Page 11 of Shattered Hearts

I hum in response, knowing that he’s right. They would’ve told me if it was something important.

A weight lifts off my shoulders, and I take a deep breath. “You’re right.” I take another sip before smirking at my older brother. “So, do you really think that making the pasture a track is a bad idea?”

The roll of his eyes makes me chuckle loudly.

Chapter Three

Laynie

“Have you tried calling him yet?”

I stare at my cousin across the small wooden table, the plate of half-eaten eggs and sausage in front of me growing colder by the second. I’m not really in the mood to eat, but I also don’t want to be rude since Sadie stopped in at the store on her way into town last night. Somehow she knew I would be out of food. Possibly because my parents are away, or because I broke down on the phone and could barely speak. It was most likely a mix of the two.

Resting my chin on my hands, I study her long golden hair falling to her waist, and the petiteness of Sadie’s figure covered in a pastel pink tank top and shorts. Since I can remember, Sadie has always worn baby pink, and as a dancer, it suits her like tea goes with milk. She’s always been leaner, a little doe-eyed too, like Bambi. Innocent, sweet, and charming to every guy she meets, which is how she’s had so many interested in her over the years.

My foot taps nervously against the timber floor as I think. I should have texted Scott the moment Sadie sent me his number before she left last night, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it for a multitude of reasons.

One of those big reasons being Grayson. It’s also so daunting that my anxiety has gone through the roof. Will Scott be mad? Supportive? Distant? Willing to move here to be with the baby and me? My mind is reeling out of control just thinking of how he might react.

Tapping my phone screen awake, his text waits for me to respond, making my eyebrows twitch.

BLONDIE: You feeling better this morning?

I really hate lying to him. He’s been my best friend for so long, and I’m terrified of what this secret might do to us if he finds out. I don’t want to ruin what we have.

Grayson always worries about me, as friends do… but that’s all we are. Friends. Especially now. That small percentage of anything else happening between us seems to have died after I saw those two little lines on that test. Even if I still want to be with him, I can’t now. Not with someone else’s baby growing inside of me.

The Grayson ship has well and truly sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

“Not yet,” I manage to squeeze out, my phone screen locking again. I stare at myself in the reflection before blinking away. I haven’t smiled since I woke up yesterday morning, and I don’t see myself doing so again anytime soon. Not with the anxiety crawling along my skin like fire ants.

Sadie sighs lightly before pulling out the chair opposite me with a bowl of fruit and yoghurt. She’s never been one to eat a lot, and she’s strictly vegetarian, so I’m surprised she willingly cooked me sausages.

“You know you will need to eventually,” she starts, digging into her breakfast. “Realistically, it should be before your child is born. That would be an even more awkward bomb to drop if you rocked up with a baby in your hands.” I watch as her spoon dances through the air and she raises her tone to mimic me, “Hi, I’m Laynie. You don’t remember me from nine months ago, but I’m here, and I have your baby with me. Say hi, Dada.”

Sadie’s attempt to humour me just makes my chest hurt.

I groan, shutting my eyes slowly as a pressure builds in the side of my head that I would very much like to sleep away right now, and I would if I didn’t need to get to the cafe to open up.

“Firstly, never do that impersonation again,”

Her cheeks flush. “It was the voice, wasn’t it?”

“It didn’t help,” I admit softly, looking back at my food. “I know I’ll have to tell him, Didi. I just need a moment to think about all of this though. And it’s a lot of pressure to put on someone, especially if they’re not expecting the news.”

Sadie winces lightly. “But you shouldn’t have to go through all of this alone,” she reminds me in her dainty voice that matches the rest of her whimsical essence.

I sniff softly, reaching over to take her leaner hand with painted baby pink nails. “I have you now.”

That makes her snort. “I’m not manly enough to be the dad.”

My eyes roll slowly. “I didn’t say you needed to be the dad.”

Her head tilts. “But your baby needs her dad.”

I stare at her for a long moment, my pulse thumping aggressively in my throat like tiny hammers trying to break through my veins. “We don’t know if it’s a girl yet.”

Sadie shrugs effortlessly. “In my mind, she is, and I get to teach her ballet and dress her in a little tutu.” Her pale lips lift enthusiastically.