Page 25 of Home Run

It wasn’t a moment we managed to enjoy for long. The whistle of a football through the air followed by my brother’s cannonball into the pool ruined it completely.

“Matthew Robinson,” my mom screeched and snatched up a towel to wipe herself dry.

He emerged from the water grinning from ear to ear, not phased in the slightest by the glares being sent his way. “Sorry, did I interrupt girl time?”

“You’re such a loser,” I grumbled.

“Takes one to know one,” he shot back, jumping out of the water.

He sat down in the spot I’d vacated, dripping everywhere, his eyes flicking between Mom and me, narrowing asthey did.

“What am I missing?” he asked, scooping up the jelly beans my mom had left on the lounger and dropping them into his mouth. “Have you been crying? What did Doug do?”

My mom rolled her eyes and glanced at me, but stayed silent. It was my news, she was giving me the opportunity to tell it. I was so,sotempted to chicken out and ask her to do it when I went back to New York, but I’d already faced the music twice today. Third time’s a charm, right?

“I’m pregnant.”

He scoffed hard as he rubbed a towel over his wet hair. “Seriously, what’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant.”

His hands stilled, the towel remained draped over his head and confusion twisted his face. Eventually he glanced at my mom, who still hadn’t said anything, before his eyes focused back on me. “You’re pregnant?”

I nodded.

“You’re going to have a baby?”

“Yes.”

“But…but…but…um, who the fuck with?”

“Matthew,” my mom warned, and he was smart enough not to swear again.

“Sorry, but come on.” His entire body twisted around to mine. “Millie, you’re seriously pregnant? Who’s the father?”

This was the bit I’d been dreading. Telling my mom was different than telling my brothers, because it wasn’t so much that I was pregnant, more who I was pregnantwith. I knew the pregnant part wouldn’t go over well, but it would be a piece of cake compared to the rest of the information.

“A friend.”

“Afriend? What friend?”

Oh god, this was going to be exactly like when I’d told my mom and he repeated everything I said. I glanced over to her, pleading with her to help me in some way.

“He’s friends with Radley’s boyfriend.”

Matty’s eyes narrowed. “Radley’s boyfriend is Lux Weston.”

“Yes,” I nodded, “that’s correct.”

“Whichfriend?” he asked through a clenched jaw.

His face was getting pinker by the second. I was tempted to see if I could actually get his head to explode, but thought better of it.

“Tanner Simpson.”

“Tanner Simpson?” He snarled. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Matty—”

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