Page 20 of Fighting For Light
“Um, not great, Rafe. I have something to tell you.”
He leans back with an odd look on his face, and I know I’m going to have to come out with it. Let the chips fall where they may. He’s not the type to warm up and gently present the news.
“I’m pregnant, and the baby is yours.”
I watch for his reaction, and he’s as solid as stone. Did he short out? I start to ask if he’s okay, and then he leaps up from the couch.
“There’s no way we used a condom. That’s not…no,” he says.
I puff out a breath and look down at my feet. I should have known this would be his reaction.
“Condoms break, Rafe. I haven’t slept with anyone else. This baby is yours,” I say with as emotionless of a tone as I can.
“Bullshit, this baby isn’t mine!” he yells.
I stand and take a step back from him.
“What do you want? You want me to give you money? This isn’t on me. This is all you. I don’t want anything to do with you,” he says, stepping back.
My eyes burn, and I force the tears to stay in my eyes because the last thing I want to do is show this asshole any kind of weakness. I didn’t expect him to pledge his love to me, but I didn’t expect this cruelty, either.
“The reality is, Rafe, this child is yours. I am not asking you to marry me. I—“
“Hell no, I’m not marrying you! You’re not getting a dime from me. All you bike bitches are the same. I want nothing to do with this or you. Get out!” he yells and points towards the door.
Forcing another breath of calm into my lungs, I count to three before finishing my sentence. I want to kill him right now.What the hell was I thinking sleeping with this asshole?
“Look, I thought you would want to know. I don’t want anything from you. I will do this on my own, and I’d appreciate it if you could stay quiet about this.”
He scoffs. “You think I want anyone to know I gotyoupregnant? Hell no.”
I open the door to leave and pause, turning around, and he’s staring at me with disgust. I hate myself for it, but I start crying because there is no stopping these tears.
“You are an asshole. You suck in bed. You’re a terrible rider but an even worse human. Good luck to you because you’ll need it.”
Lifting my chin with tears running down my face, I leave his trailer with my head held high.
The door slams behind me, and I see Kai’s trailer next to mine. Relief fills my heart with the sight. My best friend is finally here.
13
Kai
It’s about ten inthe evening by the time I roll in, and the competition is tomorrow evening. It’s a night race because it’s so hot down here. The drive took, give or take, eighteen hours from northern California to New Mexico. We’re in a small town in the northern part of the state for the next race. I hardly slept last night because I was too jacked up, so I left at five in the morning. I’m going to see her tonight and still haven’t decided if I want to say a word to her about the kiss. We still haven’t talked on the phone or even texted, which is odd for us. I don’t know how that makes me feel, but we should talk about it. She’s still my best friend. I love her, and I don’t want it to come between us. I don’t want her to resent me because I can’t be the man she wants me to be.
Lights are all over the track, and the campground off to the side is almost full as I drive through to my space. I spot the Quinn trailer, and my heart thuds harder in my chest. I need to get this over with, but I have no idea how to approach it. The last thing we need is Reece finding out his daughter, and I made out, and we both wanted more. I know he will see it as a betrayal. Heis the one man I truly respect. He’s been more of a father to me than my own. I owe him a lot, and screwing his daughter is not a repayment.
Once I get the trailer backed in, I unhook my two-fifty, then get it balanced and get the sides of the trailer that bump out set up. We’ll be here for a couple of days, and then it’s off to North Florida.
When I finish setting up, it’s almost midnight, so I shower and get into bed. Right as I fall asleep, there’s a knock at the door. I rocket out of bed and grab my gun quietly. No one followed me here. I kept checking. It’s not exactly easy to lose someone with this rig, but I did what I could to make it difficult. I’d love to stop looking over my shoulder for once in my life.
I take the two steps down the stairs and try to peek behind the blinds, but I can’t see anyone. I hear a sniffle, and a frown crosses my face. If someone is trying to kill me, they certainly aren’t crying about it. Holding the gun behind my back, I open the door to Cordelia with red, puffy eyes and her arms wrapped around herself. I stick my head out the door to check around, and it’s quiet.
“Gem? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I grab her arm and pull her up the stairs, closing the door and locking it behind me. I put the gun on the counter next to the door.
She stands in the middle of the floor, her shoulders shaking and little gasps of breaths passing her lips.
“Why are you crying? Are you hurt?” I ask her, grabbing her elbow. Her swollen eyes lock with mine, and my gut twists. Whatever it is, whoever I have to bury, it will be done. I will make sure of it. She shakes her head and bites down on her lower lip.
