Page 28 of Reckless
Sloane: Does it have to do with your murder plot?
Winter: Yes. I’m making you my accessory.
Sloane: New friendship level unlocked! I’ll be out front in five.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Sloane gives me a worried glance as we stand outside the darkened gym.
The cold air feels good after the unending nausea I lived with through my shift. The smell of antiseptic that I usually find comforting turned on me in the most vicious way. Even finally talking to Marina made me more nauseous than usual. But telling her to stop contacting me felt good too. I felt strong. I felt relieved knowing I wouldn’t ever subject another human to her toxicity.
Hilariously, as soon I stopped giving any fucks about what she thought of me, I stopped caring about her opinion—but today I could have hurled all over my phone from the mere sound of her voice.
“No, that’s fine.”
“I’m coming anyway.” Sloane hustles past me, our puffy winter coats brushing against each other and making a little zipping noise as she heads straight for the number pad where she inputs a code.
Sloane turns and stares at me expectantly.
“Are you going to crack some wiseass comment about me coming here to do something mean to my sister?” I ask.
Her brows furrow. “Why would I think that?”
My eyes roll in time with my arms crossing. “Everyone thinks that.”
“I think you’re a lot more likeable than you realize.” I quirk a brow at the other woman, and her head wobbles back and forth as she smiles. “When you want to be.”
I huff out a laugh. “Likeable when I want to becould be my slogan.”
Truthfully, it smarts. As though no one really likes me when I’m at my worst. I’m likeable when I put on a smiley, happy face. But what about when I crumble? Then all I get is criticism and reprimand.
“Okay, well, I just need a few minutes.”
“For what?”
“To check something on the computer.”
Sloane’s eyes go comically wide. “I thought murder was the thing. But are you stalking someone?”
I press my lips together and motion locking them with a key before throwing it away. The truth is...thisiskind of stalkery.
But after confirming what I already knew with a positive pregnancy test this morning, I know I need to talk to Theo. Because our one-night secret isn’t so secret anymore.
I think I’m still in shock. After years of trying and failing, I can’t find it in me to be upset. I cried in the hospital bathroom while I stared at that tiny pink plus sign.
I cried happy tears.
Because no matter how unplanned this is, I can’t help but see it as a blessing.Somethingturning up Winter after getting shoved down so many times.
Something just for me.
And this left me with a whole other issue to face.Getting in touch.
Sloane chuckles but turns away, offering me privacy as I sneak over to the front desk and fire up the computer. My hope is that I can find Theo’s contact information listed in the gym database.
I could ask Summer, but that would lead to questions. If I contact my dad, who is his agent, that would lead to questionsandawkward conversation. And I don’t want to deal with either.
I barely know Theo, but I know I have to tell him. He deserves to know, and he deserves to know before anyone else. He’s a wild card, but there’s something deeply caring about him. And no matter what our situation might be, there’s a part of me that thinks he would be a great dad.
And if he doesn’t want that, I’m okay with it too. But he deserves a choice.
