Page 42 of F Buddy

I took in a deep breath. “It’s about Zach.”

I held my breath after I said his name, and there was silence on the other end, not even breathing, no matter how much I strained. The uncomfortable feeling in my stomach that I’d all but forgotten at this point came back with full force, if not worse than before. His silence didn’t fill me with confidence.

“Chad?”

He sighed heavily, sounding frustrated.

“Chad, please,” I begged. “I just need to know if you said something to Zach. He’s ignoring me, and I need to tell him something really important. Just tell me. Did you say anything to Zach about my pregnancy?”

“Why are you asking only me?”

“I texted everybody else already, they said no. Though I did have to call a couple of them as well. You’re the only person I haven’t asked, so I called you.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t say anything to him. Why is it such a big deal anyway?”

I sighed and ignored the question. “Look, if you say you didn’t, then I’ll believe you. Sorry for taking up your time.”

I cut off the call, then I texted Olivia, ‘He says he didn’t do it.’

I waited for a few minutes, but when she didn’t reply, I sighed and dropped my phone beside me. I tipped my head back and closed my eyes against the sting of tears.

What was I supposed to do now?

I needed to tell Zach about the baby. If I were honest with myself, I was scared, very scared. But more than being afraid of how he’d take the news, I feared what having a baby would mean.

My stomach was huge, I could barely see my feet without having to lean forward a little, and I might grow more. I was still going to work, but I’d have to put in for leave when I was due. Over the course of the last few months, I’d been making plans, trying to find ways so the pregnancy wouldn’t impact my life too much.

Only it was impossible. Even after I gave birth, I had to find a way to look after a baby and still go to work. I lived alone in my little apartment. Olivia was the closest of my friends, and even to get to her place I’d need a twenty-minute cab ride to get there. She’d made plans with me, like me giving her a call and her taking me to the hospital when it was time, but just thinking of that time coming sometimes made me want to panic.

I needed Zach with me. It was the realization that finally made me want to talk to him. He might not want to involve himself too much, and if that were his decision, I’d respect it. But deep down I wanted him to be there to help a little bit.

My phone ringing made me jump and yelp. I answered Olivia’s call.

“Hey, what is it?”

“Chad lied.”

“What?”

“Scarlett, Zach knows.”

There was a moment of stillness; then my thoughts were moving a mile a minute. Zach knew and I hadn’t been the one to tell him. He was pissed at me. His avoidance of me made more sense. This was the worst scenario I’d pictured, that he would somehow find out if I took too long to tell him.

He was probably angry with me. Then my thoughts stilled. But if he knows… And he stopped trying to contact me and won’t reply to me now…

“I’m so sorry, honey,” Olivia murmured, sounding sympathetic, obviously having already reached the conclusion I had. “I know we considered the possibility, but I still want to kick his ass for doing this to you. He’s not interested, but he has a responsibility, dammit!”

I laughed a little. Not because there was anything even relatively funny with the situation, oh no. But it was nice hearing my friend so ready to defend me. Even if I thought it was just a little overboard.

“It’s fine, Olivia,” I said, even though nothing was fine. Even as tears slid out of my eyes and down my cheeks. “You’re right, we expected it. I’ll just… talk to you later. I can't deal with any of this right now if that’s okay with you.”

She hesitated, then said, “You know I will always be here for you, right? If you need me, just call me. Or better yet, come over whenever. Please.”

My breath hitched, and I barely held back a sob.

“Thank you, Olivia,” I whispered. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever ask for.”

Chapter 18