Page 40 of Shattered Hearts

“No?” he cuts me off questioningly, as if I’m the first woman to turn him down for a second date―if you can call it that. Booty call? That might be more appropriate… “Oh, I thought this—”

“You thought wrong, Scott,” spills from my lips sourly, my chest pumping faster. Is the oxygen thinning in here?

He’s silent for a moment, before adding, “Then what did you want to talk with me about if this has nothing to do with you missing me all the way from who knows where?”

I actually might puke and not because of my anxiety.

“Listen, Scott,” I let out, shuffling a little on the couch even though no position feels comfortable right now. It might be because of how heated this room is.

Eyes darting sideways at Sadie, who watches me with rounded eyes, I sigh and fight through the wall of nerves that have piled up around my heart. My knee jiggles, hand squeezing Sadie’s tight enough for her to yelp. The words pour out in one big lump, “I’mmpregnantandyou’rethedad!”

Dead air rings through my ears as my gaze darts around the room. Is it getting smaller here?

My breathing increases, and Sadie lets go of me to rub circles on my back. How am I breathing this quickly? Is that sweat dripping down my face or tears?

I suffer through the silence Scott graciously sends my way. I’m about to ask if he’s still there when his muffled voice comes through, “W—wait.” Another beat. “You’re—oh no.”

In all the dreams I had over the years of sharing the news with my future husband, I never really imagined what he would say when I finally told him I was having a baby. But I can guarantee the words oh no would have never crossed my mind.

My gut wrenches tightly like wrung out laundry, and I lean over, holding my stomach as heat climbs up my spine.

“You—”

I half snort, half sob, and nod my head against the phone. Resting my head in my hand, I hear him swear, forcing my heart to leap into my esophagus. I almost choke on it.

He stutters again, “You m-mean—”

“I’m having a baby, Scott,” I manage to squeeze out, but it’s blaring loud with how silent he is. “Our baby.”

“No,” he whispers, and my senses snap back into line. My back is upright, eyes glaring at the TV, body as stiff as a board as Scott repeats, “No.”

“Scott—”

“No, Laynie,” he grits out. My lips slam shut, a wave of tears spilling from my lashes as I imagine him freaking out on the other end. Probably tearing at his hair, running a hand down his face. Potentially hitting things? I really don’t know anything about this man, do I?

“I didn’t—how could this happen?”

It feels rhetorical, so I don’t bother answering.

He grunts loudly, and I hear the sound of something hitting something else. “I didn’t ask for this!”

A loaded scoff escapes me. “And you think I planned for this to happen?” I yell, my fingers digging into the couch cushion. “I meticulously plan everything down to the exact minute I take my vitamins in the morning. You think I worked this into my life schedule?”

Sadie sits back as I fume like a steam engine. How dare he think that this is my fault.

“I never asked for this!”

“Neither did I, but some things we can’t control, Scott!” I scream.

Standing, my skin crawls with fire. I pace back and forth. I can’t sit still anymore, the pressure is too heavy, and I might explode if I do.

There’s another grumble before Scott mutters, “I knew it was a mistake sleeping with you.”

I see red.

“Excuse me!”

“You heard me!” he shouts.