Page 26 of Sin Wagon
“I guess, but still it takes like three seconds to send a text saying ‘hey’. It’s not that I expected him to halt his day and have a whole conversation with me,” I argue.
“True. Are you sure you gave him the right number? Remember that time we met those super hot dudes at Red’s and you gave the one guy your number but put the name in as DerekDelilah? Dude was so confused about who he was texting a few days later,” he laughs. “Tipsy Delilah is not known for her savvy phone skills.”
I laugh along with him. “It’s possible, I guess. But I didn’t drink that much. I’m positive I gave him the right number. Doesn’t matter now, because whether he contacted me or not, we’re still left trying to figure out how to tell my dad that I literally just met and my grandparents that I’m pregnant with Wells’ baby. This is a mess.”
“Do you want me with you when you tell him? The first step is telling Wells and then together you two can plan on how to break it to his parents and brother.”
“Can you be here, but, like, not here?” I motion to the living room area where we’re sitting. “Like in your room, so if I need you I can holler, but otherwise not here.”
He sticks out his bottom lip in a fake pout. “Can I press my ear against the door and eavesdrop the whole time?”
“Yes.” I grab a pillow and smack him with it. “Spy away, baby.”
“Fine. Once you kiss and make up though, can you ask him if he has any hot friends? I’m ready to end this dry spell that having this baby has dealt me.”
“I can’t stand you!” I squeal.
“Thank you for cheering me up and making this not as bad as it seems,” I say, my voice softening.
Derek’s smile widens as he lovingly sweeps a stray strand of hair off my face. “There’s nothing you can do about it now. Thebaby is coming in just a few months. Since you’re not related by blood, there are no genetic concerns for you to consider. Everything else will fall into place. And if it doesn’t, you still have me. That’s all you had when we got here, so you have nothing to lose.”
I nod, struggling to stifle a yawn.
Derek chuckles. “We should get to bed. Tomorrow, your new family will likely make an effort to meet you.”
I stand up and head toward the bedroom, my body swaying from side to side with each step. Once inside, I quickly shed my boots and clothes, opting for a lightweight pajama set consisting of shorts and a matching tank top. I twist my hair into a messy bun, some strands falling loose around my face, and climb into bed. Nestling into the plush comforter, I relish in the soft feel as the weight of the day slowly fades away.
As Derek flicks off the light switch, he kindly offers, “I’ll make sure everything is locked.”
“Goodnight,” we softly tell each other, the words lingering in the quiet room.
I whisper to Little Boba, “No matter what happens, you will always have me. I’m going to be the best mom I can be, nothing like Claudia. I have the perfect roadmap of whatnotto do.”
With that promise, I drift off, comforted by the thought of a better future for me and my baby.
Chapter 14
WELLS
Most of the night, I tossed and turned. Every time I closed my eyes, Delilah’s face would come back, pulling me deeper into my thoughts. Is the baby she’s carrying mine? If so, how will we tell my parents? Jonas?
Jonas.
He’s going to lose it. My poor older brother is already hanging on by a thread. He stayed in my parents’ suite last night, not wanting to be alone. We went there after the nightmare that was the rehearsal dinner and made a plan.
Jonas may have just found out that he has a daughter who’s in her twenties, but he’s already decided that he’s going to be the best dad he can be from this point on—do whatever he can to make up for lost time.
My parents are on board and plan on being amazing grandparents and great-grandparents.
It’s not like they have far to go to be better than Claudia and Drew, but I didn’t tell them that.
The wedding is for sure off. Jonas had my dad go to the suite he shared with Claudia last night to get his things and he asked Claudia for the ring back so he can pawn it.
Mom tried to talk him out of that. But he insisted. His exact words were, “That bitch kept my child from me all this time, so I’m keeping her diamonds from her.”
Today, they plan to head to Delilah’s suite and see if she’ll have a conversation with them, possibly even a meal. I need to get to her first so I can get my questions answered and figure out if she gave me the wrong number on purpose or if it was a fluke.
I stand in front of the mirror, my reflection looking as disheveled as I feel. The sleepless night clings to my eyes, heavy and shadowed. With a deep sigh, I step into the shower; the water scorching at first but then soothing, washing away the remnants of my chaotic thoughts.
