Page 94 of One Pucking Surprise
“He’s not like that if you get to know him,” I say, but even as I defend him, my voice falters. Tonight’s events replay in my mind, unraveling any confidence I had in that statement.
“Okay,” she says, her tone shifting to cautious understanding. “So, did Zach tell you he doesn’t want to be involved with the baby?”
“He did, at first,” I say quietly. “But he changed his mind. I guess. Tonight, he told me to move out.”
“What the fuck, Lainey,” Anna spits, her voice rising with outrage. “Do I need to come there to kick some ass?”
I let out a weak laugh through my tears. “No, Anna. It’s fine. It’s just… complicated.” The word feels hollow, inadequate to describe the storm of emotions swirling in my chest. Complicated doesn’t capture the way Zach looked at me tonight, or how it felt to hear him say I wasn’t what he needed.
“Where are you right now?” Anna asks, her voice softening. “Isn’t tonight Chloe’s wedding?”
“Yeah, it was. We sent Chloe and Wyatt off already. I’m back at my apartment.” I don’t mention the leak that’s still under construction, the one that forced me to move in with Zach in the first place. If I did, Anna would insist I come straight to her, and I can’t burden her with this—not tonight.
The truth is, I didn’t know where else to go. I wasn’t going to ruin Chloe’s wedding night by showing up at her door in tears. And Janelle… she was having a good time at the reception. Maybe she went home with someone. Either way, I couldn’t bring myself to disrupt her fun.
Anna yawns, and guilt prickles at the edges of my sadness. I glance at the clock and realize how late it is. “Oh gosh, I forgot about the time difference. It’s late for you. I’ll let you go.”
“It’s fine,” Anna says, but I can hear the weariness in her voice.
“No,” I insist. “Go back to sleep. I’m going to talk to Janelle in the morning, get everything situated with work, and I’ll probably be there in a few days.”
Anna exhales loudly, clearly biting back more questions. After a moment, her voice softens. “You’re sure you don’t want to talk about it, hon? I don’t want you bottling your feelings up. You did that a lot after Mom passed.”
The mention of Mom hits like a punch to the gut, and I blink rapidly, trying to hold back another wave of tears. “I miss Mom,” I whisper.
“I miss Mom too,” Anna says softly. Her voice breaks just enough to remind me that I’m not alone in my grief. “She’d be so proud of the woman you are today, Lainey. You’re caring, loving, and you always go out of your way to be there for everyone. You take care of everyone.”
The words are meant to comfort me, but they cut deeper than she realizes. It’s true—I’ve spent my whole life trying to take care of everyone else. For a moment, I thought Zach and I were building something real, a partnership where we could take care of each other.
“It’s time you take care of yourself, hon,” Anna continues, her voice firm but kind. “You deserve everything. And I mean everything.”
I let out a shaky breath, her words settling over me like a warm blanket. She’s right. I have to keep moving forward—not just for the baby, but for myself. My hand moves instinctively to my belly, cradling the life growing inside me.
“I’m going to be okay,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else.
“You will,” Anna says, the conviction in her voice so strong it almost steadies me. “You’re stronger than you think. But you don’t have to do it alone. Joshua and I can’t wait to see you.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “I can’t wait to see you too. Give Joshua a big hug for me, okay?”
“I will. And, Lainey…” Her voice softens, filling with love. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I reply, the words heavy with gratitude. “Good night, Anna.”
“Good night, hon. Call me if you need anything.”
The line goes quiet, leaving me in the silence of my apartment. I sit there for a moment, holding my phone in one hand and cradling my belly with the other. The weight of everything presses down on me, but Anna’s words echo in my mind.
Take care of yourself. You deserve everything.
Istandinthemiddle of my apartment, packing up the last of my things into a small suitcase.The apartment is quiet, save for the occasional rustling of clothes and the soft hum of the phone pressed to my ear.
“Are you sure about this?” Chloe’s voice is laced with concern, her tone soft but insistent.
“Yeah, Anna is expecting me,” I reply, zipping up the bag and glancing toward the clock. There’s still time to finish getting everything ready before I leave, but her question lingers in the air, heavier than I expected.
“I’m going to miss you like crazy,” Chloe says, her voice cracking slightly.
I smile, though my chest tightens. “Chloe, you’re leaving for your honeymoon, anyway. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
