AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sometimes, people do things because it’s the right thing to do,” she said. “Not because they want to. Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”
Knox frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
Jana stepped on the brake, and instead of answering his question, she said, “Here’s your stop.”
Knox looked out his window. They were at the mechanic shop. “Thanks for the ride and all. But can you tell me why you don’t think I’d understand?”
Jana seemed to be debating something, then she looked at him again. This time, the frostiness was gone, only to be replaced by something else… hurt?
“You always did what you wanted, Knox,” she said. “I mean, everyone thought you were cool for not caring what others hoped for you. I guess I was one who fell for your charm and your don’t-give-a-crap attitude. You made everything look so easy, so fun and entertaining. But after high school, the real world kicked in. For me, at least. Not for you, obviously.”
Knox narrowed his eyes. “That’s pretty harsh coming from someone who made her own decisions without thinking of anyone but herself.”
Jana put the SUV into park, although the engine was still idling. “What are you even talking about?”
“I’m talking about you getting pregnant and not telling me.”
Jana’s mouth opened. Then closed. A red stain creeped up her neck.
Knox felt sick all over again. He’d felt sick when Aaron told him about Jana getting rid of her baby—a baby that could only be his. And he was pretty sure that played into his determination to marry Macie when she became pregnant. Not that he wanted to think about any of that now. This had been a mistake. He shouldn’t have brought up the past. He couldn’t change it, anyway. And the hurt and pain in Jana’s eyes only mirrored that in his gut.
Knox reached for the door handle. “Sorry for bothering you.” But before he opened the door, Jana grasped his arm.
“Who told you I was pregnant?” she said, her voice shaky.
Knox didn’t even want to look at her right now. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“Knox, tell me,” she said, her voice stronger, sharper now. “Who told you?”
It was a long time ago, yeah, but he’d never forget. “Aaron Bushnell.”
Jana released his arm. “Wow… I can’t believe—”
“Your little secret got out?” Knox cut in. “You know this is a small town, for better or for worse. It doesn’t matter who told me. That has nothing to do with it.” Now, he was just plain angry again, and he faced her, not caring that she looked pale beneath the reddening of her face. “But it makes me sick that you wouldn’t tell me. Didn’t even give me a choice. Yet, you went ahead and got rid of the baby, anyway.”
Jana blinked. “What?”
“I’m done here.” Knox reached for the door and bailed out of the SUV.
“Knox!” she called after him, climbing out of the SUV.
He stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“I was never pregnant,” she said, her voice quiet, pained. “It was a false alarm. Aaron must have overheard me say something to Barb or Patsy. His locker was right next to ours.”
Knox’s heart felt like it had been taken out of his chest and stomped on. He didn’t know if it was still beating or not. How was this possible? For years, he’d lived with so much animosity against Jana, only to find out…
He spun around. “It wasn’t just Aaron who told me, it was—”
“Briggs?”
Knox exhaled. “Yeah.”
Jana wiped at tears on her cheeks. “Figures. And it figures you’d believe those idiots. You could have asked me, you know. Called me up on the phone. Come over to my house.”
“I tried to talk to you,” Knox said. “More than once.”
“When?” Jana said, but didn’t wait for him to answer. “But what should I expect? You’re Knox Prosper. God of the high school, with every girl chasing after you. When you told me you liked me, really liked me, I believed you. And that was my mistake.”
She turned and climbed back into the SUV. Before Knox could fully process their conversation and the horrible revelation of how gossip had twisted both of their lives, she’d driven off. And he was pretty sure she wasn’t coming back.
