Snapshot

29. Winnie

I love the library because there’s only so much to be distracted by. That’s why I come here to study. Unfortunately, it has taken nothing to steal my focus these last three days. All the distractions are in my head or stomach.

Three days since I took the test and two very dark pink lines popped up almost immediately. It didn’t even take the full five minutes.

I’m pregnant.

Preg. Nant.

Just thinking about it makes me sick. Surprisingly, not in a disgusted way, but in an uneasy way. I’ve always wanted kids; at least two, because I loved growing up with a sibling. But I thought I would be graduated and stable in my career, or at least be married. And if not married, at least in a steady relationship with the dad. I am none of the above. Eighteen—nearly nineteen—first year in college, and not even through the first trimester. Damn Reese and his super sperm.

Thank God Coach told me to take the week off because it’s an away-game weekend. Plus, there are only so many photos I can take at practice. We decided on one or two practices a week unless more are needed, but I’ll be at every game. Which works well for me, especially right now when the last person I want to be around is the dad of the baby growing inside me. Honestly, telling Reese doesn’t seem that scary because I know him, and weirdly enough, he’s going to be ecstatic. That’s the part that scares me. I don’t know if I’m ready for everything yet. There are still so many variables, and my feelings for him are complicated, to say the least. Especially now.

“Winnie?” A soft, feminine voice sounds behind me.

I turn enough to see who it is, and Laney smiles back at me, holding a few books to her chest.

“Hey, Laney.”

“Oh, good. I thought it was you, but I also thought the redhead I saw two weeks ago was you. It was awkward for everyone. Anyway! How are you?”

I don’t know what happens, but I burst into hysterics. Poor Laney looks mortified as tears and snot pour down my face.

She sets her books on the table next to me and throws her arms around me, squeezing as tightly as her small frame can. We might not be that close, but right now she feels like a friend, so I hug her back.

“Winnie, are you dying? You’re scaring me.”

Unable to help myself, I giggle. She pushes away to see my face, worry still prominent on her light eyebrows. I glance at the scar across her face before quickly looking away. I am curious how she got it, but that’s not something you can just ask someone.

“No.” I shake my head. “Not dying, but there is something I need to tell someone, and I guess you’re the lucky one who gets to hear it.” I take a deep breath and then blurt out, “I’m pregnant.”

As scary as it is admitting it out loud, since this makes it really official, it feels good to get it off my chest. That first weight has been lifted.

She takes the seat next to me but stays close so we don’t have to talk loud.

“Are you sure? You took a test and everything? Have you been to the doctor?”

I reach into my bag and pull out the test, just enough so she can see; then I drop it back inside. “I’ve not been to the doctor, but I’d say that’s pretty positive.”

She nods her head quickly. “Like, the most positive. Maybe you’re having twins.”

Oh, God. “No, let’s not put that into the universe, please.”

Giggling, she says, “Well, have you told Reese?”

I twist my lips. “Uh, no. Not exactly, but that’s why I have three pregnancy tests hanging out in my backpack. I planned on going to his place and showing him, but… ya know, I haven’t.”

“I mean, I can’t say I really blame you, but Reese is going to be so happy, Winnie. We don’t live there anymore, but we still see the guys here and there, and anytime we do, Reese mentions you at least once.”

My heart flutters. “Really?”

She nods quickly. “Yes, really. He is in love, like more than I think I’ve seen anyone be in love.”

Love. When he told me he loved me the first time, I was drunk on alcohol and sex, so it was easy to ignore. The second time felt like a punch to the gut. He was right, though. I wasn’t ready to hear it. Now… I don’t know, maybe I am. I still need to deal with Elijah, but if I’m going to have Reese’s baby, he’s going to have to accept it if he wants to be in his niece or nephew’s life.

“I plan on telling him after the weekend. I don’t want to distract him before the first game of the season.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, us too. I take it you are riding with the team?”

“Yeah. Got my own badge and everything.”

“I heard, that’s such a good opportunity, Winnie!”

It really is, and I wouldn’t have it without Reese. In fact, Reese is to thank for a lot of the best moments in my life. He’s been a part of every big, special occasion for as long as I can remember. It’s only fair he should be a part of this one too.

“Are you up for being my support while I tell the father of my baby I’m pregnant?”

Her eyes round, but eventually, she nods. “Okay. Right now?”

I wanted to wait, but now that I’ve just admitted it out loud, I don’t know how I can wait to tell him. This is a huge thing, and I know Reese would want to be aware. Knowing him, he would want to be holding the stick I peed on if I allowed it. I gather my stuff in a hurry and eye her anxiously. “Yeah, I don’t think I can wait.”

“Well, alright.” She follows my lead and stands, and I think she’s kind of excited too. “Let’s go make Reese’s day.”

Gosh, I hope she’s right about him being happy.

“You’re fucked if you think Ross wasn’t in the wrong.”

Sawyer rolls his eyes. “She broke up with him.”

A sudden knock on the door pulls us from our debate. I straighten from the foosball table and lift my hands in a truce while I head for the door. “She called for a break. You know what?” I tug the door open, my eyes still on Sawyer. “I’m not getting into this with you. Just know you’re wrong.”

“Wrong about what?”

I whip my head in the direction of the sweetest voice. Winnie stares at me, a curious eyebrow lifted and a nervous smile on her face.

“Uh…”

Sawyer stops by my side and slaps my shoulder. “He thinks Ross was in the wrong for fucking that bar girl after Rachel broke up with him.”

Winnie’s smile falls, but mine grows. “And you think Ross was in the right?”

Sawyer nods, not backing down at all. What he doesn’t know is Winnie is the biggest Friends fan I know, and she feels very strongly about Ross and Rachel.

“Of course you do.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. She mocks him by doing the same thing.

“It means I’m not surprised you feel that way.”

I can’t help but chuckle at Winnie’s vagueness and how Sawyer is handling it. I never noticed before, but Sawyer is like the male version of Winnie. No wonder he’s my best friend and they butt heads.

I flick a look to Winnie, still smiling. “What are you doing here?”

“Um…” She chews on her lip in the cutest way. “I kind of need to talk to you.”

Is this where she breaks my heart and tells me she can’t do it? Whatever it is between us? We’ve been dancing around it after she jumped in my arms. I catch her looking at me more than not, but anytime I try and talk to her, she runs away.

She seems happy, though. Nervous but happy. So maybe she’s here to say she finally gives in. I hope it comes out better than that, but I’ll take anything if she’s telling me she wants this between us.

“Fine, but you can’t do it in my apartment,” Sawyer huffs from somewhere behind me.

“I wouldn’t want to step foot in your apartment if someone paid me.”

“Good. Go be an Emily somewhere else.”

Winnie’s eyes round, and when Sawyer barks out a loud laugh, she storms forward. I catch her around the waist and tug her into my arms. “Easy, killer. He’s just pulling your leg. Everyone knows you’re my Monica.”

That seems to settle her, but it doesn’t last long because Sawyer doesn’t know how to keep his big mouth shut.

“More like your Janice.”

“Ugh! You’re the worst.”

Sawyer winks in her direction, but she spins and storms from the apartment. I glance back, and he grins.

“You really are the worst. You know she’s going to marinate on that all night.”

He gives me a salute. “Good luck, brother.”

I follow after Winnie but stop when I notice she’s not alone.

“Laney? Are you here to see Sawyer?”

Her eyes round. “Uh, n-no. Why would I be here to see Sawyer?”

I shrug, pretending not to notice her stutter. “Just wondering.”

“No, I brought her for support.”

I cut my eyes to Winnie. “Why do you need support?”

They share a look I don’t understand, and my impatience grows.

“Actually, he’s probably right. You don’t need to sit in with us. I’m sorry I dragged you all this way.”

Laney doesn’t seem bothered that Winnie changed her mind. She offers to call her an Uber, but I have an even better idea.

“Why don’t you go hang with Sawyer? I was playing him in foos. Maybe you can take over crushing him for me.”

Before Laney can say no, Winnie jumps in. “Oh, yeah! Then we can get pizza or something after.”

I don’t know how my girl does it, but she gets Laney to agree, and once she’s disappeared through Sawyer’s door, Winnie grabs my hand and drags me across the hall to mine. I can’t get a read on her right now. Something is different.

Memories of the last time I followed her into this apartment flash through my head, but I do my best to keep them at bay. I still don’t know why she’s here, and I don’t really want to have a boner if she plans on breaking up with me.

Not that I will let her, but it’d be awkward for everyone involved.

Instead of sitting inside, she decides she wants to take Eeyore on a walk. I don’t tell her that I already did earlier because I heard there might be some bad weather later. Whatever keeps her here longer, the better.

We walk in peaceful silence. At least she seems peaceful. I, on the other hand, am freaking out over what would bring her all the way to my place. It has to be big for her to show up randomly. I can’t imagine what it could be, though.

“So, you wanted to talk?”

She sucks in a sharp breath. “I did.”

Okaaay.

“Do you remember when Dad’s Bronco rolled down our driveway and hit your truck?”

“Uh, yeah. I guess.” Not sure what that has to do with us now. Unless she hit my truck again. “You hit my truck again?”

She giggles and nudges my arm with hers. “No. And I didn’t hit it the first time, so stop it.”

“Sure, you didn’t.”

Every time Winnie smiles, it’s like a time machine. It’s so easy to remember the first time I ever saw it. She was missing teeth, but so was I, and I remember thinking she had the best smile. I didn’t want to go another day not seeing it. It feels good that she’s happy again. I’ve seen enough tears from Winnie to last me a lifetime.

“I’ve missed you, Win. Not just lately, but the last couple of years. Life without you isn’t the same as when you’re in it.”

“Me too, Reese,” she whispers.

My annoying text tone cuts through the moment, and I think to ignore it, but it’s Coach’s ringtone, so I pull it out.

Coach: Possible storm tonight. Not sure games will be happening this weekend, and no practice. Will reschedule games if they don’t happen, but spread the word and tell everyone to get home.

Me: Will do, Coach.

I slip my phone back into my pocket, and Winnie glances back from a few feet ahead with Eeyore in her arms.

“Girlfriend?”

“Nah, she wouldn’t be texting me right now.”

Her eyes blaze before I add, “Considering she’s right in front of me.”

Winnie’s cheeks pinken, and she lowers her face to the ground. “You’re impossible.”

I nudge her shoulder. “It was Coach. We’re meant to get some bad weather tonight. Might not have games this weekend.”

“That sucks. What kind of weather?”

“I’m not sure. Let’s get back so I can warn the rest.”

While Winnie is putting Eeyore back in his new and improved cage, I head across the hall to Sawyer’s place. Not worrying about knocking, I throw open the door. Laney jumps away from Sawyer, and he shoots me a murderous glare.

“What?” he barks angrily.

I don’t know what was happening or why they were standing in the middle of the room looking like they were about to kiss, but Laney’s cheeks are on fire as she tries to avoid my eyes.

“Coach texted me. The weather might stop games from happening this weekend. Practice is canceled.”

“The season is already starting late as it is.”

I shrug. “I know, but what can you do? I just checked the weather. They are talking about high winds and possible flooding. Unheard of for this time of year.”

He huffs and rakes his hand through his hair. “Where’s Emma?”

I assume he’s not speaking to me, so I leave to talk to the others.

No one is excited about our first game being possibly delayed, and I can’t blame them because neither am I. Practice is great and all, but games are where the magic really happens. I’m itching to play, to fight, and to win. But our playing season was already delayed because they were having issues with scheduling or something. I’m honestly not sure; I was zoning out when Coach was telling us about it because Winnie was wearing green that day.

I fucking love when she wears green.

Winnie is stepping out of my apartment when I round the corner, and she smiles when she sees me. Fuck, she’s pretty when she smiles.

“I thought I lost you.”

“Had to warn the rest of the team about the weather and games.”

“Oh, okay.”

An awkward beat passes between us before I move closer than I’ve been since that night. She lets me, and I take that as a good sign. Her eyes bounce from mine to my lips.

Just before our mouths meet, she says my name.

“Yeah?”

She licks her lips and sighs. “I’m—”

“You have an apartment right fucking there, you know?”

Groaning, it’s my turn to glare at Sawyer for being interrupted. “This payback or some shit?”

He shrugs. “I gotta go get Emma. You guys mentioned something about pizza?”

“Pizza, yes!” Winnie slips under my arms, excited over the mention of food. A little too excited, I think.

What did she say before Sawyer came out? Fuck, I can’t remember. I guess whatever she was going to tell me will have to wait. It’s obvious she doesn’t want to say it in front of someone.

I’m going to run through the hints like this is fucking Blue’s Clues in my head, though. She brought someone as support, she mentioned when she hit my truck, and she seems genuinely happy… those don’t fucking connect to me.

Women and their mind games.