AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why do you say that?” she asks sharply. “You have no idea how he’ll feel.”
“He walked out, Chrissy,” I reply just as sharply. There we go—more fantasy stuff. “He made it clear how he feels. He got his quickie, took my V-card, and ran out the door.”
“You don’t know how he feels,” Chrissy says. “Anyway, you said he didn’t know you were a virgin.”
I swallow, my belly bubbling, nerves slamming hard. “Which do you think I should tell him first, that I’m pregnant or I’m a virgin?”
Chrissy giggles, nudging me. “Well, only one of those is true.”
I reel back, shocked. Chrissy never tells vicious jokes, definitely not about pregnancies or babies. She looks at me, eyes narrowed, and then I get it. Duh. “I’m not a virgin anymore.”
“No, E. Having sex sort of makes that impossible.”
* * *
I’m sitting on the couch two days later during family movie night. Mom insists on it. She always acts as the glue of the family, even as I disappear into writing and college work, Eric into video games, chasing girls, and occasional homework, and Dad into work. Mom sits across the couch from me, swaddled in her blanket. She looks over and smiles. People say we have the same features and the same cheeks.
You okay?she mouths.
I smile and nod. Mom can tell I’ve been acting weird, a little distant. I’m doing my best to be normal around Dad, but every second in his presence is like being jabbed with a million tiny, invisible needles. It’s constant but notoverbearingpressure. I’d almost prefer everything to blow up to break the tension.
Dad glances at Eric on the floor, both grinning as the bad guy’s tank explodes. Eric would never do something like this to Dad—just me, the crappy daughter.
I went to the doctor yesterday. It’s official. I’m carrying Logan’s baby. Now I have to work up the nerve to tell him. The action movie races toward its climax, and I try not to think of my climax with Logan, the flames, and the balcony. I decide it will be tonight. I’m not sure exactly where he is or the time zone difference, but if he’s awake, I’ll tell him.
And then… I can’t think about what happens next. I don’t think it will be good. It won’t be my dream of Logan telling me in his gruff voice,“We’ll make this work, me and you, Emma. That wasn’t just dirty talk. You. Are. Mine.”
He’s had six weeks to contact me. It’s not difficult. My email is listed on a website I use to publish some of my stories. It seems—and I hate to think this about my child’s father—he got what he wanted from me: a quick screw.
One way or the other, I find out tonight. First, I must do something that makes me feel like an even worse daughter. After the movie, I excuse myself up the stairs into Mom and Dad’s room. Dad’s phone is on charge.
Quickly, I unlock it, typing in his passcode. He shares it freely with the entire family. I think we all know each other’s passcodes, even Eric. It was the family policy when they gave us phones. I haven’t changed mine since becoming an adult. I take a photo of the number, close the contacts list, and sneak from the bedroom.
Eric is standing at the top of the stairs. He’s wearing a black T-shirt with a skate logo, his hair a mop of black curls. He’s the opposite of me, tall and skinny, with sharp cheekbones when he smiles and frowns like he’s doing now. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing. Keep your voice down.”
He strolls over to me, a cocky grin on his face. “Nothing, in Mom and Dad’s room, right?”
“Listen, Eric. Please listen.”
His cocky grin vanishes. He’s a good kid. Emotion flits into his eyes. Something in my tone must catch his attention. “Whoa, what’s up? I was only messing.”
“You can’t say anything, okay?”
Eric looks at me. We’re already the same height despite the age difference. “You should tell me what’s going on. Whatever it is, I can help you.”
His earnest tone melts my heart. He means it, but it’s too risky. “I’ll tell you later, okay?”
He narrows his eyes. “Okay… as long as nothing bad is happening.”
“No, nothing bad,” I say quickly, pushing past him and walking toward my bedroom, and that’s right. It’s notbad. In my bedroom, I smooth my hand over my belly, leaning against the door, already feeling love flow between us. No, it’s not that.
It’s just complicated and borderline impossible, but not bad.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Logan
