Chapter twenty-four

"No. No, no, no. This can't be happening."

I stare down at the white stick on the bathroom counter. My hands are shaking so hard I can barely see the results.

Two. Pink. Lines.

How the hell am I going to tell Donnie? This will ruin his future. He can't raise a baby while going to college.

I was on the pill, but with everything that happened after Jo died, I forgot to take it without thinking about the consequences.

Two kids. I can't raise another child.

"Shorty, are you in here?" Donnie knocks on the door.

Fuck. I thought he was at practice.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a second." I try to hide the uneasiness in my tone.

"Are you okay?" he asks in a concerned tone.

"Yep." I clear my throat.

Inhaling a deep breath, I run my hands through my hair and wipe the tears from my face.

I turn the knob and open the door wide. Donnie's face softens in relief when he sees me.

Damn, what a sight.

His red and white uniform is covered in dirt and grass stains. His hat is halfway on his head, and the muscles in his forearms flex as he holds onto the side of the door.

"What's wrong? Were you crying?" He reaches for me and rubs his hands up and down my arms.

"Shorty, why won't you look at me?" He tips my chin up with his thumb. "What's wrong?"

I pull back from him and nervously run my hands through my hair.

"I, um, I—"

Just tell him.

"Shorty—" He brushes the tears from my cheeks. I didn't realize I was crying.

I turn away from him, ashamed of what he will think of me when I tell him he will be a father. Instead of using my words, I point to the bathroom.

"Shorty, I need—"

"I'm pregnant," I blurt, covering my face with my hands, afraid to see the look on his face.

Silence. The only sound is the blood pounding in my ears until he speaks again.

"Shorty, look at me."

But I can't.

"Shorty," he whispers. Donnie grabs my face, forcing me to look at him.

"I'm sorry," I cry.

He wipes the tears from my face. "Why are you sorry?"

"Because you're going to college, and I don't want you to worry about a baby." I feel like I'm hyperventilating at just the thought of ruining his life.

"Baby, shh. Don't cry." He pulls me into his arms and holds me. The feeling of his heart beating steadily calms the racing of mine.

"Fuck, baby, you're shaking." He holds me tighter.

Donnie pulls back and leads me to bed. He pulls me in between his legs. With his hands on my waist, he tugs me closer and tips his head up to me.

"It's going to be okay. I'm fucking stoked my baby is growing inside of you. Don't ever think otherwise. This is what I've always wanted. We just moved up the timeline." He shrugs like it's no big deal.

Wait, what?

"Say what now?" I swear my jaw almost dropped to the floor.

He chuckles. "Look, I can see you're scared, but we can do this. I promise everything will be okay." He tugs me closer until I'm sitting on his lap.

"You're so sure of yourself, huh?" I lay my hand flat on his chest.

He cocks his head to the side to better look at me. "Yeah, I am. Trust me, we're going to be okay." Donnie flips his hat backward and presses a light kiss on my lips.

"I love you," he breathes against my lips.

I smile. "I love you too," I whisper.

DONOVAN

My girl is carrying my baby.

After the news of Shorty being pregnant, I took her on the roof as our mini celebration. I lay on my back with my arms underneath my head. I turn to the side, watching Shorty stare into the night sky.

"Move in with me," I blurt.

She turns to face me with a shocked expression. "What?"

"I want you and Sophie to live with me in Tennessee."

"What?" she says again.

It is hard not to laugh at her expression.

"I want you to move in with me when I go to college," I repeat. She sits up and looks at me, like I've lost my mind.

"Donnie, don't do that. Don't ask me because I'm pregnant," she says, furrowing her eyebrows.

I have to hide my smile at her adorable expression.

"Yes, you can."

"Donnie, I'm not going to be a distraction."

I sit up and pull her into me, so she straddles my hips. "You are never a distraction. You're having my baby, and I want you with me. And no, I didn't ask you because you're pregnant. I planned on asking you for a while."

I tighten my hold on her hips. Shorty lowers her head, flattening her hands on my chest. I tip her chin up. "What are you thinking?"

I can see her mind working overtime, trying to find the right words to let me down gently or tell me to fuck off, but I won't give her a chance to deny me. I need her like I need air to breathe.

My heart hammers against my chest while I wait for her answer.

She lifts her head to me and smiles. "This is your future, Donnie, and I will not ruin it for you."

"That's where you're wrong. You're my past, present, and future. I'm never letting you go again."

She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no either.

SADIE

Two days ago, I found out I was pregnant, and Donnie asked me to move in with him. I still can't get over Donnie's excitement when he learned I was carrying his baby. Donnie is adamant that we can make this work; I, on the other hand, am not too sure.

After putting Sophie down for her afternoon nap, I pad down the steps to the kitchen to make a fruit salad with the fresh fruit I bought earlier.

I stop short when I hear voices coming from Charles's office. I didn't plan on eavesdropping, but my name was thrown into the conversation, so I quietly shuffle down the hall and stop in front of the door.

Carefully, I peer through the small opening to avoid being seen. I can see Charles sitting behind his gigantic mahogany desk, Jacquie and Donnie sitting beside each other, facing him.

"I asked Shorty to move to Tennessee with me," Donnie says confidently.

"What do you mean, move in with you?" Charles asks.

"Honey, she can't live with you in the fraternity house," Jacquie says.

"I know that, Mom."

"Son, please explain," Charles said.

Donnie sighs. "I'm not staying with the team. I decided to get an apartment off campus."

"What?" Charles and Jacquie both exclaim in a shocked tones. "Son, think about this. You're going to college. Your focus should be on that and going pro. Isn't that what you still want?" Charles asks.

"Yes, that hasn't changed. But I want Shorty to be with me too. I'm not leaving her behind again."

"Sweetheart, you're not leaving her behind. You're going to college."

"In a different state," he argues.

Charles gets up from his chair and sits on the edge of his desk, arms across his chest, looking at Donnie. "Son. I have come to love Shorty and adore her little girl, but you are taking a huge risk with your future."

"Why is this such a big deal?" Donnie looks between his mom and dad; then his gaze lands on Charles. "My priorities haven't changed."

"Even if it means risking your future to play dad?"

Donnie abruptly gets up from his chair and paces the room. "Why can't you trust me on this?"

"It's not about trust, Donnie," his mom says. "This is about doing what's best for your future."

Donnie stops pacing and faces his mom. "She is my future."

"Sweetheart, you have your whole life ahead of you. There's no need to rush anything," Jaquie says in a gentle tone.

As if Donnie can sense my presence, he glances in my direction. His smile widens as he makes his way toward me.

"Come here." He pushes the door open, grabs my hand, and leads me into the room.

"Hi, Sadie." Charles gives me a warm smile.

"Hi. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." I turn to Donnie. "What are you doing?" I whisper for only him to hear.

"We need to tell them."

My stomach churns, and I feel like throwing up.

"Tell us what?" Charles says slowly.

Donnie pulls me to his side, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "Mom, Dad, Sadie's pregnant."

Fuck my life.

DONOVAN

The room grows silent.

Shorty's body grew stiff the moment I pulled her closer to me. I didn't mean to ambush her, but I was so fucking excited that she's carrying my baby that I wanted to shout it out from the rooftop.

My parents' faces are a mix of anger, confusion, and shock.

"I think I heard you wrong because it sounded like you said Sadie's pregnant." My dad loosens his tie aggressively.

"Yes. That's why I want her to move in with me. I'm not leaving her to care for our baby alone."

"I—I don't know what to say." Mom rises from her chair and stands beside Dad.

"How could you be so irresponsible?" Dad says slowly, but I can sense the anger behind his words.

Shorty bows her head in shame, making me feel like shit.

"Dad, we didn't plan it. It just happened," I try to explain. "I promised to take care of her. And this is me keeping that promise."

"And how exactly will you make this work? Going to school full time, long practice days, games…how will you financially support her, her daughter, and your child? You won't have time to work, son."

"Would you stop talking like Shorty's not in the room?"

"Donnie—" Shorty starts to say, but Mom interrupts her.

"Donovan," Mom admonishes. "While I think what you want to offer her is admirable, it's not reality. Baby, you can't take care of her and your child while going to school full time. It's not feasible."

Before I can respond, dad speaks first.

"This is what you're going to do. You are going to live in the fraternity house as we planned. We will help Sadie with the baby, and you can visit during break and holidays. That's final."

Anger blazes in my gut like an inferno wanting to burn me from the inside out.

"There is no way in hell I'm going to leave her here while I'm thousands of miles away." Keeping my eyes on Mom, I say, "Eight years ago, you chose to take my girl from me. You made me believe she was dead. I may have forgiven you, but I did not forget the pain it caused me."

I glance between Mom and Dad. "You will not come between us again. If I have to pick between my family, my career, and a life with Shorty…I pick her each time."

Dad slams his hand on the desk. "The hell you will!"

"Charles!" Mom scolds, but Dad ignores her and keeps his gaze on me.

"What do you think will happen if your coach discovers your plans? He'll kick you off the team, and your chances of going pro are out the window."

"I don't care!" I roar, removing myself from Shorty. "She's having my kid, and I'm going to be there for her every step of the way. Nothing you or Mom can say or do will make me change my mind."

What the fuck is with my parents?

You'd think they would be more supportive. I'm manning up, taking care of my responsibilities for the girl I love.

"Are you asking me to abandon my kid?"

"No, of course not." Mom's eyes widen as if she's shocked that I would ask that.

Dad walks up to me until he stands right in front of me. "No, son, I'm not. I want you to consider this and how it will affect you and Sadie. How will you provide for them and your baby? Are you willing to risk your future without having a plan in place?"

"Yes, I will risk it all for her."

I glance over my shoulder and notice Shorty is no longer in the room.

SADIE

I couldn't listen anymore.

Donnie said he is willing to risk it all for me.

I will not be the reason he misses his chance to go pro.

I will not let him kill his dream because of me.