Page 107 of The Surprise

“I’m pregnant.” My eyes well with tears, and I brush them away as quickly as I can. I don’t want to make him pity me. I don’t want to manipulate him. “I don’t even like the father, and I don’t know what I want to do yet.”

His brow furrows. He opens his mouth, and then he closes it. And then his shoulders slump. He blinks. He nods. He looks around, his mouth opening and closing again.

Poor Ethan.

A year ago, we met. He’s been doggedly pursuing me more or less that whole time. I’ve turned him down, shut him down, accepted him, then shut him down again.

And now, this.

“It’s okay if this is too much for you,” I say. “I understand.” I can’t help dropping one hand over my stomach. “I know it seems really sudden and really strange.”

“Not to me,” he says. “What do you know about my parents?”

His parents? I shake my head.

“My mom and dad were dating, and then my mom got pregnant.” His fingers drum on the seat of the boat. “They decided to get married, and that’s why I’m here.”

I had no idea.

“Mom says marrying my dad and keeping me was the best decision she ever made.”

Oh.

“I know we’re not very old,” Ethan says. “But I’ll raise that baby with you.” He smiles. “I have a ranch. We have family close. It’ll be fine.”

I don’t know what I thought he’d say, but that wasn’t it. And even though it sounds right, for some reason itfeelsall wrong.

21

Ethan

My mom’s kind of scary.

I didn’t realize it at first. When I was really small, she was just my mom. But as I got older, my friends who came by to play were scared to ask her for a drink. By middle school, she terrified them all, pretty much. And in high school, forget it. My friends thought she was the scariest person they’d ever seen.

She hasn’t ever really scared me, though.

Probably because she’s always been on my side. Having her on my side always made me feel safe. It always made me feel like nothing in the world could really hurt me. Up until the ranch lawsuit with the alien people, I’d never seen her lose a fight.

Even after that, I’d still bet on her every single time.

When I first decided I liked Beth, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was nervous that Mom might not like her, or that because of Beth’s family, Mom might misjudge her. I was wrong, of course, and from the time Mom found out how I felt, she was on board. She cheered. She gave advice. She was sad with me when things didn’t work out. It reminded me that she’s more open-minded about things than a lot of people give her credit for, especially when it comes to her kids.

So after I find out Beth’s news, which definitely took me by surprise, Mom’s the first person I talk to. I know she’ll be supportive because she basically lived this already.

I lay the groundwork first, explaining that we were supposed to have our first date, but that she got sick and then ghosted me. And then I hit her with the big news. “Beth’s pregnant.”

Mom’s face is as pale as I’ve seen it, at least since the day we got the news that Dad had cancer.

“It’s not mine,” I say, explaining the rest as quickly as I can.

“So you weren’t dating, and she. . .met some other guy. And then. . .”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t even like him. It was a mistake, and obviously she didn’t think she’d end up pregnant.”

“Obviously.” Mom’s brow is furrowed. Her color’s coming back—she’s always recovered fast from surprises—but she doesn’t look the way I thought she would.

She always gets this look on her face when she’s preparing to deal with something, like a general going into battle, ready to inspire and direct troops. Only, that’s not what she looks like right now.

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