There he is, alone, bent over a book, most likely studying for finals. This entire semester seems to have whizzed right by. Seth and I spent all of spring break trying to raise more funds for the homeless shelter. I haven’t dared to ask how much our meager fundraisers have raised so far, and Seth hinted that he’d rather keep that information to himself. He’s so sweet, he probably doesn’t want to upset me.
I’ve got less than a half an hour before my entire family shows up, and since Serena is nowhere to be found, it’s as if the universe has laid out the golden moment for me.
My feet start in that direction without my permission, and I take a seat across from him without saying a word.
He looks up with mild concern before his entire face brightens. “Sunday, what’s up? You ready for that cheesy rematch? Are you laying down the nacho gauntlet?” He pushes his books away, offering his full attention.
“No, actually”—my body trembles with a nervous laugh, but I don’t dare take my eyes off his. I’m doing this. There is no turning back. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something else I laid down.” I nod, hoping to prod his memory along.
His brows knot up at the base as if he were trying to piece it together. “What’d you lay down? Did you lose something? Are you looking for a pink jacket? I just saw a waitress haul one to the back.”
“No. Actually”—my laughter hikes up a notch—“I was talking about something else entirely.” I lean in, trying my best not to run out of here screaming, knocking down all the coeds in my way like bowling pins because I’m so angry at myself for taking so damn long to do this. “Eli, I have to ask your forgiveness.” His eyes widen as if I just jumped sanity’s rails and he has no clue what to do with me. “I can’t believe I’ve let so much time lapse, but in my defense this has been very, very hard on me. I’ve been so sick, and I can’t sleep half the time, and now my hair is falling out. It’s falling out! I’m going to be bald by September.” I sob unexpectedly. “And I cry,” I whine my way through the words. “I cry for no reason all the time.”
“Shit.” He slides the entire napkin dispenser my way. “Are you okay? Let me call your brother.”
“No!” I shout so loud, so harsh, he bolts upright in his seat as if he were fearing for his life and mine. “I’m fine.” I do my best to swallow down my emotions. “I promise, everything is A-OK. Here’s the thing. What I’m about to say is going to come as a total shock to you. I just want you to know in advance, I’m not looking for money or anything else. I just need you to understand that. I simply need you to listen.”
He inches back as if I struck him. “You got it. What’s going on?”
“Last December, you and I were at a frat party—last one before winter break.”
He tips his head back and looks past me as if reliving the scene. “Yeah, I was there.”
“Okay, well, I got wasted, and I think you were pretty tanked yourself. The next thing I knew I was in your room, and we were—”
“Oh shit.” His eyes round out because I think he just did the vomit-inducing math. “Are you trying to say that we—”
I give a quick nod. “And we accidentally made a person.”
His hand thumps over the table as he slumps into a catatonic state. His face goes white as chalk, and I’m half-afraid if he doesn’t take his next breath we’ll have a funeral to plan. I’ll be the girl who killed Eli Gates with her vagina.
“Please, don’t worry about anything.” I’m quick to try to bring him back to the land of the living. “I’m okay. The baby is, too. I’ve already decided, I’m going to raise it myself. And I promise you there is no pressure at all for you to be involved. I just”—I shrug as the tears come back to the party—“I just thought you should know.”
Eli stares at me as if I’ve just confessed to hacking down every person in Cutler Tower before he exhales and his body melts against his seat. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I really appreciate it. And I’m really sorry I haven’t been there for you.” He leans in, tears glittering in his own eyes as he takes up my hand. “I promise I’m going to make it up to you.”
I glance at the time on my phone. “Well, don’t worry about it. If I were you, I’d take off right about now. My entire family is set to burst in at any minute. I’m getting ready to tell them, too.” I wince. “I’ve sort of kept this close to the vest.”
“Yeah.” He stands and collects his books. “I think I need to wrap my head around it for a bit before I face your brothers. Maybe brush up on some boxing moves.”
“Sorry.” I grimace. “Maybe we can get together sometime next week and I’ll take you up on that nacho challenge. We can get some things ironed out then, too. I’ll bring an ultrasound picture of the baby, and you can see it if you want.”
“Baby.” That heavy look of concern melts into a sorrowful smile. “Yes, I would absolutely love that.” He comes over and offers a strong hug before dropping a sweet kiss over the top of my head. “I’ll text you tonight. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.” He points hard as he walks out backward, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he has a slight spring to his step. Maybe this isn’t the worst news? He backs into a body, and it’s Seth coming this way. “I’ll call you,” he says before heading out the doors.
Seth steals a kiss from my lips before taking a seat across from me.
“Watch it!” I glance over my shoulder for signs of my psychotic brothers. “God forbid they see you kissing me.”
“But it’s okay if they see Eli?” He’s so jealous it’s downright adorable. “What was that about, anyway?”
I bite down over my bottom lip for a moment. “I told him.”
“Told him what?” He looks genuinely confused.
“About the baby,” I practically mouth the words, and his eyes widen ten times their size.
“Oh shit.”
“Yes, oh shit is right.” I fan myself with the menu. “It took everything I had to muster up the courage to do it. I’m just sorry it took so long. He was really nice about it, though. And I think he wants to step up. He said I could call him anytime if I needed anything at all.”
“I bet he did,” Seth groans and buries his head in his hands a moment, but before I can assure him it was for the best, Serena breezes over and wraps her arms around me in a hearty embrace.
“You know I love you, right?” Her watery green eyes light up like Christmas trees.
My entire body radiates with warmth. “I know.”
“Come on, guys.” She pulls me out of my seat. “We’ve got a bunch of tables reserved in the back.”
Seth and I follow Serena over just as a small mob heads this way, and I offer Trixie and Rush a warm hug right along with Nolan and Misty. My father lunges at me like he means it and presses a quick kiss over my cheek.
“I’ve missed you, princess.” He pulls back to inspect me, and my stomach drops because there’s an inquisitive look in his eyes that I can’t deny. “You look different. You’re glowing.”
“Oh—um, it’s probably just this new highlighter I’m using. It makes my skin shine bright. It’s all the rage. I mean, who doesn’t like a Chernobyl tan once in a while?” I look to Serena. “Am I right, or am I right?”
That amused look on her face glides right off. “She’s right,” she says, pulling me to the side. “Hey, not to make you squirrely, but that sweatshirt of yours is looking awfully full.”
I glance down and wince because it’s true. I look like someone stuck a pillow up my shirt. “I’ll have to tell them today. I mean, I wasn’t planning on it starting with that. I was sort of going to fill them in on Seth and me, but you’re right—there’s no hiding this anymore. And I’m running out of time.”
The baby kicks, and I can’t help but coo at Serena. “It’s kicking!” I steal her hand a moment, gliding it over my tummy and, sure enough, there’s another wallop.
“Oh my God!” Serena dips on her knees a moment.
Seth pops up with a w
ild look of worry. “Hey.” He nods to the rest of the party behind us, and I note his parents are here along with Lex and Axel. My God, Lex is going to hang both Eli Gates and me by the toes. Axel’s brother, Shep, is with them, and I’m hoping Lex will be moved to behave because of it.
She makes a beeline this way and offers me an impromptu hug. “Hey, stranger. Am I losing my mind, or have you been ignoring my texts?” Lex is totally not losing her mind. Ignoring her texts has become my new favorite hobby. She pulls back and inspects me. “You feeling okay?” She turns her head just slightly, those eagle eyes of hers never leaving mine. “What’s going on? You look like you’re off to a football game. You always dress for dinner.”
“It’s finals.” I shrug. I never thought I’d be so grateful for this detestable time of the semester. “I’ve been pulling one all-nighter after the next. Going to bed at four in the morning three nights in a row wreaks havoc on everything.” I pluck at my hair and pray I don’t end up with a clump in my hand. Lex will be the first person to whisk me off to the emergency room. And when she finds out I’m having a baby in a few short minutes, I’m sure she’ll do just that anyway.
Misty calls for everyone to take a seat, and on my way next to Seth, I spot Izzy watching from the bar with her husband. My eyes sink down that unnaturally curvy body of hers, and her stomach looks as if she swallowed an entire pumpkin patch. Wow, she’s big. She’s the size of a battleship! Just the thought of my skin stretching to unnatural levels has me swaying on my feet.
“Whoa.” Seth helps me into my seat before leaning into my ear—“everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just thirsty, that’s all.” That’s actually true. I’m not only eating for two. I’m drinking for two. It turns out, Little Fish needs its amniotic fluid sac filled to the brim, and it’s my responsibility to top it off on the regular.
A waitress comes by and drops off a dozen or so glasses of iced water, and Seth is quick to furnish me with both his and mine.
“Seth”—my father narrows his gaze on him, and if I didn’t know better, it’s a suspicious one—“what’s occupying your time these days?” He smirks as if he already knows the answer. My dad didn’t make his millions with a subpar IQ. The man suspects something, and he’s about to winnow the truth from us.
“Basketball’s over, so I’ve got some free time on my hands.”
“I bet you do.” Dad needles him with the silent accusation.
Mr. Baker leans back to get a better look at my dad. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Dad growls at poor Seth, never taking his eyes off him. “It means I can see the way he’s looking at my daughter.” His voice rises an octave, and now both Nolan and Rush are glaring at the two of us.
“No way.” Rush shakes his head. “Baker knows what side his safety is buttered on. He wouldn’t dare hit on my sister.” He glowers at him. “Isn’t that right, Seth?”
Shit. Why the hell did Rush have to go and offer it up like some testosterone-based challenge?
“What’s it to you?” I ask as I glare right back at my brother before offering my father the same caustic stare. “Really, is it any of your business who I see?”
“All right”—Nolan bats his hands for everyone to calm down—“Sunday’s got a good head on her shoulders. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Thank you,” I’m quick to tell him. It’s about time someone around here acknowledges the fact—even if I will disprove him in a few mere moments.
Nolan gives a sly wink. “She’s just a kid. She has no business hanging out with Seth for anything outside of school. Isn’t that right?”
My mouth falls open. “How dare you!” I scoot back violently in my seat as I look to the entire table with their judgmental stares. Everyone here thinks I should be kept under lock and key as if I were a three-year-old who needs constant supervision—as if I’m prone to making life-changing mistakes. I am, but that’s not what this is about. I jump to my feet as I ready to tell everyone off and leave in a dramatic fashion because that’s exactly what my mutant hormones are demanding that I do, but Rush stands right along with me, accidentally knocking his elbow into my swollen belly with a hard jab, and I land sloppily on top of Seth clutching at my stomach.
“Oh my God, the baby!” the words spring from me, loud and strong like a reflex, and I swear on all that is holy the entire restaurant falls silent for a few ripe seconds. I squeeze my eyes shut tight in remorse before righting myself as Seth stands by my side.
Literal steam emits from my father’s ears, and I’m pretty sure it’s a YouTube-worthy moment if ever there was one. “Holy shit!” he barks with an instant rage percolating from him. His face is red with fury. His eyes bulge with disbelief. “What did you just say?”
I look to Nolan, to Lex, to Rush, all staring at me wide-eyed, and I can’t help but note the disappointment on their faces.
Rush shakes his head. “She didn’t mean it. She’s pulling our leg.”
I glance to Misty, and she gives a slight shrug as if suggesting I go with it, so I do.
“I’m not pulling anyone’s leg.” I clear my throat as their eyes grow double in size. “I’m having a baby, and Eli Gates is the father.”
“What?” Rush riots so loud the room thunders with the sound of his voice. Chaos erupts all at once as everyone at the table springs to their feet as if there was a fire in the building.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker look the calmest of them all, and if I didn’t know better, they actually look as if they’re gloating. As if they’ve been apprised of my slutty ways all along, and tonight my belly and I stepped up to prove the point.
Lex springs up next to me. “Who is this Eli Gates, and where can I find him?” she hisses while holding up a butter knife.
“Lex!” I snatch it from her. “This isn’t the time for violence!” I look to my brothers, hoping I’ve somehow convinced them, too.
Nolan strides forward with his chest expanding wide. “The hell it’s not.”
My cousin, Marlin, strolls over with his Jepson PD uniform, looking every bit pissed for no good reason. “What the hell’s going on here?”
Rush steps in close. “Don’t you worry about it. Just let me borrow your gun.”
“Nobody is killing Eli!” I scream over the melee with all the power my lungs allow. My God, I hope at least twelve different coeds have texted the poor guy by now, alerting him to the fact he should indeed run. I hear Mexico is nice this time of year.
“The hell I’m not!” Rush riots back, and Seth stomps his seat over the floor a moment, creating a horrible drumming sound that brings us all to attention.
“Enough!” he shouts so loud my skin reverberates. “I’m not doing this anymore.” An awful look of pain crests his features, and it breaks my heart to see it. I knew Seth had a breaking point with me and my fetus and here it is. It’s clear he wants nothing to do with us. He looks to me with a sorrowful expression, and I can feel it coming. “I’m sorry, Sunday.”
I nod as a wild hiccup bucks from me. I knew that Seth was going to eventually cut me loose. I just never envisioned it would be here with both of our families present. I can’t say I blame him, though. Those bedroom shenanigans I’ve enlisted him in were pretty brutal. I’m nothing short of a disgusting predator to him.
I open my mouth to let him off the hook myself, and he holds up a hand. That expression on his face looks ten times more pitiful.
“Eli isn’t the father of your baby, Sunday.”
Dad chokes at the thought. “What the fuck is this?” He looks to Nolan. “She doesn’t even know who the father is?”
Seth doesn’t break his gaze with me. “Eli’s not the father of your baby. I am.”
“Geez.” I roll my eyes, a part of me filling with relief. Of course, Seth wants to pretend he’s the father. He’s so sweet, he’s willing to lay down his life for Eli just to ensure my sweet baby doesn’t grow up without a father. “And here I thought you were going to break up with me.”
br /> Rush towers over me. “Break up with you? Are you seeing this asswipe?”
“Yes.” I give my brother a shove. “And he’s not an asswipe.” I can’t help but steal a glance at the Bakers as their son gets taken down a notch. “And Seth has been nothing but an upstanding gentleman. He just wants to make this better for me.” I pick up both his hands. “Seth and I are in love.” I melt like candlewax as I look into his eyes. “He wants to help me raise the baby. But he’s not the biological father. That’s Eli.”
Mrs. Baker gags as if someone shoved a breadstick down her throat. “Seth, you will not raise another man’s child.” Her voice is high and shrill, and here it is. The truth comes out. She hates me. I’ve suspected so much all along.
“You’re right, Mom.” Seth gives my hands a squeeze, those midnight blue eyes penetrating me so intimately. “I’m not raising another man’s child. This one would be mine. It’s true, Sunday. That baby you’re carrying isn’t Eli’s. I’m sorry I let you think so.” His voice breaks, and suddenly the moment takes a dark turn. “You didn’t sleep with Eli that night. You slept with me.”
Dad looks to Rush. “What the hell kind of threesomes are you allowing your sister to partake in?”
“No threesome.” Seth shakes his head just barely, his eyes still pinned to mine. “We were alone, Sunday. I was the one you woke up with in the morning. It was never Eli.”
The Bakers gasp in unison, and Misty offers them water as if they might pass out.
“Seth, this isn’t funny.” A horrible sinking feeling grips me. “I woke up in Eli’s room with Eli.”
“You never saw his face. That was me you were looking at.”
“No.” I pull my hands away and take a step back. “Why are you doing this? Why are you saying these things? It’s not funny, Seth. You’re going to confuse everyone. Most of all me.”