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MADISON
I waveto Chico’s owner. She came back from her vacation two days early when she heard what happened. I’m just relieved to have Chico out of my house. He’s in the back of his owner’s car right now, and Samson is back home where he belongs.
I’m pretending to be cool, calm, and collected about what’s happening, but I don’t feel it. Chico’s owner said she was sorry about it, but she didn’t say anything about paying for Samson’s stitches and doctor’s visit. Ethan still hasn’t let me see the bill, so I don’t know how much it was. But I can only imagine.
I step back into my house, and my phone vibrates. It’s Ethan.
Aurora will be here in ten. Can you come on over?
As soon as I read that, my heart speeds up. And it’s not because I’m excited. No, I feel nervous. I don’t want to be here. In fact, I’d rather be anywhere but here. But I told Ethan I was on board with telling Aurora, even though I’m not.
But the truth is that our friendship has been in troublesince Ethan and I first slept together. It’s like something has been in between us. I don’t think anything can fix it. Except maybe the truth. Maybe if we tell Aurora, then she’ll know she just has to accept it.
“Samson, stay here. I’ll be back soon….I hope.”
I head across the backyards, entering Ethan’s house through the back instead of the front, just in case Aurora happens to be driving up.
Ethan hugs me as soon as he sees me, then kisses me on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Like this is a giant mistake. Chico is gone, though. That’s good, but I feel like I can’t celebrate it because of this.”
Ethan kisses me again. “We’ll tell her. She’ll get upset, and she’ll need time to deal with it. But we can both be here to answer her questions and…then, it will be done. The news will be out there.”
“Are we telling her about the baby too or just that we’re… together?” Even the word makes me feel giddy.
“I think we should rip the band-aid off. Both at the same time.”
I nod, even though that sounds like the worst idea I’ve ever heard. I snuggle into Ethan’s chest and just let him be my safe person.
When I hear the sound of a car pulling into the driveway, my heart jumps into my throat. Ethan pulls back from me. “I’ll answer the door. Do you want to sit in the living room?”
I don’t, but I nod anyway. I head to the living room as Ethan heads to the front door.
This is it. Aurora’s here.
I glance at Ethan, standing by the window with his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the driveway. He’scalm—at least on the surface—but I know that he has to be feeling something– some sort of nerves.
He looks over at me, and for a second, his eyes soften. “You ready?”
I’m not. Not even close.
But I nod anyway because what else can I do? We’ve been putting this off for too long, and now, there’s no more time left. Aurora needs to know. She deserves to know. Putting it off will only make my continued times with her even more awkward because I’m hiding something.
“I’m ready.” But even my voice sounds shaky. I swallow the lump in my throat.
Ethan gives me a small nod, then pulls open the front door. There she is—Aurora. She steps inside, shaking dramatically as she takes off her coat and makes an attempt to hang it on the coat rack.
“Hey, Rory, how has work been?”
“Eh, it’s been. Why did you want me to come over? I do have things to do, you know.” I think about what Ethan is going to say. This isn’t just any conversation. This is a moment that could change everything.
“I know. You’re busy, busy. But I have something important I need to talk to you about. Let’s go into the living room.”
Ethan steps confidently into the living room. Aurora is a couple of steps behind him.
That’s when her gaze finally lands on me. Her cool, collected look falters just a little, and I know she’s wondering why I’m here. She looks between the two of us, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
“Hi, Madison. You’re in my dad’s house.”