136. Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Five
Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Five
Riley
Being in a doctor’s waiting room makes me want to peel my skin off, and this one is worse than a regular doctor’s office. I’ve never had to come in here before, and I’m struggling to make myself stay. There are pictures of babies and fertility leaflets everywhere in here.
All I can think about is Rachel, and the big question I need an answer to.
“You okay?” Kian asks, frowning.
I grunt in response, not wanting to have to verbalise it.
Especially not in front of Scarlett.
Instantly, I feel guilty for not wanting her to know.
I should have told her, like I told her everything else.
This felt like a bridge too far. I was scared to even say it.
What if that girl got pregnant? What if she had my baby?
The pictures feel like they’re mocking me.
I take in a breath, and exhale slowly.
“That teenager I told you about,” I start, looking at Scarlett, who’s sitting across from me, next to Xane. “The one who … Snuck into my room. I don’t know what happened to her after she left. She never tried to contact me. I’ve always … I’ve wondered if she might have gotten pregnant.”
It feels like spitting poison onto the ground.
It tasted vile, but it’s out now.
It can’t kill me.
I only hope it doesn’t make Scarlett hate me.
She blinks, and nods slowly. “Okay. That’s big.”
“Riley, you don’t have to worry about that,” Xane says.
I frown as I look at him. “What?”
He leans forward. “I should have told you at the time, but you didn’t seem to want to speak about it, and I didn’t realize it was something you were worried about.
That girl, she was trying to scam you. She was pregnant with her high school sweetheart’s kid before she even came into your room that night.
It’s a long story but she tried to contact you a few times, and I had a private detective find some stuff out.
I had DNA tests done. The kid is not yours.
It’s absolutely his. She even got back with him.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re married now. ”
“Holy shit,” Kian whispers.
“I’m so sorry, Riley,” Xane says, as if it’s bad news he’s giving me.
The laughter that bursts out of me is almost frighteningly loud.
I can’t hold it in. I’m so fucking glad, it just has to come out of me.
A few seconds pass without it stopping and Kian gives me a weird look.
“I think he might be hysterical.”
“It sounds like relief,” Scarlett says, giving me a soft smile.
“It’s definitely relief,” Trick mutters, “But it might also be hysterical.”
I laugh until it’s hard to breathe. Then Xane gets up and lifts me up to stand and hug me.
My laughter dies down as I hug him back, a line of tears streaming from the corners of my eyes.
All this time, and my biggest worry has no substance behind it.
The worst thing that ever happened to me doesn’t have the life-altering consequences I’d been dreading finding out about.
I feel like I just got let out of prison.
I let Xane go and wipe at the corners of my eyes while I catch my breath.
That’s when the door to the doctor’s office finally opens.
“Riley Orion?” he asks, looking around.
I nod, holding up a hand. “That’s me.”
He nods at me to come to him.
I guess I’m gonna see the doctor now.