Chapter 23

T o be fair, I tried to make it to work today, but after throwing up twice on the drive in, I said fuck it and surrendered to the nausea. I need a break, anyway. Especially after yesterday's interview. I can't face him again. Rachel can cover most of my stuff, and Jeremy is on-site for everything else. I'm lying in bed, just rotting.

My phone rings, and I grab it off the nightstand expecting to see Rachel's name on the screen, but it's Raleigh's.

"Hey," I answer, taking a sip of the orange juice that's helping settle my stomach.

Her voice is frantic. "Is Sully the dad?"

"What?" Oh shit.

"Don't fuck with me, Kendra. Is he the father of your baby?"

I can't lie. I squeeze my eyes shut. "Yes… How did you know?"

"Sully was talking to Barrett, I heard him talking about you. He likes you Kendra, a lot. You have to tell him."

"I can't! He could lose his contract with the Rogues."

"No. You need to tell him. You guys can figure it out. When I found out I was pregnant, I tried to tell Barrett. I'd do anything to get those years back with him. He missed out on the birth of his son, you can't knowingly do that to Sully. He doesn't deserve that."

"I know! I know! I'll tell him, just give me time."

"I'm going to give you a month, Kendra. One month. Or I'll tell him myself." She sighs. "I like you a lot, but it's obvious neither of you are over each other. You need to communicate. The longer you stay quiet, the worse this thing is going to get and the harder it will be to tell him. Sully is like my brother, I will tell him if I have to. Don't make me tell him."

I sniffle, the tears coming down my cheeks in full force. He doesn't deserve it. Fuck, this is a disaster. I have no idea how to get out of this mess with both of us intact.

"I will. I'll tell him."

Raleigh takes a deep breath. "Okay… Now, tell me about you. How's the nausea been?"

I sniffle again. "I'm home sick today."

"Okay, I'm going to stop by later with some of those spice cakes from Sugar and Ice. You said they helped, right?"

"You don't have to do that." I don't want to see her. It will only make me feel worse. I'm ashamed of not telling her it was Sully, and even more ashamed that she found out before Sully.

"I'll be there around three. Get some sleep, babe."

I roll my lips together to keep from crying. "Mm-hm."

I disconnect the call and scream into my pillow.

My dumpster fire of a life is no longer contained. It's spreading to everything I touch. Sully. My career. My friends. How can I be a parent if I can't even take care of my own problems?

I'm afraid there's only one way out of this. I have to tell him.