“You hooked up with him, didn’t you?” Carina pulled the covers away from my face and moved closer.
“Hey, don’t get too close! I might be contagious.”
Carina rolled her eyes. “I doubt it. Now answer the question.”
“No.” I lied. Where was this coming from?
“You’re a shitty liar, sis.” Carina laughed.
“It was nothing. A one-time thing.”
“I knew it!” Carina clapped, her voice loud.
“Shh. My head is pounding. Thanks for the soup. Now shoo.”
Carina laughed again. “I love how I’m always right. I want more details later when you’re feeling better!”
When she left, my mind raced a thousand miles a minute.
A pit in my stomach grew bigger with every passing second. A wave of nausea rolled through me at the thought of announcing my pregnancy. I looked down at my belly and sighed.
What do I do?
Within a week, I told Carina everything and we told Mom together. The men didn’t need to know right now, but one thing was for certain.
I was keeping the baby.
“He loves you, you know.” Carina said over lunch one day.
“What? What are you talking about?”
Carina narrowed her eyes. “You know who I mean. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Maybe tell him about the pregnancy. You never know how he’ll take the news.”
“I don’t know…”
“Whatever you want to do, I’m here for you. But I think he’s a good guy who’d step up to the plate. And the love he has for you is undeniable.” Carina squeezed my hand.
I’d never felt more confused in my life.
CHAPTER SIX
Cullen
When the opportunity towork outside of town presented itself, I harped on it. I needed to get out of Apple Falls and distance myself.
Once again, I ended up with a broken heart after opening up. No matter how hard I tried, Journey wanted nothing to do with me.
But now I was back in town and Journey was out sick. As the days passed, it seemed like she wasn’t there more than she was. I worried she was battling something I didn’t know about. But I kept in touch with her sister who assured me she was okay.
One afternoon a few months later, I finally caught a glimpse of her. She looked different, tired, and not like the glowing, confident woman I met before.
She turned to the side and that’s when I noticed. A very distinguishable baby bump.
She’s pregnant?
No way. How was she…I mean…when did she…
Is that why she was avoiding me?
