Chapter 26

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

MARY

"Brad, wait." I follow him into the parking lot as he bursts out of the fire escape door, angrier than I've ever seen him. His posture is like he's looking for a fight. I jog after him, standing between him and the rental car. "Just wait a second."

"Is all of that true?" Brad demands, his eyes glistening like he might cry, looking so similar to Dad that it reminds me of when he told me about the heart attack. It's like it always circles back in families. "The baby? He's in love with… Since when? The trip? When he left early?"

"Yeah," I murmur.

"That explains the tattoo, then," he says.

"You know about that?"

"You were wearing a tank top, and the strap slipped. You quickly covered it up. You didn't think I'd noticed. After that, no more tank tops, but I saw it. I figured you'd tell me in your own time."

"I'm sorry, Brad."

"Is it true?" he asks. "Are you really pregnant?"

"Yes," I tell him, wiping angrily at my cheeks when I feel the tears falling. I'm not allowed to cry right now. It's not fair. Brad is such a good big brother. He always hates it when I cry. "Rust wanted to tell you right after it happened. You have to know that, but I couldn't stand the idea of you hating me."

"Hating you?" Brad says, then looks up when he hears people coming, spilling out of the arena. "Get in the car. We can't hang around here. We'll get mobbed, but get in the back and be quiet. I can't even look at you right now."

His words sting, but I have little choice. Crowds of people are spilling from the main entrance. If even a couple of them spot us, they'll run over here, their cameras out, ready to get their few minutes of fame. I get into the back seat. My phone vibrates.

When I take it out, Brad says, "Is that him?"

There's something angry and suggestive in his tone. I've been around Brad enough to read his tone. He's not really asking me if it's Rust. What he's saying is, I don't want to know. I need space to think . I put my phone facedown on the seat. "I don't know. It doesn't matter right now."

That's the correct answer, apparently. Brad nods with satisfaction and pulls out of the parking spot. My finger twitches for my phone, but I've got to have discipline here. I need to think about Brad for once instead of Rust and me and the future that I shouldn't even let myself want.

Back at the hotel, Brad shuts himself in his room. He won't even speak to or look at me. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I take out my phone and read the three texts Rust has sent me. I've got two missed calls from him, too.

Where are you?

Are you with Brad?

Mary?

I bite my lip, feeling how anxious he is simply because he messaged me more than once. I want to go back and find the video from the conference when he said he fell in love with me. I couldn't focus on it as I chased Brad from the arena, but I heard the word love .

I can't celebrate right now. God, I'm a terrible sister. "Yes, you are." No, the last thing I need is Mom's voice.

He's in his room. He won't talk to me.

Where are you staying? he texts.

I'm not sure that I should say.

Tell me, Mary. I have to see you. I have to see Brad.

Wondering if I'm making a mistake, I text him the hotel address. Then I go to the window and look down at the street, my belly aching, like the baby in there is feeling all the anxiety and uncertainty, too.

"It's okay, little one," I whisper, stroking my hand over my belly. "One day, this will all seem like a bad dream. We'll be happy. Mommy and Daddy will always support you, and so will Uncle Brad, okay?" I repeat it like I'm trying to convince myself, with extra emphasis. "Okay?"