Hendrix - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,8

her hand. Her jaw is practically on the floor and she's saying nothing, which is a lot for someone who always has something to say.

How could I have let this happen? I'm only nineteen! We were careful. We used a condom every time, and I was on the pill. Still, my period was late, and Maddie half- jokingly suggested I take a pregnancy test. Three hours later and here we are, freaking out over the fact that there is a baby growing inside of me.

“Okay, breathe. Maybe this isn't the worst thing in the world.”

I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face her. “Are you kidding? He's going to flip out.”

Colby and I only started dating six months ago, and with his recent draft into the NFL, he's almost guaranteed to freak. Our relationship isn't even stable right now. He's been under a lot of pressure with the draft season, and he's started to distance himself—from everyone, including me.

“You don't know that,” Maddie tries to reassure me. “Just go talk to him. He might surprise you.”

I take a deep breath, trying to get my feet to move toward the door, but I can't. “We haven't even talked since that fight we had a couple days ago. He won't respond to my texts.”

She shakes her head. “His phone has been blowing up since the news broke about him being drafted. Maybe he hasn't seen it.”

“Maybe you're right.” I go to grab my phone when she stops me.

“What are you doing?”

I stop, confused. “Calling him?”

She grabs it from my hands and slips it into my pocket. “I don't think this is a conversation you want to have over the phone.”

“Good point.” I grab my sweatshirt and pull it over my head. “I'll be back. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck!”

It's a ten-minute walk across campus to get from my dorm to his, but it gives me time to think about what I'm going to say. The positive test bounces around in my sweatshirt pocket as I walk up the steps. When I reach his door, I debate whether I should knock or walk in. Eh, I better knock.

The door opens, and Colby's roommate, Mason, stands on the other side of the door. His eyes widen when he realizes it's me, but I smile sweetly.

“Hey Mase, is Colby here?”

He swallows harshly and opens the door further to let me in. “I take it he didn't listen to me?”

Confusion etches across my face until I see his side of the room. It's completely empty. All his things, the posters that covered the walls, the picture of his family that sat on the nightstand—it's all gone. It doesn't even look like Colby ever lived here.

“What's going on? Where's all his stuff?”

Mason sighs and goes over to his dresser. “The 49ers wanted him to come early and the administration told him he could finish his classes for the semester online. He left last night, but he told me to give this to you.” He hands me an envelope with my name scribbled across the front in Colby's handwriting. “I'll, uh, give you some time.”

I walk over to sit down on the bed that used to be Colby's and tear open the letter.

Dear Saige,

I'm sorry to have to do this, especially this way. I thought about calling you, but I figured it would hurt less to read it rather than hear it come from my mouth. The past few months we've spent together have been great, but with how hectic my schedule is going to be and with entering the NFL, I just don't want to be tied down with a relationship. Don't be upset. You're a gorgeous girl. You'll find someone who can make you happier than I ever could. I hope you can forgive me one day, but I understand if you can't.

With love,

Colby

Angry tears flow down my cheeks as I pull my phone out of my pocket and click on his contact. He needs to know, before he moves on with some super model from Victoria's Secret. I have to tell him about the baby.

“I'm sorry,” a robotic voice comes through the phone. “The number you have reached is no longer in service.”

I fall to the ground, clutching my phone in one hand, and the letter and pregnancy test in the other.

What am I going to do now?

“Hey,” Maddie shakes me from the painful memory. “Don't even worry about it. He's probably too busy fucking half of Northern California to watch anything that isn't