Chapter 8

EIGHT

ALEXA

“Have you thought about how you’re going to tell Lex?”

The movie we’re watching has made me laugh all night, helping me forget about reality. That, and the snacks Beau found inside the kitchen. Given Nikki is a bit of a health freak, he invaded Rocky’s food stash. I’m not at all sorry for the chocolate or hot Cheetos I devoured in a matter of minutes.

“Yes, no. When the time is right.”

“The time will never be right. Tell him and get it over and done with. Like ripping off a band-aid.”

I turn my head to glance at Beau. “I’d rather rip off a thousand band-aids than tell him. Besides, he is traveling to Italy with Mom and won’t be back until next month. Even if I wanted to tell him, I can’t.”

Beau makes a chicken sound, prompting me to roll my eyes. “What an excuse.”

“Look, right now, I just want to try and finish the year. The baby is due right after, so I guess the timing works well in that way.”

“So, what, you’re going to drop out?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I could plan it all out, but I have no idea what it’s like to raise a baby. Babies need attention, and they grow fast and need clothes and stuff. I’ll need money so I will have to work. There’s just a lot—”

“Hey,” Beau calls softly, pulling me into him and wrapping his arms around me. “It’s going to be fine. We’ve got this.”

“We?” I repeat.

“You think I’m going to abandon you?”

“Um, yes,” I drag. “You’re a notorious runaway.”

“I’m serious, Alexa.” He pulls his arms off me, prompting me to turn around. “I’m not going to be stupid and immature anymore. You’re going to need help, so I’m here for good.”

“Beau,” I say softly. “You have your own life and women. I don’t think your string of lady friends are going to like you hanging out with a baby and me. Women get very jealous.”

“Yeah, well, men are even worse,” he responds in a cold tone. “And what about him? Are you going to tell him?”

I lower my eyes. “What for? I don’t want my child to be second best. He has his own family, so as far as I’m concerned, no one has to know but you.”

“C’mon, everyone will ask. They’ll probably assume it’s mine.”

“It should have been you,” I admit, unable to look at him. “It would have been so much easier.”

“Bad fucking luck for both of us, huh?”

To this day, we still haven’t talked properly about the night between us. It feels like a lifetime ago when it’s been just over a month.

“Beau, are we going to talk about what happened between us?”

“Alexa,” Beau groans. “Why must you bring it up? Let it go. I have.”

I tilt my head with furrowed brows. “Really, that’s it? I guess you’ve broken the pact and found women who can please you better.”

Suddenly, the room feels hot, and beneath my sweater, I’m starting to sweat. My stomach does this flip thing which I know is from the hot flaming’ Cheetos. It has to be. How can I be jealous of girls he’s sleeping with when I’m knocked up with another man’s baby?

“God, Alexa, if you must know. Each girl I slept with, I was off my face blind drunk. There, does that make you happy?”

“You were drunk with me. What’s the difference?”

“Because it was different, okay? Now, can we drop this subject?”

“But I’m not done…”

“I’m done,” he raises his voice. “I swear to God. What is it with women nagging? Like, what difference does it make now, huh? You’re pregnant with his baby. I can tell you it was the best sex of my life, and I haven’t stopped thinking about you, but none of it matters, so end of fucking story.”

“Okay,” I simply say, unsure how to respond.

Though, my mind begins to drift. What if I wasn’t pregnant? Would Beau and I eventually of dated? The sex was great, but I wouldn’t have wanted our friendship ruined over something we shouldn’t be doing as friends. It almost feels like if you’re gonna screw around with your best friend, it’s an all-or-nothing situation.

God, this is the kind of shit Ava would dissect for me. This is what happens when I keep everything to myself and start questioning the what-ifs. Who needs to do that when you have an overbearing older sister who can do it for you?

“Look, Alexa. It’s done,” Beau speaks in a calmer tone, but he sounds defeated. “Let’s just focus on the future. That’s all we can do.”

I nod. “So, time to prank Eric?”

Beau Grins. “Let’s do it.”

Every day feels like one giant blur.

I find myself tossing and turning at night, unable to get comfortable because I can’t lay on my stomach.

The stomach which has decided to show.

Worried someone will see me, I always wear baggy sweaters, thankful the weather is still cool enough. It won’t last long, given spring is just around the corner, followed by what is predicted to be our hottest summer ever.

Between the lack of sleep and cramming of studying, I’ve lost count of the days. I’ve officially passed my first trimester and am well into the second. According to some books I read, the second trimester is smooth sailing though there was a section on pregnancy hormones making you horny all the damn time. I’d heard it from my sisters but thought it was them making up shit.

Oh, how wrong of me to think they lied.

Guys who are so not my type are suddenly the hottest thing ever. As for Beau, I have to force myself to pick fights with him so he’ll leave my room, just so I don’t jump him for my own pleasure.

In last night’s fight, I claimed he was chewing too loud. It escalated from there. Then he ended up leaving, calling me a psycho. He was wearing his white tee, the one which makes him look all James Dean bad boy-like. Between that and his ripped jeans, I was a hot mess.

My parents are due to visit next week, and since they haven’t seen me since the party at the club, there is no choice but to tell them. One look at me, and they’ll know anyway.

I’m almost finished with my assignment ahead of time, which is a relief. With my window closed, the air begins to warm, so I remove my sweater and just chill in my tank.

There’s a knock on the door, just like Beau’s. He said he wasn’t coming over tonight, but I bet he changed his mind.

I pull the door open and shout, “What?”

Only to see Eric on the other side.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

His mouth immediately falls open. My eyes bulge as his stare fixates on my stomach. He throws his hand to his chest, clutching his shirt as if he is having a heart attack.

“Oh, my…” he pauses in shock, then gulps, “… god.”

“Okay, so yes. Here I am.”

Eric fans his face. “I need to sit down. And bring me a cold towel.”

I usher him to my armchair inside my room, making sure he sits down and doesn’t faint. I keep a cold washcloth inside my mini refrigerator just in case I get a headache or overheat. Removing it from there, I quickly rush it over to Eric and place it on his forehead.

“Is that better?”

“Yes, sweetheart, thank you.”

He breathes in and out fast like he’s about to give birth or something, then makes this weird sound. Finally, he sits up straight in the chair and stares at me.

“I want all the details. Who’s the daddy? How far along are you? Are you still sleeping with him?”

This time, I take a deep breath. “It’s Hunter’s baby, I’m in my second trimester, and no, I’m not sleeping with him. I haven’t spoken to him since the ball, and he doesn’t know.”

“Sweet Jesus,” Eric gasps. “Pass me the cloth again.”

It takes longer for Eric to calm down this time as I sit beside him and massage his hand. If this is the reaction I get from him, I’m not looking forward to everyone else.

“Okay, I’m ready.” He inhales, then exhales, forcing a smile. “Hunter Cash?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“He’s having a baby with his wife.”

“Yes,” I repeat. “Which is why I can’t have this leak out. I don’t want him to know. It will complicate everything.”

“Sure.” Eric nods, but then he falls silent, just watching me. He reaches out, placing his hand on mine. “Sweetie, every child needs a father.”

“But the child will have a grandfather and so many uncles. The child will be loved,” I reassure him.

“Just have a think about it, okay? In the meantime, do you need me to dish up dirt? I can get my people on it.”

“I don’t need dirt. What I need is to tell my parents when they’re back. Once they know, I don’t care about anyone else in the family.”

“You mean your sisters?”

“Yes… I will tell them once my parents know.”

“For someone about to tell Lex Edwards she’s pregnant at twenty to a man Lex isn’t fond of, you seem awfully calm.”

I cross my arms and lower my gaze onto the floor, focusing on the thick socks on my feet. “I feel like I’ve spent my whole life making mistakes. Is this ideal? No way. Am I terrified? Yes. But I have a choice to either give my child the best possible life or sit here and dwell on things I can’t control.”

Eric’s lips curve up as he reaches out for me again. “You’re so loved, sweetie. You’ll be just fine.”

“Aw, Eric, stop. You’re too much,” I tease, then laugh.

“Wasn’t I? That was exhausting.”

Eric’s phone rings, interrupting our conversation. He glances over, but judging by his facial expression, he doesn’t recognize the number.

“These damn telemarketers,” he complains.

“Oh yeah?” I try my best to keep a blank face. “They’re relentless, aren’t they?”

“Ruthless sharks,” he adds. “I won’t pick up this call. One time, I picked up, thinking it was important. Let’s just say I was in the middle of a little ‘how’s your father’,” he whispers.

“How’s your what?”

“Your father. It’s English for lovemaking.”

“Oh…”

“So, anyway. I’m just about to finish, and this idiot calls, trying to sell me a timeshare somewhere in Boca. Little did this woman know I was knee-deep in—”

“No,” I groan, remembering when Eric’s voice changed during the call, and I thought it was super odd. “That’s rude and disrespectful to the person on the other end.”

“What’s rude is calling me when I’m about to come!”

“Okay, okay.” I throw my hands up in the air. “I get your point. I forgot to ask, why the visit?”

“Can’t an uncle visit his niece to ensure she’s okay? I’m glad I did, or I’d be the last to find out.”

“That’s nice of you. Though, I know you’re a big fat liar. You only came for the college boys.”

Eric fakes a smile, then stands to glance at the mirror to fix his hair. “Guilty. Now, let’s talk about the guy working the coffee cart. He is delicious. I could eat him up.”

“He’s straight, married, and has a kid on the way.”

“What? My radar has been so off lately.”

“Must be old age,” I tease.

“You wash your mouth out with soap, young lady. I do not look a day over thirty-five.”

“Oh.” I laugh. “Now, you’re thirty-five? What happened to not looking a day over thirty?”

“I’m learning to adjust to reality.”

I burst out laughing again. “Reality is telling people your real age.”

“I’m vain. What can I say?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head with a grin. “You’ll always be my vain Uncle Eric trying to hit on college guys to see if you still have it.”

“And, of course, darling, I still do.”