was failing.
My marriage. My job sucked. I had nowhere to live. I was about to be a single mother.
“Babe, talk to me. Let it out.” Vanessa’s soothing words only made it worse.
Mom appeared in the doorway, a dishrag in her hands as she studied the scene before her.
“Do you want me to tell her?” Mom asked gently, her stormy grey eyes meeting mine.
“Tell me what?” Vanessa’s head whipped between us.
I nodded, unable to find the words. Vanessa held me closer to her chest as she looked at my mom expectantly.
“Lila is pregnant.”
I felt, rather than heard, the sharp intake of breath as my best friend sucked in air. Her arms stiffened around me, and then she moved back, her hands sliding down my arms as she crouched beside me.
Her eyes shone with tears as she shook her head, gazing at me with raw pain etched on her expression.
“Pregnant?” she whispered, her hands finding mine. “Is it…”
I knew what she was thinking. Did I have a steamy, sordid affair with Graham in Greece?
“Victor’s?” I smiled faintly. “Yes.”
A hand clamped to her mouth as she fell to her knees, bowing her head. I could feel her emotions—she was the aunt of our unborn child, and her brother had wrecked everything.
“At leastI’mpregnant and not the homewrecker,” I tried to joke, but my shoulders deflated when she met my eyes.
Fuck, if Cami was pregnant, I’d leave the country permanently. I couldn’t bear the thought of her carrying his child.
My hand stroked my stomach as Vanessa watched me wordlessly.
“I know,” I said, glancing at my mom. “I’m sorry I didn't tell you sooner.”
“Fuck, Lila, it’s okay.Fuck.”
We sat like that for a beat until Vanessa rocked back on her heels, dragging her hands through her hair, tugging at it on the ends like it was going to help.
“How far along are you?”
I tilted my hand and frowned. “About ten weeks now?”
“Does Victor know?”
It was my turn to drop my gaze as I shook my head. “It doesn’t change anything. Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean we?—”
“No, I know that,” Vanessa said quickly. “I just mean…he’s the dad, right?”
I swallowed as I nodded. “Yeah, I know, I just…”
How to say that Victor would fight harder than ever for me if he knew I was pregnant? That was the wrong reason. I didn’t want that.
Vanessa read my mind, like every ride-or-die would.
“You’re divorcing him. You’re selling the house—you’re barely talking to him. I think he knows there is no chance of getting you back. But a baby? He should know, honey.”
