CHAPTER ONE
“Rylee!” I hear my name continually being called, but I’m unable to pinpoint whose voice it is over the ringing in my ears.
All I can focus on is the test in my trembling hand, as my breath comes out in quick, panicked pants. After what feels like hours, I wrap my fingers around the test so tight that the plastic bites into my flesh, as I close my eyes, tip my head back, and smother a sob that threatens to leave my throat.
I’ve suspected this for a few weeks now. That I could be pregnant. With everything going on, I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind and pretend it wasn’t an option. But overthe past few days, I’ve woken up before any of the guys and ran to the bathroom to puke, before cleaning up and going on with my day like nothing happened.
After hearing the poison spill from that vile bitch’s mouth—that she was pregnant with my man’s baby—and hearing Lennox’s gut-curdling confirmation, I felt like something was dying inside.
How could he? I thought he loved me, loved Mateo.
I know he was hurting, we all saw it. I tried to help him, tried to get him to talk to me, but he wouldn’t. Not to me, not Mateo. No one.
But her? How the fuck could he do that to us, betray us and go to her. She’s evil. He knows this. He hates her. So why the hell would he leave us to be with her?!
It doesn’t make sense. None of this does.
He has to be lying, right?
She’s not pregnant with his kid. I am. I fucking am!
God, fucking hell. Please let this all be one big fucked up nightmare. What did I ever do to deserve nothing but endless pain and heartbreak.
Is this my punishment for loving so many men? It shouldn’t be. There’s nothing wrong with loving more than one person.
Clearly, the universe thinks otherwise though, and has decided to take one of my men away from me and give him to one of the worst people on this planet.
I hate her. I hate him. I fucking hate my life.
All I want to do is crumble to my knees and break down. To give up. Because what’s the fucking point?
“Rylee! If you don’t open this door right now, I’m going to break it down!”
“Fuck,” I hiss, snapping out of my trapped mind. That was Mateo, and knowing him, he’ll do it.
“Coming!” I croak out, wiping at my tear-stained face, unaware I was crying. “Just peeing.”
The pounding continues as I frantically look for a place to stash the test. Right now is the worst moment to be telling them about something so life changing, when everything is royally fucked up.
I haven’t even had the chance to process what the fuck just happened back at the gym, let alone the fact I’m pregnant.
Another bang has me yelping, tossing the test into the dirty hamper next to the sink.
My eyes widen as the door bursts open, nearly splintering as it smashes against the wall behind it.
Mateo stands there like an angry bull, eyes wild, nostrils flaring as he takes me in. “Rylee,” he breathes, rushing over to me. “Baby. Fuck. Are you okay?”
He cups my face gently, his gaze roaming over me, checking to see if I’m okay.
“No.” I huff out a laugh, giving him a teary, sad smile. “I’m not okay. I just found out our boyfriend is having a baby with the girl who’s made my life miserable since coming here. I’m not okay. I’m far from it.”
I plaster on a fake smile that I know no one’s going to buy, but I’m still in shock, and I honestly have no fucking clue how to react.
“But I’ll be okay. I’m always okay.” I laugh, because if I don’t, I’ll cry, and that bitch doesn’t deserve my tears. I’ve cried enough over Lennox these past few weeks, I don’t know if I have anything left in me.
“Fuck,” Mateo hisses, pulling me into his arms. His hold is tight as I wrap my arms around him, burying my face into his chest, and he holds me there with his hand against the back of my head. “Fuck, baby. I’m so fucking sorry. Everything is going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.”
I know he's sorry. And he shouldn’t be. He didn’t do this to us. He’s hurting just as much, maybe even more, than me.
