Page 47

“Not until maybe a minute or two before I realized something was wrong. The noise wasn’t noticeable, not really, so I turned down the radio to listen. It vibrated a little more and then the brake pedal went down too easy but nothing happened.” She was starting to get upset, remembering and I felt like an ass all over again. “I’ve been busy, Tate. Between the party, the work on my house and the psycho stalker, I’ve been a little preoccupied.”

“No one is blaming you, Teddy. I’m sorry I left the way I did and I know you won’t believe me, but it had nothing to do with you. Spending time in there with the cops did a number on my fucking head and I had to get away.”

“Sure,” she snorted, which told me clearly what she thought of my apology.

Or my excuse, I wasn’t really sure. “It doesn’t matter, Tate. You don’t owe me anything. Including an apology.”

She wouldn’t listen, not now. But that didn’t mean I’d give up. If we were nothing else, Teddy and I had become friends and my behavior had betrayed that friendship. “Maybe I don’t, but I want to be a better person than that for you. You deserve more.”

She scoffed. “I have exactly what I deserve, Tate. Believe me.”

I didn’t believe it, but I knew arguing the point with her now would only make her angrier. “How long are they keeping you?”

“At least another night. I might have a concussion and since I have no one to watch me safely, they’re keeping me.” Her words weren’t accidental, we both knew it, but I don’t think she meant it to hurt. To Teddy, it was just a fact.

“And?”

She shrugged. “I have a sprained ankle and a broken arm, so I’ll take the rest of today to figure something out. You should probably go check on Jana and Max.”

“They weren’t in a fucking car accident!”

“Don’t yell at me, Tate! Who fucking asked you to come, anyway?”

There was the fiery beast I knew she hid within her. “Not you, because you would never admit such a weakness as needing someone, would you?”

“What would be the point of needing people when they just leave? I’ll stick with myself since I know I won’t let me down.” She sucked in a deep breath, her pain written in every line drawn across her face. Watching her struggle to reach the call button tore me up and I went to her, placing it in her hand.

“Thanks,” she growled at me, clearly not thankful.

“I won’t let you down, Teddy. You might hate me forever, but I promise I won’t ever let you down again.”

She yawned. “Hating you wouldn’t help anything. Don’t worry about me, worry about yourself.” I guessed me being here exhausted her because her voice got weak as she drifted off to sleep.

I stood to leave just as a nurse was about to enter with a tray full of nurse shit. I held the door for her and watched as she walked over to sleeping beauty. She must not have realized Teddy was in la la land because I heard her say, “Ms. Quinton, we have painkillers for you that won’t harm the baby! And of course your prenatal vitamins.” Her voice was chipper but her words sounded so foreign I figured I had to be experiencing a fatigue-induced hallucination.

Because if I wasn’t, then that nurse just said Teddy was pregnant.

Only Teddy hadn’t said a word to me about it.

Because the baby wasn’t mine? Or, because I wasn’t the kind of man she wanted to raise a child with?

Chapter 20

Teddy

“God it feels so good to be going home.” At least it would be if they’d let me out of here.

I tried to explain to Jana that I couldn’t wait to leave those blinding lights behind, the noise of the machines and the constant interruptions by nurses coming in to poke and prod me just when I’d finally get comfortable. But Jana wouldn’t get off my case.

“Oh no, Theodora. Don’t think you can just drop a bomb like, ‘I’m pregnant’ and change the subject.” Arms crossed over her own growing belly bump, she sent me a narrow-eyed gaze that was supposed to intimidate me.

“You’re actually pregnant?” she whispered. “Like a bun in the oven, fetus growing into a squiggling little baby in your belly, you’re gonna be a mommy, pregnant?”

This girl was way too excited for the little bit of sleep I got last night. “Duh. Is there another type of pregnant I don’t know about?”

She rolled her eyes, but my best friend could not contain her excitement. I’d bet a million dollars it had little to do with me and everything to do with the fact that she wouldn’t have to do this alone. “Oh my God, this is the best news ever! We’re pregnant! Together! Mostly at the same time. And by brothers!” Her squeal was so high pitched I had to plug my ears.

“Settle down before they start evacuating patients because of that tornado siren you call a voice.” She wore a sheepish smile and then burst out laughing and pulled me in for a tight, loving hug.