Chapter 16
1277 Words
LUCY
“Oh my goddess,” I cried, staring in disbelief at the strip in my hand. “Oh my goddess.”
“We can take another,” Amia said gently, emptying the bag of pregnancy tests on the counter. “I got enough.”
My eyes darted to her, wide with panic. My heart pounded so loud I could barely hear anything else.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t part of the plan. It was never part of the plan.
My knees buckled, and I sank heavily onto the toilet seat, still gripping the test. “I’m pregnant, Amia.”
She moved closer, crouching in front of me. Her hands reached for my trembling hands, steadying them. “That’s what the test says,” she said softly, “but you don’t have to go through this alone, okay?”
Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision as I looked down at the small plus sign. Just one night. That’s all it had been. One reckless night that was supposed to be everything. But it didn’t.
“I can’t—” I started, but my throat closed up. I couldn’t breathe.
“Hey,” Amia squeezed my hands, her voice calm. “You’re in shock. Take a breath. We’ll figure this out together.”
I pressed a shaky hand to my stomach, dreading the life that was just beginning to form. “What am I going to do?” I whispered. “I can’t have this child.”
Amia blinked slowly as if shocked by my statement. She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t need to. I saw the understanding settle in her eyes. “Then you don’t have to. But the father…do you want to tell him?”
I shook my head, hard. “I can’t. He’s… it’s complicated. He’s already complicated.”
Her brows pulled together. “The man standing outside is the father, right?”
A cold chill ran down my spine and I shivered.
“No,” I said quietly. “He’s just a friend. A very good friend. But there’s something about him I can’t seem to place. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve been watching him. The way he acts when he thinks I’m not paying attention. He’s guarded.”
Amia frowned, tilting her head. “You don’t trust him?”
I narrated quickly how we had met him and why I was uncomfortable now.
“The scar looks familiar. It seems like the only thing I can recall from my childhood before I moved in with the Blackwood family. And when I asked about how he got the scar—” I paused, pressing my lips together. “He said he had had it for a long time. Doesn’t know how it came about.”
Amia nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. “What are you saying?”
“I need you to help me,” I whispered, clutching her hand. “Please, Amia. I know you’ve got friends everywhere. If there’s anything—anything at all—you can find out about Austin… I need to know.”
“I’ll help you,” she said without hesitation. “Whatever it takes. But are you certain you want to be running away with a stranger?”
Just then, the bathroom door creaked open, and both of us turned sharply.
My heart jumped into my throat when I saw Austin standing against the doorframe, arms crossed. His face was unreadable, but I noticed the way his eyes flicked from the test in my hand to Amia’s tight grip on mine.
“Everything alright in here?” he asked, voice calm.
Amia stood quickly, her back straightening. “I was just leaving,” she said with a tight smile. “Call me if you need anything, Lucy.”
She slipped past Austin and disappeared into the hallway. He watched her go before stepping into the bathroom.
“Do you need help?” He asked as I made to get up.
I nodded and he drew closer, wrapping his hand around my waist.
His gaze dropped to the pregnancy test still clutched in my hand. “So… what did she say was wrong?”
“Pregnant,” I whispered, settling into the bed. “I’m pregnant.”
He stared at me for a little too long. “Are you certain?”
I nodded slowly, bracing myself for whatever came next.
He stepped closer, expression unreadable. “Is it Blake’s?”
I hesitated—just for a second—but it was long enough. His jaw tensed. “I thought so.”
“It was one time,” I said quickly. “I didn’t even know until today. Austin, I—”
He held up a hand, cutting me off. “Relax. This doesn’t change anything.”
His tone caught me off guard.
I blinked. “What?”
He exhaled, forcing a smile. “I said it doesn’t change the plan. We move forward like we were going to. You’re still part of this, Lucy. The pregnancy…” He trailed off, shrugging. “It’s just a bump in the road.”
“A bump?” I echoed. “This is a baby, Austin.”
His smile faltered for the briefest second, just enough for me to notice the hurt in his eyes. He was trying hard to be calm.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said smoothly. “You won’t have to worry about anything. You’re not alone.”
My heart ached as much as my stomach. His words, though meant to soothe, only made me uneasy.
“I don’t know if I want to keep the child,” I said cautiously. “And Blake—”
“He’s married, Lucy.” He replied matter of fact.
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. My breath caught in my throat. “What?”
He nodded slowly, watching me like he was afraid I would fall apart. “Happened today. It was a small gathering… so I heard. I’m sorry you had to find out like this.”
The pain flashed through my chest like lightning. I knew it was bound to happen, hearing it made the pain unbearable. Yet, the tears didn’t come.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the bed as I pushed myself upright and got out of bed.
“Where are you going?” Austin asked, rushing to my side.
“Getting out of bed and dealing with the boxes,” I replied, brushing him off.
“You don’t have to.”
I picked up an empty box. “I want to.”
I need to. He was married.
Blake was married.
It echoed in my head again and again like a rhyme.
I looked up at Austin. He was still watching me, his eyes flitted with emotions I couldn’t name... didn’t want to name.
Without thinking, I dropped the box and moved towards him.
He blinked as I grabbed his shirt and yanked him toward me, hard. He gasped just before my mouth rested on his.
My lips engulfed his and my tongue pushed in, tasting every bit of him. He didn’t pull away.
His hands gripped my waist, and for a single breathless moment, I thought everything was right with the world.
But Blake’s face invaded my thoughts and I deepened the kiss, wanting to forget.
Because if I didn’t, I’d fall apart.
Finally, I pulled away, and my eyes locked with his.
I didn’t say a word.
I turned around and walked out, leaving him standing there.
I was getting out of here with Austin, even if it took my life.
- Writer
