3
ROXY
I’m backin my car and on my way back to Charming when I realize I never told Ezra I’m pregnant.
I let out a string of curse words that would make my father send me straight to church.
Once I stop hyperventilating, I call my bestie Charlotte, who was briefly my roommate last semester.
She answers on the first ring. “Oh my God, what happened? Did you drive down to San Antonio?”
“You’re never going to guess what that lying asshole was up to. Ezra got engaged. To hishigh schoolsweetheart. Some girl he’s been dating foryears.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. And here’s the worst part—she’s actually really nice. Like, I could see myself being friends with her if she wasn’t dating that tool. I made sure to get her number and told her we should hang out. Right in front of Ezra. I hope he has nightmares about the things I might tell her.”
She hums. “You’re taking this really well.”
“I’m stuffing it all down for later, and not because I loved that idiot. I didn’t. I mean, I had feelings for a while. Until he startedshowing his true colors.” I wonder if I went for him in the first place because my dad likes him so much.
“I’m sorry you’re going through this,” Charlotte says.
“I had to quit cheer because of that asshole. I can’t exactly tote my baby to football games. Even if I could, who knows how long it’ll take to get back to that level of athleticism?”
I was on track to be cheer captain, and now I’ll be elbow deep in baby vomit and poopy diapers.
She lets me rant. “How am I going to do my broadcast course next fall right after I push out a kid?”
Charlotte will be gone by then because her boyfriend Jake will get drafted to a great team, and they’ll be off living their best lives.
I’m thrilled for her.
And terrified for myself.
“Take things one day at a time,” she says calmly.
“One day at a time. I can do that.” I nod, talking out of my ass. “Do you want to go for pizza? I could use something with cheese and lots of carbs.”
“Jake and I were about to head to the movies. He got a babysitter and everything. Want to come with us? We could pick up a pizza on the way.”
“No, go enjoy your date.” As much as I love Jake and Charlotte, I don’t want to be a third wheel. Those two just started dating last semester after a whole whirlwind of drama. They deserve some time to themselves. “Let’s grab lunch on Monday, though. You can help me plan my revenge.”
Ezra deserves my A-game.
I don’t really want to be alone, though, and while I love my parents, I’m not ready to face them.
And even though I threatened Ezra with telling my father about him two-timing me, I don’t have the faintest idea how I’ll broach the subject.
That’s how I end up at the Stallion Station. Because I could really use a hug from Billy.
The driveway is packed with cars, which is no surprise for a Saturday night. The football guys are crazy. On any given night, they might have a swim party, poker night, rave, or dart competition. Though they haven’t played darts since Jinxy got nailed in the ass.
I park down the street and head in when I reach the front door. Music blares from the speakers, and when I reach the living room, it’s packed wall to wall with bodies. Championship banners line the walls.
Even though it’s been a rough day, seeing those banners makes me so proud of my friends on the team and my father. Of their sacrifices to be the best. No one knows better than I do how hard they worked to get to this point.
Movement on the makeshift stage catches my attention. Billy’s up there shaking his ass and smiling at the crowd like he’s Travis Kelce working the crowd after a touchdown.
