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Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jemma

A fter Trent gets home from hockey practice, I walk to his house. Nerves bubble up inside my chest as I rehearse my planned speech. I still need to confirm my pregnancy with a doctor, but I’m one hundred percent certain that Trent’s baby is brewing inside me.

I have to tell someone other than Jordan before my chest explodes. She’s the only person who knows about my morning sickness, which extends to all times of the day. My body hates me. Months of puking in trashcans doesn’t sound like fun.

But what can I do?

I knock on Trent’s door, and he stands in the doorway, shirtless.

His blond hair is still wet from the shower, sticking up like Tucker’s does with gel.

They look so much alike that it was easy for me to mistake them initially, but there’s no mistaking the man I’m falling head over heels in love with.

Trent sweeps me into his arms and kisses me on the lips. “Hey, beautiful. I missed you.”

I smile, my body trembling as he holds me in his strong arms. “You saw me this morning.”

He gives me one of his playful smirks. “I miss you the second we’re apart.”

Drake makes a gagging sound from the couch. “Dude, take out your tampon already.”

“Shut it,” Trent snaps and then turns to me. “Did you eat yet? Are you hungry? I think Shannon’s cooking us dinner again.”

My stomach churns at the sound of food. Nothing tastes or smells good anymore—at least nothing I used to like. Every time I attempt to eat a cheeseburger, my favorite food, I end up hugging the toilet.

“No, I’m good.”

Trent narrows his eyes at me. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.” He presses his hand to my forehead to check my temperature. “Are you getting sick?”

Something like that.

“I need to talk to you.” I glance at the living room packed with his teammates playing a video game together. “Somewhere more private.”

We haven’t been together long. So, how do I tell him that his entire life is about to change? A million scenarios race through my head, none of them good. I have to prepare myself for the worst case. He could freak out and say he doesn’t want to be a part of a child’s life.

Hockey is everything to him.

A baby could upend his career.

Trent shuts the front door and then leads me upstairs to his bedroom. I sit on the edge of his mattress, my hands clasped on my lap to steady my nerves. He locks the door and saunters to me with a concerned look. I bite my cheek, struggling to find the right words.

Trent sinks to one knee in front of me and grabs my hand. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know how to say this,” I admit.

He brushes the pad of his thumb against my skin, and his pretty blue eyes meet mine. “You can tell me anything, Jem.”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.

Stunned, he drops to the carpet with a bewildered look. He doesn’t move or blink, only stares at the wall behind my head. I wave my hand in front of his face. This is the reaction I was afraid I would get. He’s become catatonic on me, unable to move, still trying to process the news.

Fear rocks through me in waves, followed by intense panic. “Trent, say something. Please.” I snap my fingers in front of his face. “Are you okay? I know this is a shock. I still can’t believe it myself. But we need to talk about this.”

“How are you pregnant?” Trent finally meets my gaze, his expression devoid of emotion. “We always use condoms.”

“Remember when the condom fell off? I think it happened that night.”

He closes his eyes, and a pained expression scrolls across his face. “Are you sure?”

“I have an appointment with the doctor.” I tug with the seam of my shirt, needing something to steady my nerves. “I was hoping you would come with me to the clinic on campus. I could use some moral support.”

“The same thing happened to my dad at the end of high school, right before the NHL drafted him,” Trent mutters. “I promised myself I wouldn’t let this happen to me. That I would learn from his mistake.”

“We need to talk about this, Trent.”

“How far along do you think you are?”

“I haven’t had my period in two months.”

He fists his wet hair between his fingers and groans. “Do you plan to keep the baby?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation.

He leans back against Tucker’s bed, his long legs stretched before him. “Are you sure it’s mine?”

My cheeks burn from his question. Tears stream down my face, and I cover my eyes. Furious, I get up from the bed, hovering over him. “I knew you wouldn’t take this well, but I didn’t think you’d act like this. I thought you were different, Trent.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Jem. I’m fucking freaking out. I feel like my heart is going to break through my chest. I need a minute, okay? Just give me some time to process.”

“Imagine what I’m going through,” I shout. “You’re not the one who’s sick every day.”

Trent pushes himself up from the floor. I recoil when he reaches out for me. But as I move toward the door, he clutches my hand and pulls me toward him. I try to fight him, but his grip is too firm.

Trent cradles my head against his chest, and I cry until my body stops shaking. “I’m sorry, Jem.” He speaks the words against the shell of my ear, and I stir in his arms. “I’m an asshole.”

“How could you ask if the baby is yours?”

“It’s a legitimate question. You were in a serious relationship with someone else before we met.”

“That ended over the summer.”

“You saw Corey during Thanksgiving break when we were broken up.”

“Nothing happened with Corey.” I peel myself from his arms and take a step back. “This baby is yours. Go ahead and be in denial all you want. I can raise a baby with or without you.”

I lift my purse from the bed and blow past him, flinging open his bedroom door. More tears slide down my cheeks, which are now streaked with mascara. I must look like a hot mess, but I don’t care as I descend the stairs to the first floor.

Jamie glances over his shoulder when my feet hit the bottom landing. A confused but concerned look crosses his face.

“You okay?” Jamie asks me. “Shan,” Jamie calls out. “Get in here.”

I wipe my face with the back of my hand. “Never better,” I lie before I rush out the front door, slamming it behind me.

My heart cracks open, spilling onto the pavement in front of Trent’s house.

At least, that’s how it feels after the conversation we just had.

I knew he wouldn’t take the news well, but I never expected him to act like a complete jerk.

Doubled over in front of the house, I clutch my stomach and let the tears fall until I hear a voice I recognize.

“Everything okay?” Shannon asks from behind me.

When I look up, Shannon’s standing before me with her hands on her narrow hips.

“I guess it depends on your definition of okay,” I deadpan.

She wraps her arms around me, removing some of my anxiety with her warmth.

My Big Sister has had my back from the beginning.

I should tell her what’s happening, but I’m terrified she will judge me or relay the information to Abby and the rest of my sorority sisters.

At some point, I will have to confide in my sisters.

But what will they say? Will they throw me out, cast me aside, and forget I exist?

Fear rocks through my body, causing me to tremble in Shannon’s arms. Instead of speaking, she holds me until I cry, comforting me with her presence. She seems to understand what I need without exchanging words.

“If I tell you something,” I mutter, “do you promise not to say a word? To anyone. I can’t risk The Queen getting her hands on this information.”

“Yes,” she whispers, relaxing her grip on me. “I promise. You can trust me.”

Deep down inside, I know this to be true, so I spill my guts to her about Trent and my pregnancy.

Her mouth and eyes are wide with shock after I finish the story. “Wow. I can’t believe Trent said that to you. What an asshole. He’s usually the more levelheaded of the twins. I’m so sorry, Jemma. If you need anything, you can always count on me. That’s what Big Sisters are for.”

“Thanks, Shan.” I rest my head on her shoulder, a tear escaping my left eye. But this time, it’s a happy tear. “I’m so scared. The father doesn’t want to acknowledge the baby. I must consider how I will raise a child alone.”

“You have me. And your family.” She smiles so wide it reaches her big, blue eyes.

“You’ll have our sisters who will love spoiling the baby growing in your belly.

We have your back, girl. You might feel alone right now because of how Trent reacted, but you will never be alone.

And I can promise you Trent will come around.

He’s in a state of shock. Give him a few days to process everything, and I bet he will apologize for being a jerk. ”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I’m sure he will. But it would have been nice to get a better reaction from him. I know he’s scared, but so am I, and I can’t do this without him. Our child needs a father.”

Shannon hooks her arm through mine and leads me down the block toward my dormitory on the other side of Broad Street. “He will be there for you. Don’t worry. And if he doesn’t, I will kick his ass into next year.” Shannon chuckles. “So will Jamie and all of his friends.”

“Please don’t tell Jamie,” I interject. “I’d rather keep this information to a few people for now.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. But Trent probably told his teammates by now.” I frown, and she adds, “Don’t worry. They keep things in the family. And now you’re part of their weird-ass family.”

I laugh. “Not quite.”

“You will be. So will your baby. They might act like dicks most of the time, but they’re good guys. Your baby will never want for another thing ever again.”

“I don’t need money,” I admit. “At least not from Trent and his family.”

“Right. I forgot you’re a rich girl.” Shannon chuckles. “But you and Jordan never act like it.”

I shrug. “It’s my dad’s money, not mine.”

“Have you told your family yet?”

“Only Jordan. I’m not looking forward to telling my dad I’m pregnant. The news will break his heart.”

We cross the street at the light, passing a group of frat guys I met at one of the Delta Sig parties. Shannon waves to them, and I nod.

Shannon lowers her voice to an almost whisper so no one can overhear our conversation. “It might feel like the end of the world to you, but trust me, everything will work out. Your dad will not turn you away because you’re pregnant. And Trent will beg you to take him back in no time.”

I snort. “He better grovel when he does.”

As if his ears were ringing, Trent stumbles out the front door. Relief washes over his handsome face when his eyes meet mine. “Jem,” he breathes. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean anything I said.”

“It took you long enough,” Shannon interjects.

“Stay out of this, Shannon,” he snaps. “This is between Jemma and me.”

“Trent,” I groan.

“Sorry, Shannon, but can I have a few minutes alone with my girlfriend?”

Shannon looks to me for confirmation, and I nod in answer. She squeezes my shoulder and heads into the house.

Trent closes the distance between us, his hand extended.

I slip my fingers between his, and he molds my body against his.

“I love you,” he says against my lips. “I wasn’t planning to tell you right after…

this. But that’s how I feel. I love you, Jemma with a J.

You’ve had me wrapped around your finger from the second we met.

No matter what happens, I’m here for you, okay? We’ll get through this together.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “I love you, too.”

“Again, I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t process what you were telling me. It was like I had a concussion and couldn’t concentrate. Nothing you said made any sense to me… except for you and me. We make sense. And I can’t lose you.”

I stand on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. “You have me… and this baby.”