Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Delaney
Humiliation and disgust in myself flood through me the whole way home from school, just as they have for the past month. I’ve done everything in my power to try to wash away the feeling. Nothing works to make me feel better about the situation I find myself in.
It’s not that I’m ashamed of having sex with Tyler.
I’m not. I knew what leaving with him would lead to and that it would most likely be a one-time thing.
I mean, I’m not a virgin, nor naive. I wasn’t even nervous about sex.
It might have been nearly two years since the last time I’d done the horizontal dance with anyone, but I’d never not known what I was getting myself into.
What makes me feel all that I am is the way he rolled away from me like I sickened him.
He hadn’t even uttered a thank you. It was totally a slam, bam, thank you ma’am situation, though he didn’t do any speaking of it after.
I wasn’t really expecting it. However, sex with Tyler was the absolute best sex I’ve ever had in my entire life.
He’d been remarkable. In truth, remarkable doesn’t even describe what we shared.
The chemistry we shared was off the charts. Totally and completely.
Then, when he finished, he went cold. Didn’t even bring up the fact that the condom broke. I hadn’t either. I couldn’t. Not after he told me we needed to get dressed. His cold, distant voice had been a slap to the face I hadn’t expected.
I spent the entire night after I’d gotten home thinking over everything and whether I should take the Plan B pill as a preventative.
I thought about it until I was blue in the face, unable to think of anything else.
I should have put his mind at ease that I was on birth control.
I had been for a while until I didn’t get my prescription renewed before moving back home.
I hadn’t taken the pill in a month. I was waiting to get in with my new doctor here in town to get a new script.
God, I’m an idiot.
Foolish even.
I figured everything would be okay. It’s not like I’ve even seen him around town since that night.
Granted, I’ve not had to go around town that often.
Saddle Ridge is pretty small, where everyone knows everyone’s business.
A part of me wishes I’d gotten a place to live in the next town over, but I wanted to live close to the school so I knew I wouldn’t be late for work.
I shake off my thoughts as I pull into my driveway and groan at the sight of my brother’s bike parked out of the way. What’s he doing here?
Shifting the gear into park, I twist the key off and climb out, making sure to gather everything I need.
Tomorrow’s open house at the school. I’d gotten everything in order for the classroom, but I still wanted to get the kids’ welcome to school packets together for them to take home and go over with their parents.
Arms full, I head to the door, and Dustin is there to open it for me. “Thank you.”
“What’s all that?” he asks, eyeing the bags.
“I have to finish getting ready for tomorrow. I’m putting packets together for all of my kids,” I tell him as I step inside. I slip off my shoes and make a beeline to my couch, dumping everything onto it.
“You make them yourself?”
I turn to face him, hands on my hips. “Yes, I make them for my students. I also have a tote bin that I put together and keep stocked in my class with snacks, water, and juice.”
“Why?” he asks, looking baffled.
“Because sometimes a child forgets to bring lunch. Sometimes families can’t afford to send their children to school with lunches, but are too prideful to sign up for free lunches.
Then there are those who don’t get to have anything to eat, period, because they don’t have the money for it.
I like to be able to help the kids who are simply hungry without pointing fingers or calling them out.
So, the bin is there for them when they feel they need a little something extra. ”
“Why doesn’t the school board pay for food for the kids?”
I roll my eyes at his question. As good as it is, it’s also idiotic.
“Some counties actually do provide free meals to students. They even run summer meal programs where they bring the meals to the child’s home, but that’s not the case here.
Our school district isn’t what they classify as a ‘poor economy’ area.
The school board would never approve it.
They want to put funds into other resources.
Which is fine, but I do agree they should try to do better for the students. ”
Dustin nods and moves to the bags, peaking inside. “You get the kids all this?”
This being the daily check lists, magnets, markers, erasers, stickers, and so on. “I like for my students to have everything they need to start learning task organization. If they have what they need at home to help them, they’ll be prepared for when they’re in class.”
I’m sure some parents won’t use what I send home, but my class last year seemed to thrive off the system.
Again, my brother nods, watching me closely. “You love what you do.” He needlessly points out.
“I do very much love working with my students.” I loved teaching. I don’t make a lot doing it, but it’s rewarding in a lot of ways.
I watch my brother closely for a moment and clear my throat when he doesn’t say anything else. “So, what brings you by?”
“Wanted to check in on you.” He shrugs and sits on the edge of the couch. “Got here before you, came in, got a drink out of the fridge, and found the pregnancy test in the trash can.”
I close my eyes at the mention of the test. A test I’d taken this morning when I knew I missed my period.
“You got something to tell me?”
“What would I have to tell you?” I ask in return.
“Didn’t pick the thing up. Saw it but didn’t look at the results. You pregnant, Laney?”
“Yes,” I whisper. I’ve refused to allow myself to think about it all day. I planned to discuss it with my doctor. Confirm that I was before giving it any more thought.
“Who’s the father?”
“That’s none of your business,” I snap, leveling a glare in his direction.
“The fuck it’s not. You’re my little sister, and you’re knocked up. I think I have a right to know who the father of my niece or nephew is.” Dustin’s booming voice causes me to flinch and him to curse. “Sorry, Laney, I didn’t mean to yell at you. I just don’t want to see you burned.”
“I’m fine, Dustin. Really. I don’t even know if the test is correct. I’ve got an appointment set to find out,” I tell him and narrow my eyes to little slits. “Don’t go blabbing your mouth about this to anyone.”
The last thing I want is for word to get back to Tyler about the fact I’m pregnant before I have the courage to tell him.
I honestly don’t want to tell him right away.
I’m not sure I’d know how. Yes, he has a right to know, but what if I lose the baby?
There’s no reason to tell him until I know for certain there’s something to report.
With my luck, it’s probably a false test. If by chance it isn’t, I could lose the baby, and again, no reason to bring him into this mess.
I’m not even sure how he’ll react to the news. With the way he acted after, I’d say he wouldn’t take kindly to me springing it on him.
Dustin watches me closely for a minute before nodding. “Fine, I won’t say anything, but you’re gonna have to talk to me eventually about this. You can’t do this by yourself.”
“I’m better off at the moment alone.” If it’s true, then I want to be the only one it affects. I hate that my brother saw that stupid test in my trash can.
“You might think that, Laney, but you’re not. I’m not going to let you do this alone. You can keep the father to yourself for now, but I will find out, eventually.”
That’s what I’m worried about. Dustin and Davis were always protective of me growing up.
They scared off any guy who even tried to ask me out in high school.
I hadn’t even had a date to the prom because of them, so I hadn’t even gone.
To make it up to me, they’d taken me to the rodeo the weekend after.
“How about I order us something to eat from The Hideaway and get it delivered?” My stomach growls at the mention of ordering food. “I’ll help you put these packets away, and we can watch The Waterboy,” he suggests, already pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“That sounds good, mac and cheese and a BBQ sandwich, please.” It’s what I typically order when I want comfort food.
“You want coleslaw?”
“What do I look like?” I balk at the mention of slaw. It’s just gross. I don’t care if people like it or not, I’m good without the stuff anywhere near my food.
Dustin chuckles, shakes his head, and puts the order in. “It’ll be here in about thirty to forty minutes. Got a prospect bringing it by.”
“You’re the best.” I grin at him.
“Yeah, yeah, now where do we get started?” he asks.
“Let me get changed and we’ll organize everything into stacks, then put them together in the packets with the folders of information.”
“You got it.”
I leave him to start organizing while I make my way to my room to change. I’m glad he didn’t push me on the whole pregnancy subject. I don’t need him to know my fears or about me having a one-night stand with Tyler. For all my brother knows, I was pregnant before I moved home, and I just found out.
Changing into a pair of loose sweatpants and a bright pink tank top, I head back to my brother and the mound of work I dreaded doing myself.
Now, it won’t be so bad since he’s helping me to get it done.
The best part? We’re doing it together. Somewhat like old times.
What better way to do it than with food from The Hideaway and watching The Waterboy.