56. Chapter 56

56

Wren

Another 3 weeks later…

T he bathroom door creaks as I push it open. Em's sitting on my bed, her eyes wide as saucers. Fuck . I've seen that look before. It's the same damn look she gave me when I told her I was gonna start shaking my ass on a pole for extra cash.

"Well?" Em's voice cracks.

I toss the pregnancy test onto the bed. It lands between us, that little pink plus sign mocking me. "Congratulations, kid. You're gonna be an aunt."

Em's breath hitches. "Wren, are you sure?"

I snort, running a hand over my face. "Sure as shit. That's the third test. Unless my pee is magical, I'd say it's pretty fucking conclusive."

"But… how?" Em asks, her voice small.

I drop onto the bed next to her, the springs groaning in protest. "Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much… or, in this case, when they're both stupid enough to not use a condom…"

"So, are you gonna tell him?"

I pull away, standing up to pace the small room. Five steps one way, turn, five steps back. It's all the space I've got, but right now, it feels like a cage. "No fucking way."

"But, Wren—"

"No, Em. You know who he is, what he does. This kid," I gesture to my still-flat stomach, "they deserve better than that life."

Em's quiet for a moment. "What are you gonna do?"

I stop pacing, leaning against the wall. "I'm keeping it."

"Really?" Em's voice is a mix of surprise and… is that hope?

"Yeah, really. I know it's fucking crazy, but…" I trail off, not sure how to explain the fierce protectiveness I already feel.

Em stands up, determination written all over her face. "Then we'll make it work. I'll help. I can get a job after school, maybe—"

"Whoa, slow down there, Wonder Woman," I cut her off. "You're focusing on school, got it? I'm the adult here; I'll figure this shit out."

Em's lower lip trembles. "But what about D? What if he finds out?"

I cross the room in two strides, gripping her shoulders. "Listen to me. He won't find out. I won't let him. But that means…" I take a deep breath, bracing myself. "That means I've gotta leave, Em."

"Leave?" Her voice cracks. "But… where will you go?"

I shrug, trying to play it cool even as my insides are doing somersaults. "Don't know yet. But I can't stay here. It's too risky."

My mind flashes back to that night with D, the heat of his skin, the intensity in his eyes. Then… nothing. Radio fucking silence. No calls, no texts, not even a goddamn smoke signal. Typical. I was just another notch on his bedpost, and now I'm left holding the bag. Or, in this case, the baby.

Fuck, I've no one to blame. We both knew what we were getting into. It's not like I was expecting roses and a marriage proposal. Hell, I'm the one who told him to back off. But still , a heads-up would've been nice before he vanished into thin air.

Whatever. It is what it is. I've dealt with worse shit before, and I'll deal with this too. On my own terms.

Tears start rolling down Em's cheeks. "But what about me? What about Lenny? Your whole life is here!"

I pull her into a hug, my own eyes stinging. "I know, kid. I know. But this is bigger than me now. I've gotta do what's best for the baby."

Em sobs into my shoulder, and I hold her tight, my mind racing. I've got no fucking clue how I'm gonna pull this off, but I know one thing for sure: I'm gonna give this kid a better life than I had. Even if it kills me.

As I stand there, holding Em, I can feel my walls crumbling. For once, I let them fall.

Because fuck, I've never been more terrified in my life.