Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“I can’t look at you right now, Jackson. I’m so fuckin’ mad at what has happened in the last twenty-four hours ’cuz of you. It hurts too much to be in the same room with you.”
I looked at her one last time, speaking with conviction, “I know you’re hurting, Harley. I’m fuckin’ hurting too. You choosing to push me away doesn’t mean I can’t fight to keep you.”
With that, I left, knowing in my heart and soul...
I should have told her...
How much I loved her.
Chapter 26
<>Harley<>
Then: Twenty-years-old
Six weeks.
Forty-two days.
A month and a half.
How long since my world got turned upside down by somethin’ I didn’t even remember.
Shiloh walked back into my bedroom, eyein’ me like I’d lost my mind. It was partially true, I totally had.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?! I’m tryin’ not to be pregnant!”
“By jumping up and down?”
“Yesssss!”
“Harley, I don’t think that’s—”
“I don’t need your negative energy right now, Shiloh. So either you stay and help me be unpregnant, or you can go.”
She sighed, shook her head, and closed the door behind her. “What do I do?”
“You can serve me another glass of milk.”
She peered over at the counter, seein’ seven empty glasses sittin’ there. “Let me guess, drinking milk makes you unpregnant?”
“Oh my God! So you know? It’s legit?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Again with the negative energy, Shiloh!”
“Harley, the only way you won’t be pregnant is if you get an—”
I gasped. “I would never.”
“Well, jumping up and down and drinking milk will just give you a stomachache. Maybe heartburn.”
I flopped on the floor, exhausted. “Ugh! What am I gonna do? My daddy is gonna murder me. You think I could seek refuge under witness protection?”
“I mean”—she plopped next to me—“Cash’s daddy is a detective.”
“I fucked up so bad.”
“It takes two to tango, Harley. Have you told Jackson?”
Bowin’ my head, I hid my eyes. Not ready to tell her the truth yet. Shakin’ my head no, unable to say it out loud.
Technically, it wasn’t a lie.
I hadn’t told him. I’d just found out that mornin’ with Shiloh in my bathroom. My period was late, and I was never late. She drove us to the nearest drugstore, and six pregnancy tests later...
It was clear as day. I was knocked up with my best friend’s child, and neither of us had any recollection of it happenin’. I didn’t even think about seein’ if we used a condom. Since Jackson was in trainin’, and with the stress of mid-terms, I forgot to refill my birth control. Thinkin’ it’d be in his best interest anyway by sayin’, “No protection, no makin’ love.”
Jackson would still kick ass on the field.
Goddamn it.
I was a statistic. I spent my whole life tryin’ not to be like everyone else.
“Harley, I hate Jackson. I hope his dick falls off, although, that doesn’t take away from the fact he’ll be there for you.”
Yeah, if only it was his.
“He’ll do right by you.”
Sweat pooled at my temples, and my heart beat out of my chest. Desperately tryin’ like hell to not scream out, “It’s Cash’s spawn!”
“You know I’ll help too. That baby will be so loved by our entire family. I wouldn’t worry too much about your dad. He’s going to murder Jackson, not you.”
“Facts.”
“I know this wasn’t in your plans, but you always wanted to have kids. It’s just happening a little earlier than you expected.”
“A lot earlier.”
“Everything happens for a reason. You’re a firm believer in that. We’ll make it work. Schedule our classes apart, so I can watch the babe while you’re in school. You’ll finish college, Harley. We’ll make sure of it.”
I started cryin’. “You’re the best cousin ever, Shiloh.”
“I know.” She pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m pretty awesome.”
“Trigger called again. He left like five messages on the voicemail.”
“Fuck him.”
“Are you ever gonna hear him out?”
“Nope. Never. As far as I’m concerned, he can eat shit and die.”
“Shi—”
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”
“Okay.” I laid my head on her shoulder, snifflin’. “We can talk about how I might be growin’ a penis inside of me.”
“You think it’s a boy?”
“I don’t know what I think.”
“You need to tell him, Harley. The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be.”
“I will. After I confirm with my gyno.”
“Alright. I’ll go with you.”
“What did I do to ever deserve you?”
“I love you too.”
A few days later, the OB-GYN confirmed what we already knew.
Pregnant.
To say I didn’t bawl my eyes out in the doctor’s office would be an understatement.
I cried.
And cried.
And cried some more.
One week later, there I was...
Standin’ at Cash’s door.
Once again, sweat pooled at my temples and my heart was beatin’ its way up my throat. We hadn’t spoken since our massive fight the night we told each other we hated one another. I didn’t know where we stood anymore which was the scariest feelin’ of all.