Page 102 of Betting on the Bad Boy

Murph stood, grabbed his backpack, and leaned over my desk. “Nine o’clock. I’ll be waiting.” Then he opened the door and stepped out into the hall.

I jumped out of my seat and pushed the door closed behind him, then collapsed back in the chair and cradled my head in my hands. What should I do? Sure, the extra money from taking over Middleford’s classes would be nice, but was it worth it?

And what would prevent Murph from leaking it, anyway? He was enough of a slime ball to take the added classes and still smear my secret all over the paper just for spite. I wished I had someone to talk to, someone who could help me sort out the mess I’d made of my life.

I ran through the possibilities. There was Jess... but she wouldn’t understand what a big deal it would be for me to claim the identity of Chastity Austen. She’d think it was cool as hell. Dante wasn’t an option. Robin wouldn’t get it, either. Why hadn’t I tried harder to make more friends?

That just left one option. I gathered my things together and grabbed my bag. It was time to pull out the big guns.

It was time to call my mother.

I slumpedin the corner of the couch. I’d put off calling my mother for hours, hoping I’d come up with an alternate solution. Procrastination had been good for my apartment—my kitchen sink sparkled, I’d cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom, and there wasn’t a single item of dirty laundry left in my hamper. ButI’d stalled long enough. Sooner or later, I had to figure out what to do.

One hand held my phone to my ear, the other wrapped around a short glass about two inches full of peach schnapps. It was either that or tequila. Without a stocked liquor cabinet, my options were limited. I took another sip of liquid courage and let it burn down my throat while I waited for my mother to pick up. She answered on the third ring.

“Hello, honey. What a wonderful surprise.”

“Hi, Mom. Are you busy?”Please say yes.

“No, darling. Clem just sat down to watch the game, and I was about to dig into a new book. Why aren’t you out somewhere exciting tonight?”

“I teach an early class tomorrow.”

“I wish you’d have more fun. You’re so serious all the time, dear.”

I stifled a groan. “I have fun. I even went to a poetry slam the other night.” Not that it had been a fun evening out with friends. More like a personal attack by someone I thought I could trust.

“Well, good. I’m glad you’re getting out.”

“So, Mom, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?” I took another small sip of my schnapps, attempting to tamp down the apprehension trying to claw its way out of my chest.

“Sure, sweetheart. What’s going on?”

I hesitated. Once I spilled my guts to my mother, there would be no turning back. But based on the way things were going, she was bound to find out sooner or later. It was probably best if she heard it straight from me.

I’d had all day to think about it, to try to get my thoughts in order. But now, with my mother waiting on the other end of the line, my mind went blank. All the bullet points I’d jotted down and memorized flooded from my brain.

“Faith? What is it?”

I let out a long breath. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”

CHAPTER 50

Faith

“Are you okay? You sound funny.”Concern laced through my mother’s tone.

I adjusted my position on the sofa. “I’m fine, Mom. There’s just something I need to let you know before you hear it from someone else.”

“My goodness, are you pregnant? Faith, how could you? How far along are you? Who’s the father? Is it that Patrick I met a few months ago? What about Carter, dear? He really cares about you, you know. Oh no, is Carter the father? He doesn’t seem like the type that would engage in pre-marital?—”

“Mom.” I tried to get her attention without success.

“You and Carter will have such beautiful children. We’ll have to have a wedding right away, though. People will talk, but?—”

“MOM!” I yelled into the phone. She paused, and I quickly shouted, “I’m not pregnant.”

Silence.