Page 4 of Born Wild

Rest isn’t going to make this better.

Nothing will.

Emotion pricks my eyes as I trek down the highway to the nearest pay phone. My chest tightens and I can’t tell whether it’s nerves or my situation that brings along a wave of nausea.

I don’t want to make this call.

But putting it off isn’t going to help.

I can’t move forward until I talk to Calvin. The man who I fell in love with this summer. The same one who broke my heart whenit was time to leave my cousin’s last month. One I never should have let things go so far with. The one who deserves to know he’s about to be a father.

My hands shake as I approach the empty phone booth.

This summer with my cousins up in Montana started as a dream. Graduated from high school and my first time traveling to see them as an adult, we spent our days working at a nearby resort and our evenings dancing past midnight at the local honky-tonk.

That’s where I met Cal.

His band played every Wednesday and Saturday at our favorite dancing spot. He was a talented musician, with a voice sent from Heaven and a face that turned every head in the bar. And for some reason I’ll never understand, he picked me.

It started as innocent flirting. He was older than me by a good ten years, and I couldn’t help but be charmed by his confidence. As much as I tried to resist, I fell hard and fast. I thought he had too—until it was time for me to leave.

He offered no promises. No future. Nothing permanent.

Or so I thought.

My palm rests low on my abdomen and I think of the life we accidently created. I don’t know what his reaction will be, but he deserves to know, and selfishly, I don’t want to be the only one to carry the weight of this consequence.

I cradle the phone between my ear and shoulder and dial the number to the bar.

It’s Saturday, and they’ll be playing to a packed house tonight. There’s a chance he won’t be in for another hour or so to set up, and part of me hopes he’s out so I can pretend this isn’t happening a little longer.

“Whiskey and Fire, this is George. How can I help ya?”

“Um, hello. I am calling for Calvin.”

“I’m not his damn answering service.” George mutters beneath his breath before asking. “Who’s callin’?”

“It’s Cassie.” I clear my throat. “Cassie from Wilder Valley.”

“Let me see if he’s ’round.” George audibly sighs. There’s a soft thunk and I picture him setting the receiver on the counter. The hum of conversation along with music from the jukebox plays in the background as I wait. With each passing minute dread builds in my chest. He made it clear he wasn’t interested in a future with me.Will he even take my call?

“Hello? This is Calvin.” His voice interrupts my worries and offers temporary relief.

“Hi, Cal.” My voice cracks. “It’s Cassie.” I turn my back to the road and finally allow the tears to fall. Everything I’ve been holding together since I realized my period was weeks late releases like a river and soon I’m sobbing.

“Cassie? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’m pregnant.” There’s no good way to say it. But my bluntness cuts through the miles and the line goes so perfectly silent. I wonder if our call has dropped. “Cal?”

“I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, or how stupid you think I am.” There’s a sharpness to his tone I’ve never heard before, and it hits harder than a punch to the gut.

“What?”

“We had fun. And I thought you were cool, but you’re just like everyone else. You did this on purpose, didn’t you? To trap me? Fuck.” His laugh is harsh, and with each word he sends through the line my heart shatters. “You’re a real piece of work, you know that? I can’t believe I fell for your little innocent act. You should be ashamed. Women like you are trash. Fucking trash. We’re done. Do not call me. Do not show up here. And don’t even think about telling anyone that the child you’re carrying is mine.” He scoffs. “If you’re even really pregnant.”

“I am.” I sob, tears coming so fast my vision blurs. “You think I want this?”

“Then take care of it. Or don’t.” The disgust in his words seeps into my body, filling me with shame. “We’re over, Cassie. I made that clear a month ago. I don’t want to hear your voice again, ever. You got that?”

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