I choked on emotion. Vanessa was right—Victor needed to know, because he was still the father regardless of anything else.
“If you want, I can tell him,” Vanessa offered quietly.
My phone lit up again.
Victor.
I sighed heavily. I had been putting it off for two weeks—I needed to go and tell him in person.
The thought of seeing him made my stomach churn. I didn’t want to feel weak around him, and Victor always had a way of doing that to me.
“No. I’ll go and see him.”
“Can I tell Ma?” Vanessa gripped my hand.
“Yeah, but maybe wait a few weeks. I have a scan soon, and I’ll know if everything is alright.”
Vanessa beamed at me despite the tears spilling down her cheeks. She pointed at them. “These are happy tears. Oh, babe. Come here.”
She swept me into her arms, and I allowed her to, inhaling her sweet perfume.
God, give me strength. I really need it.
29
VICTOR
Lila’s text glared at me.
Lila: How’s your little slut? You weren’t thinking of me when you were buried inside her, were you?
Well, fuck. She always did have a way with words, my girl.
What the fuck could I say to that? I dropped the phone on my chest and stared at the dirty ceiling, a feeling of utter despair and a horrifying acceptance sweeping over me.
This is it. This is my life now.
I didn’t have to stay here forever—just until the house sold. It shouldn’t be too long; the house was in a desirable area. Near schools and shit.
My phone lit up again, and this time it was a call from Lila.
I nearly dropped my phone trying to stab the answer option on my screen, my stupid fat fingers nearly declining the call.
“Hello?”
“It’s me.” Her voice lit this shit room up like the ray of sunshine that it was, and I fought the urge to break down and cry. I trembled but kept it together.
“Baby…Lila…”
“I need to talk to you. Can I come over?” Her voice was crisp and controlled, unlike I’d ever heard it before.
But there was something more lurking there. She sounded…unsure. Scared maybe.
I sat up in bed.
“Yes.” I didn’t even need to think twice. She wanted to see me, she saw me. Simple.
“Can you send me your address? I’ll come now.”
