Page 56 of The Broposal

That gave me more time than I’d expected, honestly.

“Yes, sir.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

KENNY

After getting Han an Uber home, I went the rest of my shift feeling like a monumental piece of crap. If Han hadn’t been so distracted by my pointless flirting, he wouldn’t have fallen. I had done this, but I had only been trying to make things feel less weird after what happened the night before. Still, I might have gone a bit overboard.

After my shift was over, I didn’t even bother to double-count the money for the day. I shot Leti a quick text letting them know I’d be missing the show tonight, then headed out to my car. I needed to be there for Han.

When I turned the corner, I almost shat myself when I saw Jackie leaning on my car door.

“What the hell are you doing here, Jackie?” I sounded a lot more confident than I was. I really couldn’t let any of my complicated feelings for Jackie show in front of her, or she’d sink her claws in and take advantage. I had to be ice.

I tried to reach for my door, but Jackie blocked my way. “Ihadto come here because you blocked my number! How else am I supposed to get ahold of you?”

“Yeah, I blocked it for areason,” I said through gritted teeth, but I softened up with one look at Jackie’s face. Her eyes were puffy, and her nose and cheeks were red like she’d been crying. “What’s wrong?”

She sniffed and wiped her nose, not meeting my eyes. “I’m pregnant.”

I blinked, not sure if I was imagining things or if she’d actually just said that.

“What?” I felt my breath get thin, and the air I took inhurt. It was how I felt when I went for a long run in the winter. This wasn’t happening. Jackie couldn’t be pregnant.

“I’m pregnant,” she repeated.

“No, I heard you. I… Is it mine?”

“Of course it’s yours, you asshole.” She punched my arm. I had to ask.

“How? We were so careful…” I clicked my keys to unlock the car so we could talk more behind the privacy of my nontinted windows. She didn’t answer until we were both sitting inside.

“I must have missed a pill.”

“But we used condoms…” I rubbed my head, unable to wrap it around this new development. A baby. What was I going to do? I barely had any money in savings for an abortion. But then, what if she didn’t want one? Not to mention there was no way I could cut ties with Jackie with a baby involved. What did this mean for me and Han? I kept rubbing my head, feeling dizzy now.

“Iknow.” Jackie smacked the back of my head, sounding irritated. “You know condoms aren’t a hundred percent reliable.And stop doing that.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled it away from rubbing my forehead.

“Sorry…” I felt bad for focusing on the how instead of what would happen next. And for dodging her this whole time. I felt terrible.

“What are we gonna do?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” She started tearing up. Not fake, nonblinking tears, either. Real ones. “I’m not ready to be a single mom! I can barely take care of myself, let alone a baby! What am I supposed to do?”

I pulled her into a hug. “It’s gonna be okay. Whatever you choose, I’ll be here for you,” I said. I knew I had to be there for her. This was my problem just as much as hers, and if she wanted me there, I would be. I tried not to think of how that would complicate my situation with Han. Of course I would still do both no matter what, but I couldn’t think about the logistics of all that right now.

“Thank you, Kenny,” she said, sobbing into my chest.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Did you forget you blocked my number?!” She hit my chest with an open palm. I swallowed the pain. I deserved that.

“What about that day at the restaurant?” I asked.

“I didn’t know then, obviously.”

“I’m so sorry…” was all I could say.

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