next to you. I didn’t want to leave. Everything I could ever want is right here.” I hesitate, tears welling in my eyes. “With you. And then you told me you loved me and…”
“I don’t know if I can be with you, if you can’t be honest with me,” he says, his voice hard. Like steel.
I gape at him, my mind swirling, my vision going blurry. Oh my God. He’s going to break up with me right here, right now. On the day his ex gets married. How ironic.
“You should’ve told me. I can’t handle it if you’re going to keep secrets from me. That’s not the type of relationship I want to have. I need open, honest communication. Especially after everything that happened with—” He waves his hand distractedly toward the tent, indicating Jessica.
I nod, letting the tears fall. They streak down my face, one after the other, falling onto the ground and I keep my head bent so he won’t see them.
No way can I mention the possible pregnancy now. He’ll really lose it. It’s bad enough, what he’s just said. My next secret confession will send him right over the edge.
“I need time to think,” he finally says.
“It’s okay.” Sniffing loudly, I lift my head once more, letting him see me. I never cry, and when I do, it’s always in private. I don’t let anyone see me having a vulnerable moment if I can help it.
But with Theo, I want him to see me. To see my sadness and despair at the thought of losing him.
“Take your time,” I tell him once I’m composed enough. “Think it through. I never meant to hurt you, Theo. I love you.”
He stares at me for a long quiet moment before he turns on his heel…
And leaves.
Twenty-Five
Kelsey
It’s Sunday morning. Almost brunch time. But I’m not going. I already sent a text to the group chat, telling them I’m not feeling well and can’t make it. I’ve been crying in bed since I got home yesterday late afternoon from the wedding. I drowned in my tears, crying so hard I almost threw up.
Juvenile, I know, but I’m broken hearted. Devastated.
I stopped off on my way home at Walgreens to pick up a couple of pregnancy tests, praying no one I know would see me. I got out of there unscathed, but once I arrived home, I couldn’t make myself take the test. I was too wound up, too upset. Why add one more thing to my pain?
Lying depressed in bed, not eating, not drinking, only getting up to use the bathroom. That’s all I’ve done for the past, ohhh—sixteen hours or so. I slept fitfully, and when I did, I dreamed. Of Theo telling me it’s over and he doesn’t want to see me any longer.
I woke up crying.
There’s a knock on my door and I sit up, pushing my tangled hair out of my face. No one knocks on my door except for Mrs. Fillmore, the sweet elderly woman next door, but she always calls me first and very rarely does she come to my place. I’m the one who’s usually knocking on her door.
So who is it?
Hope lights me up inside when I realize it might be Theo. I stumble out of bed, my feet getting tangled in the sheets and nearly sending me to the ground. I hobble over the mess, stubbing my toe on the nearby chair, and I gasp in pain.
I’m a train wreck, but if it’s Theo waiting for me on the other side of the door, I don’t care. I want to see him.
I need to.
I run through the tiny apartment and undo all the locks, throwing open the door to find…
Stella, Candice and Caroline standing on my doorstep with matching solemn expressions on their faces.
I frown, pulling the door almost all the way shut behind me so they can’t see inside my crappy apartment. “What are you guys doing here?”
“We came to get you,” Caroline says gently. “For brunch.”
“But I cancelled.” I’m confused.
“We know,” Sarah says. “But we wanted to check on you.”
I don’t even know how they found my apartment. I pretty much keep my address a secret.
“Why?” I stand up straighter, going for dignified and failing miserably. “I’m fine. Just—not feeling up to brunch.”
“Let me be completely honest with you right now. You look like straight-up hell, Kelsey,” Stella says, taking a determined step forward and physically pushing me away from my front door. She grabs hold of the handle and