Page 138 of As a Last Resort
“Snow White?”she asked.
“The whole vibe she has going on.You should have seen her.I’m surprised there weren’t little gophers dancing around her and a bluebird singing on her shoulder.I don’t remember her being thatglowy.”She looked at me like I had two heads.“I don’t want to judge, but I might throw in that he really shouldn’t trust her, like, at all.We aren’t the only two options in the world but cheating on your husband with your ex-fiancé is kind of dirt.Right?”
“Right.”She nodded slowly.
“I’m going to go find him but I think I might need to puke in the bathroom first.”
“For real?”
“I just need a minute to send my stomach back down out of my throat.”
“Right.Okay, inside you go.I’ll keep my eye out for him.And Sam?Thank you for showing up.”
“I meant it.You’re worth staying for.”
On my way to the bathroom, I heard a few voices coming from Austin’s old room.I slowed down to listen.
“She’s pregnant?”a deep voice asked in a whisper.I was pretty sure it was Patrick.“Man, when did she tell you?”
“This morning.”All the oxygen left the room.
That was Austin’s voice.
“Wow.She couldn’t have waited until after tonight?Kind of big news to drop right before your sister’s wedding.”
“She always did like to upstage.”
“Is she excited?”Patrick asked.
It felt like the air melted around my head.This morning someone told Austin they were pregnant.
Vanessa.
Vanessa was there.
Vanessa’s pregnant?That explained the ethereal vibe she had going on.That was a thing, right?But why would she tell Austin?
Dread pooled in my stomach.
Austin couldn’t be the father.There’s no way that could happen.Right?But why would she have been at his house?
The dread was boiling now.Tom and her were together at the bar.But Austin wanted to get out of the bar fast when he saw them.He wouldn’t do that to Tom.Seeing us at the bar must have sparked something for her again.Or maybe it was going on before that?He didn’t tell me.Should he have told me?
I felt a bit faint.It’d only been a few weeks.Could you even know that early?
I ran outside and took a big gulp of the night air.My eyes searched frantically for Lexi.I didn’t need to stay.Not tonight.I needed to leave.
I spotted her across the lawn and ran to her side.
“She’s pregnant, Lexi.”I couldn’t believe the words pouring out of my mouth.
“Vanessa?”
“Yes, Vanessa.She’s pregnant.How could you not tell me?”
“It’s just the spawn of Satan.It’s not that big of a deal.”
Was she nuts?That was her future niece or nephew she was talking about.She looked over my shoulder and her eyes grew wide.
