AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sarah had gotten us coffee, and we sat down together. She’d brought doughnuts as well, knowing I probably needed something naughty. She could always tell when something was up with me. I took my first bite and hummed my appreciation for it as I sipped my coffee to wash it down. Somehow, doughnuts made everything seem better.
“So, come on, spill the beans,” she said, waiting for me to tell her what was up.
I swallowed more doughnut and took a huge gulp of coffee down with it. “Well, you know about the scandal already. Damon did a great job of fixing that.”
“Yep. I saw him swooning over you on the news. God, he answered those questions like a pro. He’s a freaking legend.”
“Yes, well, we haven’t even said any ‘I love you’ words yet, and I was so impressed and felt so happy listening to him profess our entire relationship.” I paused, and Sarah could see I was beginning to get worked up.
“Karly, it’s me. Just say whatever it is. I already know you love each other. That much is clear.”
“Okay, so I felt good when he got home, but during the day, I felt a little off, and so I…”
“Yes?” she asked, hating long and drawn-out explanations.
“I took a pregnancy test, and I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, shit!”
“Shit is right. So now the scandal that became a love story is now a scandal again. The press is gonna absolutely have a field day with this. And, oh my god, I’m expecting Damon Jacobs’s baby!” My eyes grew wider.
Sarah looked at me with wide, owl eyes. The circumstances were even over her head; she was shocked by the revelation. She looked nearly as gobsmacked as I’d been when the test had come back positive. I was in a whole world of trouble. A man I’d only just met had fucked my brains out, and I’d told him we were safe because I was on the pill. Only apparently we weren’t.
Sarah started bouncing her leg, which was a thing she did when she was thinking about something properly. “You used protection, right?”
“I’m on the pill. You know that.”
“Were you unwell, vomiting or diarrhea? The effectiveness can change if that happens. It can become not ideal.”
I gave her a sarcastic look. “Yeah, well, I think the not-ideal part already happened. No, I haven’t been unwell with either of those.”
“Maybe you forgot to take one,” she said, making me feel even worse.
“Sarah! I’m already with child, so does it really matter now?” I asked, raising my voice.
“I just don’t see—” She finally realized her questioning didn’t matter now that the consequences were already set in motion. “Hmm, well, you both love one another, and you both love Alexis. This could be a wonderful thing.”
I looked at her and picked up another naughty doughnut. I wasn’t one to overindulge, but today seemed like a fitting day for it if I had to pick one.
I spoke with my mouth full of doughnut. “I’m gonna quit. It solves everything. Then the press is out of it and Alexis is out of it.”
Sarah hit my cheek with a mock slap. “You will absolutely not do anything like that. Fuck the press. It’s your life, and it’s a beautiful love story. Damon’s got contacts. Surely a wonderful, happy take on things can get presented to the public, especially if you find the right reporter.”
“I wish I had your positivity. You’re forgetting that Damon might not want more children. He’s a big CEO with a huge, successful company, and he, like me, thought we were protected. I told him I was on the pill and we were safe.”
Sarah smiled at me as if I were blowing it all out of proportion and then set me straight with her version. “Okay, you and Damon had an attraction, so you both tiptoed around that attraction to make sure Alexis wasn’t affected. Then, you both slipped into love, wanting and needing to be with one another. Then, you got pregnant. It happens. If there was no press around, that’s how every normal person would translate this story. Boy meets girl. Girl loves boy. They fall in love. What’s the problem?” She gave me a raised eyebrow. “You absolutely must tell him, and then you can begin a life together with Alexis and the new baby. It’s picture perfect.”
Her words resonated with me, and I realized I needed to spend more time with her. “Will you stay here tonight? I think you’re the best thing for me right now.”
“Of course. You’d better get ready to pick up Alexis. You don’t want to be late. I’ll get here by eight.”
I hugged her and was grateful she always put me first. She had this amazing way of allowing everything to flow and make sense. I needed that strength.
***
When Damon got home, I tried to behave as normally as possible. His eyes were on me fully when Alexis wasn’t around, and it felt good to be near him. The space I needed right now was also important, though. I wanted to do everything right from here on out, and Sarah would help me get the clarity I needed.
