Fallon
We had an early morning practice today. Something weird happened with Kennedy in the training room afterward.
I hope I’m wrong, but I think she might be pregnant.
She was counting her birth control pills and then had a momentary freakout.
I tried to calm her down, but she ran out of there before confirming anything.
Now I’m freaking out. I would almost rather I didn’t have this information. Jett knows we talk, but this is life-altering news. If it’s true, how do I keep it from him? I’d have to betray one of them. It’s a decision I don’t want to be forced to make.
I’m having lunch with Reggie at the hospital during her break before I pick up Harper from Tanner’s house. We used to eat lunch together nearly every day. I love my new job, but I also miss our time together.
She plops down at the table in the cafeteria with a huge Stanley water bottle. “Drinking on the job?” I joke.
She scrunches her face. “Nope, it’s water.
Fucking lemon water. I’m trying to drink more of it for health and shit.
It’s supposed to help with my cougar puberty.
Why does drinking eight cups of water over the course of an entire day seem impossible, but four margaritas and four glasses of wine in two hours slide down like a fat lady at a waterpark? ”
I burst out laughing. “Oh my god. That’s horrible…but also true. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to drink that much water in a day. Why is it so damn hard to drink a lot of it?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know, but it’s making me have to pee every ten minutes, as if I needed help in that department.
Anyhoo, tell me about the amazing sex you’re having.
My libido is in the crapper lately. Fucking menopause.
Men get midlife crises where they buy fancy sports cars and fuck women half their age.
We get dry vaginas and are repulsed by the thought of sex. ”
I giggle. “Stop it. Sam isn’t doing any of that.”
“Yet. He’s not doing it yet. How long will he put up with my crazy ass? It’s like I see how crazy I’m acting and how mean I am, but I can’t seem to stop myself. I’m doing the best with the limited tools I have.”
“What tools do you think you have?” She always downplays how amazing she is.
She shrugs. “Food, alcohol, and Wi-Fi.”
I roll my eyes at her ridiculousness before grabbing her hand. “Maybe you should go see a doctor and get hormone supplements. I’ve read they can help a lot.”
She nods. “I think I might.” Her eyes tear. “I’m so horrible to the most wonderful man on the planet. It kills me.”
I lean across the table to hug her. “Oh, sweetie, this will pass. Sam loves you. He knows it’s just temporary. He’s not running away.”
She nods into my shoulder and croaks out, “I hope so.”
I rub her back. “Don’t think less of yourself. You’re honestly one of my favorite people in the world. Sam’s too. You’re so wonderful. You’re the total package.”
She sniffles. “I think my package got a little fucked up during shipping and handling.”
I shake my head. “Nope. It arrived in perfect condition. You’re an incredible woman. Your husband knows it. I promise.”
She nods as we continue to embrace. It’s rare for Reggie to get so emotional. I’m not sure I realized just how upset she’s been. I’m happy to be here for her in her time of need.
After she collects herself, she wipes her eyes. “Okay, pity party is over. Give me some horny details. Maybe it will stir something in my Vajara Desert.”
“Are you sure you want to hear this?” I ask, not wanting to make her feel bad.
“Absolutely. Hit me with all the spicy details. The dirtier the better. I need it,” she declares as she brings the straw of her water bottle to her lips.
I can’t contain my growing smile. “We fucked in his car a few weeks ago and got busted by the police. The officer thought I was a prostitute.”
She spits out her water. “Holy shit. Are you serious?”
I nod. “Sure am.”
“Why did the officer think that?” she asks accusatorily. “What were you wearing?”
I scrunch my face. “This red lacy thing Jett bought me. He’s always buying me sexy lingerie. He loves when I model it for him, and he really loves taking it off me.”
She fans her face. “That’s so hot. I can’t tell you the last time I had sex in a car, but the year definitely started with a nineteen.”
I giggle.
“So things are still good with him?” she asks.
I nod. “Really good. He met Harper. They seemed to get along well. She kept calling him my boyfriend. She was using that word over and over. I think she’s amused that I have one. He’s seen her a few times since. She’s still assessing him, but that’s Harper.”
“Have you met his son yet?”
I sigh. “No. When our season is over, we’ll tell Kennedy and then Pierce.”
She notices my conflicted face. “What’s wrong?”
I exhale a long breath. “I’ve formed this amazing relationship with Kennedy. I truly adore her. She’s such a special girl, and we’ve clicked very naturally. She doesn’t talk to her mom. I think she sees me as a bit of a maternal figure.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” she offers hopefully.
I nod. “I know. It’s just…” I pause, wanting to articulate without divulging anything.
“I think she may have something major going on in her life and might confide in me about it. Something Jett will want to know. I don’t want to betray Kennedy by telling him, but I don’t want to betray Jett by not telling him.
I feel like I have to choose between them. ”
She studies me carefully. “Is she in any danger?”
I shake my head. “No, nothing like that.”
She shrugs. “Kennedy is an adult. Short of her being in danger, it’s her news to share, not yours. You can encourage her to tell her father, but it’s not your business to do so.”
My shoulders fall. “I know, but I don’t like keeping secrets from him. He was lied to in his marriage. It’s a trigger for him. We have such a healthy relationship. I don’t want to rock the boat.”
She gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, babe. It’s a tough position to be in.”
On my way to pick up Harper, Kennedy texted asking if she could come by my house to talk. I know what she’s going to tell me. Fuck.
I told her Harper would be there, hoping she wouldn’t come, but she was adamant about seeing me. I know she needs someone to confide in, but it should be her parents, not me.
I grab Harper and drive home, quickly jumping in the shower as soon as we arrive. By the time I’m out, I can hear Harper and Kennedy in the kitchen talking. I throw on a T-shirt and shorts, rushing downstairs with my hair still wet. I walk down and see Kennedy sitting at my kitchen island.
After asking Harper to go upstairs to read, Kennedy and I chat for a bit about nothing in particular, but I can tell she has a lot on her mind.
“I’m guessing this is a big conversation?” I eventually ask.
She swallows uncharacteristically nervously before nodding. Uncertainty covers her face, which is rare for her. She’s one of the most outwardly confident women I’ve ever met.
I want to soothe her. “Would you like some hot chocolate? I have lots of marshmallows,” I happily offer.
She smiles widely. “Sure. That would be nice.” Her brows pinch together. “How did you know that I like extra marshmallows in my hot chocolate?”
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. I’m not supposed to know how much she likes marshmallows in her hot chocolate. I’m not supposed to know that was her thing with Jett when she was a little girl.
I turn to make the hot chocolate so she can’t see my freak-out face, and nonchalantly say, “Doesn’t…everyone?”
“I suppose,” she responds.
When I hand it to her, she looks up at me. “I confirmed it. I’m pregnant.”
Fuck. Me. Why did she have to tell me?
I plaster on my best calm, I’m here to listen face. “How do you feel about it?”
She shrugs. “I’m not sure. The father is over the moon. He’s so fucking happy. I can’t get over how damn excited he is about it.”
Okay, that’s not so bad. I was expecting worse, like someone she couldn’t even remember, given how she talks about her promiscuous sex life. “That’s good news, isn’t it? Anyone I know?” I stupidly ask, assuming I won’t know the person.
She exhales a long breath. “Obviously it stays between you and me for now, but it’s Daylen Humblecut.”
What? “The football player?” I fail to mask my shock.
She nods. “Yes.”
I’m dumbfounded. He’s not what I’d expect for Kennedy.
At least I know he’s a good guy. He’ll be involved with this child.
“I…didn’t know you two were dating. You’re kind of an unlikely pair.
He’s so…goofy. At least on TV and in the handful of times I met him when I was married to Tanner.
We lived in New York City when we were married, so we didn’t see Tanner’s Philly clients as much as he does now.
I can’t believe you’ve been able to keep your relationship with Daylen out of the press. You’re both so popular in this town.”
She twists her lips. “We’re not really dating. It’s…complicated.”
“How so?”
She licks her lips nervously. “I haven’t told another soul this except my therapist in Maine, but we got drunk in Vegas, and—”
“And what?” I’m fearful of where this story is headed. Please don’t be headed where I think it’s headed.
She scrunches her face. “We accidentally got married.” Oh crap.
“We can’t get it annulled until the end of the year.
” She runs her fingers through her hair.
“The judge said we can’t be unfaithful or the clock starts over.
We were both sort of…horny one night, and it just happened.
I had a little food poisoning so I think my birth control got fucked up.
And now I’m a knocked-up fucking cliché. ”
I should win an Academy Award for how cool I’m pretending to be over this story. Internally, I’m completely freaking out. Jett will literally kill him.
“How do you feel about Daylen?” I somehow manage to calmly ask.
Her eyes fill with tears. “He’s a great guy.
I hated him at first, but I don’t feel that way now.
Not at all. He’s different from any other man I’ve spent time with.
It’s hard to articulate. He makes me feel…
safe. I trust him, and no matter what happens with us, I know he’ll be a loving, attentive father. ”
I agree with that. “Well, that’s important, sweetie. More important than you could possibly imagine.”
She nods. “I know it is, but we’re not in love. We’re not even together. I can admit the physical chemistry is strong, very strong. But we were thrust into this situation. We’ve never even gone on a real date.”
We chat a little bit about their interactions of the past few months. I can tell she cares a lot about him, even if it’s hard for her to admit to herself. It sounds like he feels the same. It’s not a traditional relationship, but the optimist in me thinks maybe things could work between them.
I smile hopefully. “Man, this is the most chronologically fucked up relationship ever. First comes hate, then comes marriage, then comes sex, then comes dating, then comes friendship, then comes baby. Maybe the next thing will be love?”
“Yep, fucked up. That’s me and my life in a nutshell.” Her pretty eyes fill with tears again.
I shake my head. “You’re not fucked up, Kennedy. You have some demons, as does everyone. You don’t think I was fucked up after my marriage ended? Let me promise you, I was. I am. It’s been seven years, and I still don’t have my shit together most days.”
“You?” she questions. “You’re perfect.”
I go on to tell her just how imperfect I am, leaving her speechless.
“No one is perfect,” I continue. “We all have demons. We’ve all made mistakes.
And none of us have a time machine to allow us to rewrite the past. I wish more than most that we did, but we don’t.
All you can do is learn from those mistakes and move forward.
Try each day to be better than you were the day before.
Try to raise a good kid who isn’t an asshole. ”
Naturally, Harper enters as I curse, reprimanding me immediately.
Her reappearance ends this part of our conversation, but Kennedy sticks around for the remainder of the afternoon to hang out with Harper and me.
She lets Harper braid her hair while we watch The Real Housewives.
She’s so obviously aching for family. I need to find a way to bridge the gap between her and Jett.
I know they’ve made progress, but this will throw a wrench into it.
When Harper goes to the bathroom, I subtly encourage Kennedy to tell her parents. She practically laughs in my face.
Shit. What am I going to do?