Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Baby, what’s going on? I know something’s not right. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s happened.”
“Mom, I’m pregnant.”
She blinked several times then gave me a gentle smile. “I assume you didn’t plan on this?”
“No.” My reply was soft, and I looked away from the phone.
“It happens. Happened to me with you. Surely you know I’d never judge you or be angry at you for this. Right? I mean, I can hardly be angry when I was in a similar situation.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Honey. Why are you sorry?” She sounded almost relieved. Had she been that worried about me? So worried that finding out her daughter was pregnant wasn’t something she was angry about? “Things happen. While I wish you’d taken more precautions, this isn’t the end of the world. Your father and I will help you in any way we can. If that’s taking you to terminate the pregnancy, we will. If that means we help you raise the child, we’ll be on board with that too. Baby. We love you! With all our hearts.”
And yeah, the fucking tears started again, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to shut you out. I just didn’t know what to do.”
She tilted her head, studying me for a long moment. “There’s more. Isn’t there?”
Right. How to answer that. If Cyclone was on the phone with Dad, then there was no reason not to tell my mother. Besides, if anyone could keep my dad from killing Cyclone, it was my mother. “Yeah. There’s more.” I chuckled as I used a tissue to wipe my nose. “A lot more.”
“I’m guessing you need to start by telling me who the father is.” She phrased it carefully and kept her tone as gentle as possible, but my mother knew me well enough to know the subject of the baby’s father was the part she dreaded the most.
“Yeah.” I shook my head once, not believing I was having this conversation and really not wanting to divulge this, but it had to be done. “Cyclone. Daniel Gill is the father.”
My mother’s expression didn’t change. She still had a mild, pleasant look on her face, but something in her eyes told me she was considering all the possibilities and not liking the outcome of any of them. “I see. I suppose that’s why he insisted on coming after you himself?”
“He didn’t know until he got here. I only found out myself a few days before I left.”
“Did he… hurt you, honey?”
“What? NO! He’d never hurt me, Mom. I mean, yeah, he was an asshole at first, but not in a mean kind of way. Just a clueless, guy kind of way.”
My mom pursed her lips and I thought she might be trying to hold back a grin at my description.
“Yeah, I could see that. Most men tend to be that way sometimes.”
“It didn’t help that I didn’t cushion the blow. I just… blurted it out.”
That did get a laugh from her. And just like that, the tension inside me eased. I had to tell her the rest because I knew Cyclone would tell Dad and my father would need my mother to keep him from killing Cyclone.
“There’s more, Mom.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. We were both at the party a few weeks ago. That’s when it happened.”
Her gaze turned speculative, and I knew she’d work it out before I had the chance to tell her. “Were you --” She cleared her throat. “Were you drunk, Willa?”
“Yeah. I was. But before you go assuming the worst, he was too. And I got drunk on purpose.” I said it all in a rush, needing to stop the murderous thoughts I could practically see running through her mind.
“You got drunk on purpose.” It wasn’t a question. More like she wasn’t quite sure she could believe I’d done something that stupid.
“Yes.” I took in a deep breath before letting it out. “I wanted to have sex. You know. For the first time. I did it at the club because I knew the men there would be safe, but also because I kind of hoped it would be Cyclone.”
Her expression softened, but just as quickly turned stern. “You know you’ve put your father in a pretty bad position. He’s not going to like this at all.”
“Yes. I know. I didn’t quite think that part all the way through.”
“Have the two of you talked about this?”
“Yes. Well, somewhat. Just enough to know we want to try being together. Assuming Dad doesn’t kill him first.” I muttered that last part, saying it more to myself than my mother.
“That’s a very big ‘if,’ sweetie.” She shook her head just as I heard a very loud, very angry roar in the background.
“What do you fuckin’ mean you got my daughter pregnant?”