Page 71 of The Comeback

“Come on.” Tara taps the toe of her shoe on the floor.

“Right.” I nod. “Again, I’m sorry for not watching what I was doing.”

“It’s fine.” The woman wipes her hands on a napkin and shoves the plate holding her cupcake, gummy worms, and Sour Patch Kids a few inches away from her, and bites her bottom lip. “I’m supposed to wait until my husband gets here before I eat this, but the baby isn’t as patient as I am.”

“Oh, you’re pregnant?” Tara rushes forward, apparently forgetting we’re on a mission. “That’s so awesome. Is this your first one?”

“Yes, it is.” The woman’s eyes light up. “I’m over the moon. By the way, my name is Vivian.”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you. My name is Tara, and I have one kiddo, and another on the way. And this is my best friend, Charlotte. She’s about to find out if she has a baby on board.”

“Tara….” I swivel my head in all directions, looking to see if anyone is listening.

“Oops.” Tara smacks a hand over her mouth. “It’s supposed to be a secret.” The words are said behind her fingers.

“Not with you around, it won’t be,” I mutter.

“That’s so exciting.” The woman’s face lights up. “There’s my husband, Jett.” She waves at him.

He rushes over to her, ignoring that anyone else in the bakery exists. “Hey, gorgeous.” The next second, she’s on her feet and in his arms.

That’s how it’s supposed to be. Not pregnant and alone with a baby daddy who’s going to hate my guts for forcing him into something he doesn’t want. I should skip town and disappear.

Vivian flushes and steps back. “I’m sorry.”

“She’s not sorry.” He wraps his arms around her from behind and holds her close to his chest. Lord, these two are perfection on overload.

“It was nice to meet you, but we need to go.” I twist on my heel and rush toward the door.

“It was nice meeting you.”

“You, also,” I call over my shoulder as Tara rushes to keep up with me. The soles of her shoes slap on the floor.

“You won’t believe who I ran into….” The rest of the man’s words are lost as the palm of my hand strikes against the silver door opener. The bells above my head jingle, signaling our hasty retreat. I’ve got to get a pregnancy test, find out for sure, and decide what to do.

The bright sun flashes into my eyes, making them sting as a bee buzzes around the colorful flowers in the window planter next to the door. When the door bangs behind us, I jump. “Lord, I’m nervous.”

Tara grabs my shoulders. “It’ll be fine. You have friends and family. You’re smart. You’re resourceful.”

“I’m unmarried. A master’s degree student. A dance instructor. And my potential baby daddy broke up with me. Which part is going to be fine?” I squint to block out the sun. Or at least that’s the lie I’m going to perpetrate. “Who will send their kids to an unmarried, unattached, pregnant as a whale ballerina? And how am I going to go to school and raise a baby?”

“You’re a fantastic teacher. No one is going to care.”

“Bullshit.” I brush past her. She rushes to keep up. “People will care.”

“Take the test before you start screaming and running around like a chicken with your head cut off.”

“I’m going to.” I march to my car and yank open the door. “I’m going to get a pregnancy test and see what it says. Then I’ll know whether I need to pack and join the witness protection program.”

“Please.” Tara slaps her hands on her hips. “Weston is not like that. I bet he’s excited when he finds out.”

My stomach rolls as acid burns in my throat. “Do you think so?”

“Yes, I do. He’s a family man. Look at him. He moved his mom and sister to Kansas City to help take care of them. He didn’t want to get into a relationship because he wanted to be financially stable first. Those are not the actions of a man who will skip out on his baby’s life. He’ll be there for everything. I know it.”

My shoulders sag. “You’re right.” Calm down. Stop thinking the sky is falling. Yes, my whole world might be about to change, but Weston is a family man through and through. At least our child will have a place in his life. “Okay, let’s do this.”

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