Page 13 of His to Love
“You didn’t even try to turn me on. You just went for it. And you want to blame me?” I held up the baggie, shaking it in his face. “I didn’t enjoy the sex either, if you must know. But that doesn’t matter at all right now. All that matters is that sex gave us a baby. I will never get rid of this baby—even if it has a donkey’s butt for a father. It’s not this poor child’s fault that I believed in you, Alejandro.”
“No, that’s allyourfault.” He looked up at the sky as color began to show out of the darkness as the sun started to rise. “Get back in your car and go back to your family. I’m not about to claim that thing. For all I know, you’ve been screwing other guys since I left.”
“I have not!” I couldn’t believe him. “I’m not that kind of girl.”
“You might be telling the truth. You certainly aren’t good at sex. But that changes nothing.” He pointed at my car. “Go home, Alexa. I don’t want you anymore and I willneverwant that thing inside of you.”
“Alexa?” He’d never called me that. “Does calling me that help you disassociate me from the woman you chased after for nearly half a year?”
“Goodbye. Don’t come back here and don’t go to my parents either. I’ll just tell them that you’re lying, and they will believe me.” His lips slowly curved into a sinister smile. “Better yet, if you tell my parents about this, then I’ll tell yours. My father has your father’s phone number. It won’t be hard for me to fuck up your life.”
I’d never wanted to punch someone in my life, but my hands fisted of their own will. I wanted to wail on him. “You’re a horrible person, Alejandro Soliz!” It became clear to me how stupid I’d been to drive all this way. He would be a terrible father. “I won’t tell them because I’ve changed my mind about you. I don’t want you in this baby’s life. This child is mine and mine alone. Forget I ever came here. Forget my name and forget that you have a child.”
“I already have.” He turned and walked inside; I heard the chain sliding into place as he locked me out.
Tears stung the backs of my eyes as I ran back to my car. I had no idea what I was going to do, but Alejandro would not be a part of it. “How am I going to tell my mother this news without it killing her?”
I got into the car, tossing the baggie onto the passenger seat again. I’d left my cell phone on the seat and it lit up when the bag hit it. I saw there was a missed call from my brother, and a text too.
Wiping the tears from my eyes, I read the text:
“I don’t know what you’re doing but if you don’t call me by noon today, I’m going to tell the police that you’re missing. Mom doesn’t need that, and you know it, so you’d better call me ASAP!!!”
My hands shook as I swiped the screen to call him before he involved the police.
“Finally!” he answered the call. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? Patton is sick with worry too. I’ve yet to inform our parents about what you’re doing.” He paused before asking, “Whatareyou doing, Alexa? And where the hell are you?”
“I’m in California.” I gulped back a sob.
“California?” he sounded confused. “Patton had the deacon call his son there only about a half hour ago. He said you weren’t there. Who else do you know in California?”
“Only him. Only Alejandro.”
“And why would you go all that way to see him? Why would you lie to the deacon and tell him you went home to our parents? I don’t understand what’s going on, Alexa. This isn’t like you.”
I opened my mouth to tell him why I was acting so crazy, but only sobs came out. I couldn’t stop crying. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I couldn’t upset my mother. I couldn’t bear to think of the way my father would look at me if I had to tell him that I’d made a horrible mistake and allowed someone I didn’t even love to take my virginity.
I could barely hear Luciano telling me to calm down as I cried loudly. I needed help. I had no idea what I would do on my own. So finally, I managed to get out the words. “I’m pregnant, Luciano.”
The line went silent. I knew he was disappointed in me. I knew he was angry with me. He must’ve been as lost as to what to do as I was.
“Come home, Alejandra. Not to Houston. Go to Patton’s. We can’t upset Mom right now. She has an appointment with her cardiologist next week. She passed out at Tia Veronica’s birthday party the other night and had to be taken to the hospital.”
“Oh, no!” I straightened up, wiped my eyes, and then started the car. “I’m coming back now. It’ll probably take me another three days to get back, Luciano.”
“Share your location with me, Alexa. And answer my texts and calls. I’ll let Patton know you’re coming home.”
I didn’t want him to tell Patton about my pregnancy. I was deeply ashamed. But before I could tell him to keep my secret, he ended the call.
Pulling onto the street, I felt odd. I’d never done anything I was ashamed of before. It felt horrible. And soon everyone would know what I’d done. Looking back over my shoulder at the apartment where Alejandro was, I knew then that no matter how hard you pray, God can’t change the heart of a snake.
