Chapter 24 – Mackenzie
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
MACKENZIE
Walking through Belk at our hometown mall with my best friend, I think about all the times we’ve been here over the years.
Every Homecoming and prom, we shopped together for dresses, shoes, and accessories.
On every beach vacation, we’d hunt for the cutest swimsuits, using the dressing room as our own personal catwalk, cheering each other on the whole time.
Now, we stand in front of the baby section, a scanner gun in my hand, and a clipboard with all the essentials Reagan researched in hers. We freeze, taking in all the tiny clothes, blankets, and more that fill the space to the brim.
Who would’ve thought we’d be planning a baby shower and a wedding at the same time?”
My gorgeous friend smiles, twirling the exquisite diamond and sapphire ring on her left hand before nodding in agreement.
“I can’t wait to meet this little one.” She gently places her hand on my stomach just in time to feel a kick.
Reagan gasps and lets out a little giggle before looking at me with misty eyes. “You’re really going to be a mom.”
My eyes welling with tears, I put my free hand on top of hers, resting on my growing bump. “Yeah, Rea, I am. And you’re getting married to the man of your dreams.”
Wrapping me in a hug, we both hold on tight, knowing the days of just the two of us are numbered, and we couldn’t be happier. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Reagan straightens up, a determined look on her face. “Okay, Mack, let’s do this.”
We spend the next two hours working through her list and scanning what seems like a million items. From the tiniest onesies to a stroller and car seat that look far too complicated, we’re both dead on our feet as we return the scanner and walk to the food court for a cinnamon pretzel and drinks.
My bestie sucks down her Dr Pepper and I stick to water while we chat about all the details for the baby shower she’s getting organized.
“I still can’t believe you’re not finding out the gender of the baby.” Rea shakes her head—her organized, planning-oriented self unable to wrap her brain around the unknown being a good thing.
“This whole thing has been one giant surprise, and I want to wait until they’re born.”
“Well, I’ll keep everything gender neutral. We need to finalize the guest list and menu…” She trails off and her face goes ghostly pale in an instant.
Reaching out to grab her hand, I shake her gently. “Reagan, are you alright? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
Then one word is spoken and my back goes ramrod straight.
“Kenzie.”
My body flinches when I hear Trey say my name.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning to meet his face.
His devastatingly handsome face—once capable of sending butterflies flying—stares back at me and I feel nothing.
Nothing but an empty, hollow feeling in the space that used to hold my love for this man.
As he takes me in, his eyes widen and I know he’s seen what I can no longer hide.
I watch as his mind processes and puts the clues together.
All the messages, phone calls, voicemails, and now my physical appearance.
It doesn’t take long for it to click. Shaking his head, his eyes bore straight into mine.
I give a small nod, confirming before the words are even spoken.
“You’re pregnant and it’s mine.”
Everything fades to black.
A faint beeping rings in my ears as I slowly open my eyes and see an unfamiliar ceiling with intense bright lights that instantly cause me to squint in pain.
It takes a few tries, but I’m finally able to see and when I look down I find myself in a hospital bed and my heart rate spikes, causing the machines to start wailing.
“Oh, Mackenzie, baby girl, I’m so glad you’re awake.” That voice instantly calms my racing heart as I realize that I’m not alone in the room. I see my parents and Reagan sitting in chairs around my bed and then my eyes find him. The last person I saw before I ended up here, Trey.
He looks completely helpless and miserable as he hides out in the corner. As soon as we make eye contact, I look away and over to my parents who have deep frowns on their faces.
“What happened?” My voice comes out raw and it takes me a second to clear my throat and ask it again, louder. “What happened?”
“We were at the mall and you passed out. You hit your head on the table and had to have stitches. You also have a mild concussion. I’m so sorry, Mack. I couldn’t move fast enough to catch you.” My best friend is sobbing next to me, and I quickly reach my hand to grab hers, consoling her.
“Rea, you did everything you could. Don’t feel guilty. Thank you for getting me to the hospital.”
Then reality strikes again.
“The baby—is the baby okay?” Tears well in my eyes as I look to my mom for answers.
“Don’t worry. The baby is perfect and healthy. We are all just so worried for you, Mackenzie. The doctor said your blood pressure is high and you were dehydrated when you got here.” My mom chokes on her own sob and I don’t know what to say.
“Honey, you’re going to be fine. They got your head stitched up without having to shave it and gave you fluids while you rested.
The concussion is mild, so your mom and I will help you the next few days.
As for the blood pressure, well, I think I can guess why it was elevated.
” My dad glares toward Trey, and while it was a direct hit, Trey acts like it didn’t faze him, but I saw the flinch.
A commotion in the hallway interrupts the stare down between them, as I see Jordan fly in the door. He’s out of breath and his eyes are filled with concern as he sees me.
“Mack, baby, what happened?”
A scoff sounds behind him causes Jordan to turn around and I can see his jaw grinding as he sees Trey.
“You. What are you doing here?”
“It didn’t take long for you to move in, did it Mills? Baby? I’m not surprised.”
They both take a step toward each other and I can see this turning into a brawl if it isn’t stopped. Before I can say anything, my dad gets between them and ends it before it begins.
“Okay, you two. Now is not the time. We need to stay calm for Mackenzie, so if you’re going to cause problems, you can leave.”
That snaps Jordan out of his alpha mode and he hurries over to me, looking me up and down as he does his own assessment. I reach out and hold his hand, his breathing slows and I can see his shoulders relax with relief as we touch.
“J, I’m okay. I fainted when I was shopping with Reagan and hit my head. I have a concussion and a few stitches. I’ll be just fine.”
“The baby?” His eyes fill with concern as he mentions my child and I fall for this man just a little more. This baby isn’t his, and he already loves them. The man behind him, whose baby this is, doesn’t even react at the mention of his child.
“The baby is perfect. I promise.” He lets out a deep breath and pulls my hand to his lips kissing the inside of my palm, something that always melts my heart into a puddle.
A throat clearing takes me out of my Jordan haze, as I realize we are having a moment in front of an audience.
My cheeks blush and Jordan grins as he winks at me.
Reagan looks over the moon and I see even my dad has a smirk on his face.
The only person who doesn’t is the man in the back.
I’m sure seeing this display of affection reaffirms his idea that Jordan and I were cheating.
This isn’t the time or place to get into that conversation, but I do need to talk to him.
“Hey, y’all. Would you mind stepping into the hallway for just a minute? I need to speak to Trey, alone.”
I knew this would go over like a lead balloon with the other men in the room, but my mom and Reagan drag them out without a word spoken between anyone. I don’t miss the tension crackling between Trey and Jordan as the latter leaves the room, with one more wink my way before shutting the door.
Silence stretches for far too long that it feels awkward to break it, but someone has to. Clearly Trey is still brooding after these months we’ve been apart, so it’s going to all be on me.
“Trey, we need to talk through some things.”
“You think?” His sarcasm is unwelcome and I glare at him as he hesitantly walks and takes the seat Reagan occupied at my side.
“You don’t get to do this to me right now. I reached out to you countless times over the last few months and you never responded. You left me on read and ignored every phone call.”
“I know.” He hangs his head down, covering his face with his hands. My heart pangs with sympathy even though he doesn’t deserve it. I don’t miss the man sitting in front of me, but I miss the boy I fell for.
“Why?”
Looking up at me, I see a face mixed with regret and lingering anger. “Why? We broke up after eight years, Kenzie! I didn’t want to talk to you. You left the country and didn’t tell me. I was furious. I still am, if I’m being honest.”
“You told me I was dead weight, Trey. That you cheated on me, more than once and called me pathetic. In front of my father.” He looks embarrassed by that.
“It was the heat of the moment. I didn’t cheat on you, not really.” I give him the stink-eye and he backtracks. “Okay, Kayla and I have kissed, but I swear on my favorite hockey stick that’s it.”
I have no words for that little revelation, so I just nod my head. “Okay, Trey. What’s done is done, but right now, we have to put aside our feelings and focus on the baby.”
He looks down at my small baby bump and gives me a questioning look. “Are you sure this baby is mine? You don’t look very pregnant. It could very well belong to Mills or whoever you were with over in England.”
I laugh, a deep and dark laugh that sounds nothing like me as rage takes over logic.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! First off, I’ve never been with anyone but you.
EVER! Second, I have a retroverted uterus, so I don’t show as much as other women.
I’m due April 7th which means this baby was conceived in July.
It’s yours—but I really wish it wasn’t.”
My words hit their target and he takes a deep breath narrowing his eyes at me. “Well, it’s not like it matters now. I’m assuming you’re keeping it?”
Who is this man? This version of Trey shocks me with his lack of tact and complete disregard for anyone else’s feelings.
“Are you serious right now? Of course I’m keeping the baby. What happened to you, Trey? You were never like this, not until you got drafted. Then it’s like a switch flipped and the man I loved became a complete stranger.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Listen, I realize that I’ve had months to come to terms and make my decisions regarding the pregnancy and having a baby.
You would’ve had that time if you’d ever called me back, but here we are and it’s a shock, I’m sure.
You don’t need to make any decisions right now.
You can take some time and we’ll talk about it when you’re ready. ”
His eyebrows lift in surprise as he takes in my words. “Okay. Yeah, I need a few days to wrap my head around this. I’ll keep it to myself. I’m guessing you have been as well.”
“I didn’t start showing until about a month or so ago, and people think I’m not far along, so it hasn’t been an issue. Plus, I’ve only been back a few weeks and haven’t been out much.”
“I will be back in North Carolina in about a week for our series with the Hurricanes. I’ll have some time then. Can we meet?”
“That works. I hate that it’s like this, Trey.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“I know we aren’t good for each other, but I’d like to be civil.”
He scoffs before realizing I’m serious. “Civil? When you’ve clearly moved on with Jordan Mills and your family hates me? Yeah, I don’t want any part of that.”
“Fine. Let me know when you’re in town.”
“Fine.”
The chair scrapes harshly against the tile floor as Trey flies out of his seat like it’s on fire as he exits the room.
He doesn’t look back at me or say a word to the four people out in the hallway as he pushes past them, shouldering Jordan.
Ever the picture of maturity. I shouldn’t have let him get to me, but he did and now I’m boiling with anger.
“I take it that went well.” I burst out laughing at Reagan’s well-timed comment and the anger eases as my family, my best friend, and Jordan walk back in the room.