Chapter 31
Cassie
Present Day.
B ecca stares at me. She stares hard .
She hasn’t blinked in a really long time, and I’m starting to worry that she may have developed some kind of neurological disorder.
A few seconds tick by. And then a few more.
After a full minute of considerably awkward silence, she says softly under her breath, “Oh my god, Cassie. You’re in love with him.”
I open my mouth to respond. But then close it again when Becca starts pacing back and forth across the restroom, holding both hands up in the air like she’s trying to stop traffic.
“This changes everything. I thought you were just fooling around with him. I thought it was just sex. You wrote it on a freaking napkin, for Christ’s sake! Number two…THIS IS JUST SEX! That’s what you told me, did you not?”
“Well…yes, but—”
“I thought you’d got knocked up by a rock star.” Becca sees right through my feeble attempt at fudging. “I thought that’s all this was. But it’s so much more than that because you’re not just having his baby, you’re in freaking love with him. That’s huge. Huge!” She comes to a sudden halt, looking at me with wide eyes. “Is he in love with you, too?”
“He’s never actually come out and said it,” I mutter defensively.
“That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t,” she sighs. “Trust me, girl. From the story you just told me, that man loves you. It’s obvious you guys are crazy for each other. You have to tell him about the baby, Cassie.”
“I know, I just—”
A knock sounds on the bathroom door, cutting me off.
“Go away,” Becca seethes, her fingers clenched tightly into fists. Her eyes close briefly, and she sucks back a sharp breath. She’s short, but man-oh-man, she’s kind of terrifying when she puts her mind to it. “I swear to God if you don’t walk away right now, your death is going to be slow and painful. This is your warning. You will not get another.”
“I’m going to pee my pants. Let me in!”
Becca marches across the restroom, throwing open the door. Setting her feet on the ground, she blocks the entrance so I can’t see who’s standing on the other side. She lifts her finger, pointing at the poor sap. “There are thirty-three other bathrooms in this building alone, let alone the dozen coffee shops and restaurants surrounding the building. There are also three restrooms on the third floor, and another two in the faculty lounge.”
“But—”
“Begone!” she shouts.
And then she slams the door closed again.
Dusting off her hands, she turns to look at me. “Like I was saying, you have to tell him, Cassie. This isn’t the sort of thing you’ll be able to keep a secret forever, or even much longer. He has a right to know, even if you decide not to go through with the pregnancy. ”
“I’m keeping the baby.” The words come out of my mouth so instinctively, so unexpectedly, and with so much conviction that it almost knocks me clean off my feet.
I’m keeping the baby.
Holy shit.
The words roll around inside my head, taking their time to settle. But when they finally do, my throat tightens, and my eyes sting. Of course I have a choice, but my heart just made the decision for me.
The vibration of my phone buzzing in my back pocket has me pulling it out and glancing down at the screen.
Quinn: Hey, guess what? The deal’s done. The European tour is going ahead for sure. We sign the contracts next week.
I type out a quick reply.
Me: That’s awesome.
Quinn: We finished up at the studio earlier than expected. Want to come over to my place? Maybe order Chinese takeout? I just downloaded the final two seasons of HTGAWM. Sound good ?
A strangled sob takes my breath hostage. Oh god. He has no idea how good that sounds right now.
If only life were that simple.
Quinn Tanner is a great guy. He’s solid. He’s dependable. He’s loyal and honest and funny and sweet. He’s driven and talented.
And now he’s going on a three-month European tour.
Well, isn’t that just perfect timing?
Because here I am, about to tell him he’s going to be a father, and I have no clue how he’s going to react to the news. But Becca’s right. I have to tell him. My fingers wander to my waistband. This baby is a little part of both of us growing inside me.
I text him back before I lose my nerve.
Or vomit. Whichever comes first?
Me: Leaving now.