Page 67 of Broken

My heart swelled, and I pressed my lips together as I looked at Tucker. He looked gobsmacked.

“Would you like to hear the heartbeat?” The tech looked over at us, her voice upbeat, and my pulse skipped in excitement.

“Please.”

There was a whooshing sound just before a rapid gallop filled the room. Tears pricked my eyes at the odd but clear sound, and I looked up at Tucker, joy filling my heart. He just stared at the screen, watching the baby, but he definitely looked overwhelmed.

“You okay?”

He looked down and gave me a small smile. “Yeah. Just taking it all in.”

I slid off the table when the appointment was over, and we saw Dr. Fallor next for some updates and next steps. By the time we were through, my head was swimming with information.

“Are you coming back to school?” Tucker asked, heading to his truck. He’d been weirdly quiet. Not that I blamed him. It was a lot to take in. Especially after that last part with Dr. Fallor.

“Uh, yeah. I’m riding back with Tucker.” I scooped up my backpack out of Mom’s car before she could argue and boltedover to Tucker’s Chevy. Noticing all too well that he didn’t come around to open my door.

“Home right after school!” Mom hollered behind me.

The silence in the truck was deafening as we drove back, and I knew it was all my fault. “Please talk to me,” I murmured, hating the tension, desperate to make things normal between us again.

I was terrified that would never happen. We’d just confirmed exactly what I’d been worried about.

Tucker shook his head, his hands gripped firmly on the wheel while he kept his gaze focused on the road. Even with no other cars on this stretch of the highway, he wouldn’t look at me.

“Tucker. I’m sorry. If I’d known–”

“I knowIforgot the condom, but I wanted to get the plan B, Izzy.Youwere the one that swore it was fine. You were on the pill.” His voice was rough. Nowhere near yelling but just as punishing. I internally cringed and then swallowed.

“Iwason the pill. I just didn’t know switching pills had that window before I’d be fully protected.”

He nodded; his jaw clenched. “Yeah, that window that came back to bite us in the ass.”

“I’m sorry.” I gave a hard swallow, fighting back the urge to cry. Because he was right. And he was pissed. And I was terrified. “I know this is far from ideal, but it was still incredible to see her for the first time.”

He nodded, still not speaking.

He didn’t speak to me for the rest of the day. I’d even tried texting, so he’d see it after basketball practice, but all he sent back was a thumbs up.

Which I felt through the phone was anything but fine.

I slid my hand under my pillow and pulled out the small stack of pictures the ultrasound tech had printed off. My fingers traced the photos, following the outline of her little nose and lips. Ofher legs and arms to the tips of her fingers. Amazed that even right now she had little fingerprints.

She was perfect.

She’d thrown my life for an utter loop. Into a complete mess. But holy crap, had I fallen in love with her today.

My world was now hers.

I just didn’t want to do it without her daddy in it. Because as much as I had fallen in love with her, as much as I knew keeping her was what I wanted to do, I was scared. So much of my life was about to change, and I didn’t know how I was going to manage everything that was coming my way. With or without Tucker.

It was terrifying.

Brushing away a couple of errant tears, I picked up my phone from the nightstand and sent Tucker another text.

Me: I know you’re mad, and I completely understand. But I hope you won’t hold it against me forever. Love you.

I attached a few hearts to the end before hitting send. It was several minutes before he responded.

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