CHAPTER 5
968 Words
Savannah didn’t want to talk. She just wanted the world to pause for five minutes so she could think.
But thinking hurts the more..
She sat on the couch, legs curled under her, arms wrapped around a throw pillow like it could protect her from the truth. It couldn’t. Nothing could.
“I’m not trying to push,” Tasha said from the other side of the room. “But you’re gonna have to face it eventually.”
Savannah took a deep breath.“I already did.”
“You took a test. That’s not the same.”Tasha said
“It’s the same,” she muttered, staring at the floor. “There’s no maybe. There’s no wait-and-see. It’s two lines. I read the instructions like six times.”
Tasha walked over and sat beside her. “And it’s his?”
Savannah didn’t look at her. “Yeah.”
“Oh, Sav…”
“It was one night,” Savannah replied
“I know.”
“I didn’t know who he was. Not until brunch.”
Tasha didn’t speak. That part still felt too much to talk about.
“I just—I needed to forget Nathan,” Savannah said, her voice sounding small. “After everything he did. After everything, I forgave. I needed to stop feeling like an idiot.”
“And then you met a stranger,” Tasha added.
“Who wasn’t a stranger. Just... someone I hadn’t realized was already in my life.”Savannah whispered
Tasha gave her a sad look. “Your dad’s best friend. Jesus.”
“Yeah,” Savannah said. “Jesus I'm ruined.”
They sat in silence. The TV was off. Even the city noise outside seemed to have quieted down.
“You have to tell him,” Tasha finally said.
Savannah blinked. “Tell who?”
“Grayson.”
Her mouth was dry. “I can’t.”
“You can,” Tasha screamed
“He’ll freak out.”Savannah said shaking her head
“So what? You think you’re not freaking out?”
“I barely know him,” Savannah said. “He was just—he was just a night. He wasn’t supposed to be anything else.”
“But now he is.”
Another silence.
Savannah stood and paced. Her stomach flipped, not from the pregnancy but from her nerves. She wrapped her arms around herself. “I feel like I’m drowning.”
“I know.”
A knock came at the door.
Savannah turned. “You expecting someone?”
Tasha shook her head. “Nope.”
Knock became Louder.
Savannah hesitated. Then she opened the door.
Grayson stood there.
He looked... different. Not just tired. Uncertain. Like he wasn’t sure if she’d slam the door in his face.
“Hi,” he said.
Savannah didn’t move.
“Can I come in?” he said, looking deep in her eyes.
She nodded once and stepped aside.
Tasha stood up, grabbed her bag, and muttered, “I’ll head out.”
“You don’t have to—” Savannah said
“I do,” she said gently. “Call me later.”
Then she was gone.
Now it was just Savannah and him.
Grayson stayed by the door for a second before walking further inside. He looked around like he didn’t know where to stand.
“I shouldn’t have come unannounced,” he said. “I just... you’ve been avoiding me.”
Savannah folded her arms. “It’s been a weird week.”
“You looked sick at brunch and you refused to tell me what was wrong with you.”
“I was,” she muttered.
He stepped closer. “Are you okay?”
“No.”
The word surprised both of them.
He waited.
I ve' being feeling weird lately, somehow off.
“I took a test,” Savannah said, her voice flat. “I’m pregnant.”
Grayson’s face didn’t change right away. It was like the words hadn’t landed yet.
Then they did.
“What?”
“Yeah.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re sure it’s mine?”
She stared at him.
“Sorry,” he added quickly. “That was a stupid question.”
Savannah nodded once. “I’m five days late. Took the test two nights ago.”
Grayson sat down on the edge of the coffee table, like his legs didn’t trust the weight of the moment. “I didn’t expect this.”
“Neither did I,” she blurted
“Are you... Okay?” he looked bothered.
She shrugged. “No idea.”
“Do you want to keep it?” he asked.
Savannah didn’t answer right away. “That’s not the point. The point is... you’re my dad’s best friend.”
Grayson closed his eyes. “I know.”
“This could ruin everything,” Savannah added.
“I know that too,” he said
“You said the night meant nothing,” she asked.
He nodded slowly. “I lied.”
That made her chest ache.
“I didn’t come here for answers,” he said. “I just came to say I'm here if you need me.”
“You don’t have to fix anything.” Savannah looked away.
“I’m not trying to. I... want to be here. If you’ll let me.”Grayson said, feeling concerned
Savannah didn’t know how to respond. Everything in her life was spinning too fast.
Then—
There
came a knock, Another knock.
Her heart stopped. Maybe Tasha forgot something, "she said,
Grayson stood up.
Savannah opened the door.
Her dad.
Richard Blake.
His eyes moved between her and Grayson, confusion turning into something darker.
“Savannah,” he said, voice slow and sharp, “what’s going on?”
No one spoke.
The air cracked with silence.
- Writer
