in his position. And I can’t...”
“You’re right. It does happen all the time but he won’t think that. And just because the first—”
“I don’t want to talk about that,” I cut her off. “You know I don’t like to talk about it or think about it.”
“No need to get defensive. We won’t talk about it.”
Just as she finished, the buzzer on my phone alerted me that the three minutes were over. All I could do was look at my phone. I couldn’t move. I wanted to remain on the couch and not think about the results of that test.
“I’ll go look, okay?” Amanda said softly while getting up.
She was only gone what felt like a couple of seconds when I felt her wrapping her arms around me. “It’s positive,” she whispered. I just shook my head no. A sob broke from the back of my throat and she wrapped her arms tighter around me. “It’s okay. I promise. It’ll be okay.”
I cried for what felt like hours but could’ve only been a few minutes. All I could see was me telling Jackson and him accusing me of trapping him in a relationship for his money. Or him telling me to get rid of the baby. Or, even though I didn’t want to let my mind go there, it ending exactly like my first pregnancy and Jackson pushing me away.
I’m going to be a mom. I’m going to be a mom. Oh my God, I’m going to be a mom . Maybe.
I must’ve cried myself to sleep because I woke up on the couch to Amanda poking me. “Hey, Jackson’s calling you. I’m going to take off, okay?” I wanted to cry again as I remembered that I was pregnant and hesitated before answering the phone. “You don’t have to tell him tonight. Probably better to do it in person anyway,” she said.
She gave me a quick hug bye as I answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, babe. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?” I asked, clearing my throat.
“You sound weird.”
“I just woke up when you called. I fell asleep on the couch. How was your game?”
“Okay. We won. Barely, though.”
“Glad you won,” I told him, walking to the kitchen for a glass of water.
“I miss you. I can’t wait to get back.”
“Tomorrow night, right?” I asked even though I already knew when he would be back. I just needed him to say it.
“Yeah, it’ll be late, though. We’ll be flying home after the game.” Tomorrow. Wednesday night. I had one day to figure out how to tell him that he was going to be a father. One day to figure out how to make him believe me when I told him it was an accident.
“I can’t wait to see you, either. I can’t believe you just left and I already miss you.” It was true; I missed him like crazy. Even though I was terrified of telling him I was pregnant, I craved his comfort. I wanted him to hold me and tell me it was all going to be all right.
“Babe, either something is really wrong or you’re tired. Which is it? I can tell by your voice.”
I shuffled back to the couch and sat down. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just tired from play practice with the kids.”
“Okay, as long as nothing’s wrong. I guess I’m going to let you go, though, so you can get some rest.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“Love you, too. Bye, babe.”
I disconnected the call and threw my phone down on the coffee table. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted Jackson to tell me that everything would be okay.
Jackson
I woke up to the phone ringing and then ringing some more when I couldn’t find it on the hotel nightstand. “Yeah,” I said without looking to see who was calling.
“Jackson.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear to look at the screen. Cynthia.
“Yeah. What’s up, Cynthia?”
“I need to talk to you about something.”
I sat up a little and yawned. “Okay, tell me.”
“Remember when I came to see you?” she asked.
“Yeah. Look nothing—”
She cut me off. “I know. You’re still with that girl. That’s not why I’m calling. Just let me get this out.”
“Okay.” I had no clue where this