I have to go on a date with a guy tonight. All so I can receive my monthly allowance.
Unfortunately, there's an incentive clause in my parents' will stating that I can only receive my monthly allotment on the basis that I'm leading a healthy and productive life. That caveat is what gives my Nanna—who is basically the gatekeeper—grounds to make her unfair stipulations.
I know the clause, as well as the reason for the trust not being turned over to me until I'm twenty-five, was their way of protecting me and trying to be good parents. It's a lot of money to hand over to a young person, and in the wrong hands, it could have disastrous effects.
That said, the clause has made my life a living hell.
Even the family lawyer tried telling my Nanna the clause alluded to drugs and overall reckless behavior—not their child's sexuality—but she argued that because my parents never specified that, it was within her right to take it as she saw fit since she's not only my guardian, but the trust is in her name until I'm twenty-five.
Apparently, me being a lesbian is her definition of not living a healthy or productive life. Therefore, she thinks it's okay to bully and punish me into being straight.
And because that money is the only thing I have left of my parents...I let her.
I'd like to think my parents would be ashamed of her actions, but unfortunately, I'll never know.
Thankfully, I only have four more years of this shit, and once the money is mine, revenge will be too—because Nanna Bishop is going to get the shock of her life when I find the hottest chick around and partake in one hell of a dining experience right on her precious million dollar, antique kitchen table.
I can feel Breslin's eyes on me, but I'm completely unprepared for the next words out of her mouth. “Is there something going on between you and Preston?”
My eyebrows shoot up to the ceiling. Here I thought my best friend actually knew me. “What? No. What the hell is the matter with you?” I point to myself. “Strictly pussy over here.”
Good grief, she can't be serious. My mind floats back to the night at the river and a weird feeling zips up my spine. I suddenly realize she's not exactly wrong about her suspicion, she's just way off base about the underlying part of it.
But still, the fact that she can pick up on it at all is alarming. She's more perceptive than I give her credit for.
Then again, we've always been able to read one another like a book.
Kind of like how I know that she slept with both Landon and Asher recently, even though she won't tell me.
That said, just because I had a conversation with Preston and told him things I've never told anyone else, including my best friend, it doesn't mean I have feelings for him.
Feelings other than strong hate that is.
I mean...he's having a baby with my fiancée. Correction—Ex-fiancée.
He's also an asshole who comes equipped with a certain appendage that I want absolutely nothing to do with.
I snatch some paper towels from the dispenser, disgust rippling through me. “I can't believe you'd even think such a thing. Let's put it this way—if an asteroid hit the earth, leaving only me and him to repopulate the planet or face my untimely demise via being eaten and probed by aliens...I'd gladly skip toward the aliens and thank them.”
She blinks. “Look, I'm sorry—”
Heat rises to my cheeks and I glare at her. I don't know if I'm more pissed at Breslin for thinking what she did, or at myself, because in some way that makes no sense...I didn't hate Preston for those few hours we talked on the bridge.
And the thought of talking to him again? Isn't the worst thing in the world.
“I don't want to talk about it right now.”
Before she can say another word, I bolt out the bathroom door.
III
“The better the gambler, the worse the man.” ― Publilius Syrus
I'm halfway through the courtyard when I hear it. “Preston?”
I stop in my tracks, grimacing at the sound of her voice.
She's carrying your child—I remind myself. A child I saw for the first time today.
My brother is convinced it's not mine, considering Becca is a cheater and all—and logically I know he might be right.
But the second I saw that image on the screen, something inside me shifted, and I realized there was no might about the baby I couldn't take my eyes off of. I felt it.
Poor kid isn't even born yet and already it has the worst luck in the world.
Slowly, I turn around to face her. “Hey.”
Becca's face scrunches in confusion. “What are you still doing here? You dropped me off an hour ago.”
She's right. I had every intention of going back to Yale after the appointment, but I felt like I had the weight of the world sitting in my pocket. And even though I knew I was the last person Kit wanted to see, I needed to do the right thing and give her mom's engagement ring back to her.
It was the least I could do, considering the girl has lost so much already, and I'm ripping everything she ever wanted right out from under her.
Even though I don't want it.
Or rather, I didn't...because that sonogram is seriously fucking with me.
She takes a step closer and I force myself to stay put. Becca's pretty, beautiful even. Her bleach-blonde hair and blue eyes, combined with her expensive and impressive rack would have most guys giving their right nut to have a shot with her. But unfortunately, she's also the reason they say beauty is only skin deep.
Deciding to be honest with her, I say, “I stayed so I could talk to Kit.”
Instantly, her posture turns rigid and it strikes me that it's the most emotion I've seen from the girl since I've known her. “Why?”
I stick my hand in my pocket and fumble for my keys. “Because you never gave her back the engagement ring and you should have.”
Her eyes narrow. “You had no right—”
“Bullshit, Becca, we both know you shouldn't have it anymore. She didn't deserve what you did to her.”
I want to add that I didn't, either. But unlike Kit, Becca's infidelity makes me feel annoyed rather than heartbroken.
I glance down at her still flat belly, recalling the doctor said she was almost twelve weeks along already. “It was the right thing to do. I figure I should start setting a good example for my kid.”
Her eyes widen. “This is the first time you called the baby yours.”
Shit. I sit down on a nearby bench because my head is starting to whirl.
She stands directly in front of me. “You're right. We should be setting a good example for the baby.”
Before I can stop her, she places my hands on her belly. My heart does a little skitter when I feel the slight bump and I can't bring myself to tear away from the contact.
“I know you're angry with me,” she says. “I know this isn't what you want, and I'm sorry for what I did. But I'm not sorry for creating this miracle with you.”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly as she places her hand on top of mine. “I know you don't believe me, but I swear you're the only guy I've been with. This is our baby, Preston. Don't punish it for my mistake.”