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As much as my brothers hate that I’m living alone now, they agree with this. They don’t want Reed anywhere near me even though I’m having his baby and he’s taking care of everything.
Before he can leave though, I ask, “Are you going back to the office?”
He’s taken aback by my question, I guess because I usually let him go without comment. But not today.
Today I have to say something to him.
His eyes flicker with suspicion as he answers. “Yeah. Why?”
“Just curious.” I shift on my feet. “So I was thinking something.”
His suspicion only grows. “And what might that be?”
“What do you… do for fun?”
“What?”
Ugh.
Seriously? What am I asking him?
But now that I’ve said it, I forge ahead, “I-I mean, all I’ve seen you do this last week is go to the office and take care of me and… What do you do after this? Like hobbies and stuff. Do you work on cars, I mean… there must be something you do to relax.”
It’s been bothering me for days now.
The fact that this job is killing him and that he has to do it because of me. He should be doing what makes him happy.
Like cars maybe and…
“I don’t have time to relax.”
“But –”
“Just lock the door after I leave.”
“Does he… know?” I ask him then with wide eyes.
“Does who know what?”
“That I’m pregnant. Your dad.” I pause to swallow down my racing heartbeats. “Does he know that you’re doing all this for me?”
The man who wanted to punish me for stealing his son’s car. And rightfully so.
The man who forced Reed to give up soccer in exchange for my freedom.
I wonder if he knows and if he does, what must he be thinking about it. About the fact that I’m pregnant with his son’s baby.
The flutters inside my stomach make an appearance and I can’t help but put my hand on my belly. And when I do, his eyes inevitably focus on it.
There’s a purple bruise on his right cheekbone that ripples at my question. It thrums just like the look in his gaze, all angry and determined. “You don’t have to worry about my father. I’ve got it under control.”
“But Reed —”
“I can handle my dad, all right? It’s fine.”
That’s exactly it, isn’t it?
That he keeps saying everything is fine. That he’s taking care of everything.
And I’m letting him because I know how important this is for him.
I know that.
I feel that.
That’s why he stood in front of Conrad and made him a promise. That’s why he made all these plans. That’s why he put so much thought into them, so much care and so much detail. He must’ve made hundreds of lists to be able to pull this off.
That’s why I’m letting my brothers take care of everything too.
Because I know this is how they take control of the situation. This is how Conrad makes sure that nothing falls apart. This is how he copes with things. Like he did when Mom died and he had to take care of everything.
I know if I take this away from my brothers, this control, it will only make matters worse. I know if I take away his control too, it will only piss him off.
And I’m grateful, you know?
God, am I grateful.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I thought everything would fall apart. I thought I’d be alone and an outcast. I was so scared. So, so scared.
But then he came and he saved everything.
I’m going to school. I have a place to live. I have a doctor. I don’t even have to quit ballet. Not every girl is this lucky. I know. I’m the exception. I have a support system that most pregnant teenage girls only dream about.
And so I have to speak up.
I have to step in and stop Reed.
“I don’t need all this, Reed,” I insist, looking up at him. “I don’t need a grand house and a cook and a private clinic. I know you want to be here and you want to make things easier for me and I’m not arguing about that. But all of this,” I wave my hand at things, “it costs a lot of money, Reed. I know. I’m not an idiot. I don’t need all this, okay? And so I don’t want you working there just because of this. Because you have to provide for everything. You hate that company. You never wanted to work for your father. I know. But you had to because of me, because of what happened and what I did. So I’m not going to let you do something you hate.
“I mean, you’re not letting me quit my dream. You even got me back into Blue Madonna. And I know soccer really wasn’t your dream but you must have one, Reed. You must want something and I can’t stand by and watch you do something you never wanted to do. Besides, it’s been two years. Can’t your dad see that you hate it? Can’t you explain it to him? I mean, he’s your dad. He must want to see you happy. And if he’s such an asshole that he doesn’t care about anything else but himself then I can talk to him. I can apologize for everything I did. I can explain —”
