Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Leah
“Don’t get me wrong. You can crash at my place for as long as you want–me taking care of someone about to be a single mother is getting me laid. All the women I’ve met this month think I’m an angel, but shouldn’t you tell Caleb the truth?”
Jeremy is right; Caleb needs to hear the truth, but I’m terrified his going to hate me after he knows the baby in my belly is his, especially now that he seems to be dating another woman. Agorgeous woman, actually–someone way prettier than me, closer to his age. I see them at the coffee shop a lot, and it hurts
“I don’t know if telling Caleb the truth is such a good idea. The gay might murder me if he finds out I was not as protected as he thought.”
“Caleb would never.”
“You don’t know that…” I mutter while staring down at the tea in my cup. I’m not a big tea drinker, but I’m trying to drink as little caffeine as possible.
“Are you trying to tell me Caleb still isn’t into you?”
“He isn’t into me!” I snap. “If he were, then he wouldn’t be dating someone else.”
Jeremy leans back in his chair with a sigh, crossing his muscular arms. He looks really good in his tight black T–shirt, but he isn’t my type and has become my best friend in the weeks we have looked together.
“What?” I ask, eyes stuck on his calculating expression. “I can see that there’s something on your mind, so just get it out.
He sighs again. “I don’t want you to get mad at me.”
“I won’t get mad.” I might get a little bit mad, but I’m not about to tell him that.
“Okay, so look, Leah, I get it. You’re scared of talking to Caleb, and yes, I think he is fucking frightening too. The man is like a billion feet tall and rich and shit. But telling him isn’t going to turn easier with time.”
Jeremy is right, but the mere thought of confronting Caleb sends a wave of nausea through me. Or maybe it’s just the morning sickness. I’ve been getting that a lot lately.
“I will tell him, but…I need time
“You’ve had time, Leah!”
“More time!”
“Okay, okay! No need to get mad at me. Just don’t wait too long to tell him, okay?”
Instead of answering him, I fill my mouth with tea. Anything to escape from the conversation.
Jeremy, however, sees right through me and rolls his eyes in exasperation. “I know what you’re doing.”
I play dumb. “What am I doing?”
“Stalling.”
19-17 SUI, FW I
Chapter 39
“I’m not.”
“You so are…”
“Lies…”
Jeremy groans. “Leah, Leah, Leah..why don’t you just call him?
“Because I don’t want to,” I mutter.
Jeremy arches a thick eyebrow. “And why is that? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of your ex–boyfriend.”
“I’m not afraid of him,” I totally am. “But what if he doesn’t believe me? What if he thinks I’m trying to trap him or ruin his new relationship?”
“Then that’s on him,” Jeremy rubs his eyelids with his fingertips as if trying to repel a headache before he opens his mouth again. “I get that you’re scared. But this isn’t about you or Caleb’s new relationship It’s about that baby.” He points at my not- so–flat stomach. “That little one deserves to have a father in their life, regardless of how Caleb might react to the news.”
I pout, tears already prickling behind my eyelids due to my hormones. “You just had to fight dirty and mention the baby, didn’t you?
“Yes,” he grins. “Because, in the end, you’re a great soon–to–be–mother, and I know you will do what’s right for the baby.” The deepest sigh of sighs leaves my lips. “Fine, I give him a call
Jeremy doesn’t even try not to sound like a mother when he says “Tonight.”
“Tonight,” I agree. “But only because you’re forcing me.”
Jeremy looks very satisfied when he sips his coffee. “Good, because I’m honestly starting to get tired of you eating all the good stuff in my fridge.”
I throw a tissue at him, but it falls onto the table, and Jeremy snorts at me.
“Was that supposed to hit me?”
“It was.” I grumble and pick up my phone, staring down at it with a hundred thoughts in my head. “What if Caleb won’t pick up the phone?”
“Then I will visit him with you. But it won’t come to that. He will pick up the phone. Trust me.”
I’m not sure if that’s very comforting to hear since I’m terrified of my future conversation with Caleb. But I know I can’t avoid it forever…
Later that same evening, I’m a complete and utter mess. I’m sitting on the couch, holding my phone in my hand, with my speech written on a small note.
The plan is not to tell Caleb that I’m pregnant over the phone. No, he needs to hear that in person, so I’m about to ask him out for a coffee. Hopefully, he doesn’t turn me down.
“Okay, here goes nothing…
19:17 Sat, Feb 1 BLI
Chapter 39
67
I pick up the phone and dial Caleb’s number. It’s still saved as my favorite, and I hold my breath while listening to the long BEEPS of judgment. When he finally answers, I almost pass out from hearing his sexy voice.
“Hello?”
Shit, what do I say? Is there a perfect “hello” that will set him in a good mood for what I am about to drop down on him? Probably not. No one is ever ready to hear an “I am pregnant” bornb.
I nervously reply with a silent, “Its me,” and immediately feel stupid when Caleb goes silent. For some reason, I can imagine him already holding back a smile at that
“Am I supposed to know who this ‘me‘ persón is?” Oh, he is having fun with me now. I can hear the tease in his voice and feel my cheeks burn with humiliation.
“I think you know who it is…”
He chuckles. “I do…” There’s a silent moment, and while I would like to imagine him smiling, he breaks that fantasy by suddenly sounding colder. “But while I haven’t heard from you in a while, now isn’t the best time to call me. I’m busy–1 hear someone giggle behind him.
“Are you seriously on the phone again?” It’s a woman’s voice, probably the gorgeous redhead I saw him with at the coffee shop a few weeks ago.
– “This won’t take long.” Caleb tells her, to which she playfully sighs at him.
“Fine, but this is the last time, okay? We just got out of the shower, and you should be able to stop working for a second. It’s Friday, and you’ve promised me a movie night!”
Is she staying there? Geez, I didn’t know they were that serious! Caleb only slept with women before he met me. It was just about sex, but a movie night means this is a serious relationship he is in
“Just one second,” Caleb urges.
His new woman sighs. “I will be in the bathroom drying my hair.”
I hear a door close, and then Caleb is back to focusing on our phone call again. “So….” He drawls. “You got off the pill, huh?”
“Got off the pill?”
“Mhm, you must have because I couldn’t help but notice that you had quite the belly going on when I saw you.”
1 gulp at his words, but there’s no beating around the bush, so I don’t even bother to hide it. “Yeah, I’m pregnant…”
“I figured,” he releases a tiny sigh, and then it sounds like he is opening his wallet. “So why are you calling me? You and yo baby daddy need money?”
“Money?” my eyes flash wide. Is he trying to find his credit card or something? Fuck, he is, isn’t he?! “What? No. op looki through your wallet. I don’t need your money, Caleb!”
“You don’t need money?”
“Well, I do, but that’s not why I’m-”
“Ha, I knew it!”
.
Chapter 39
1s he actually being serious right now?!
“Knew what? That I’m poor? That’s not news, Calels I’ve always been a broke bitch, but that’s not the reason I’m calling you
Caleb goes silent for a second, but then he is back to speaking to me in a confused voice. “Then why are you calling me then all of a sudden? It’s been months since the last time we spoke, Leh.”
I
“Why am I calling you?” Anger pulsates in my veins, and before know it, I blurt out, “Oh my god, are you an idiot The baby is fucking yours, Caleb!”
