She just stands there with her arms folded across her chest, looking at me.
“Look, Ashley, if you have nothing to say, I’m going to have to ask you to—”
“I’m pregnant, Kellen.”
“You’re what?!”
“I’m pregnant with our baby.” she repeats in a calm voice.
“How is that possible when we used condoms every time?”
“Well, Kellen, condoms can break.”
“What about the guy you cheated on me with?” I question.
“We used condoms also,” she shrugs then fidgets with her fingers. “It’s a possibility. I don’t know, but I have a doctor’s appointment in a couple of days to find out how far along I am, and that will help me determine if it’s yours or his. But I have a feeling it’s yours.”
I sit down at the table in my kitchen, trying to process this bombshell. After everything Tamia and I have been through. It’s a possibility that I’m going to be a father?
“Kellen, I know we’re not together, but if it’s yours—”
“If what’s yours?”
I turn my head at the sound of Tamia’s voice. She’s standing behind me, eyes focused on Ashley. “What is she doing here?” she asks accusingly.
“Tamia, baby, I can explain.” To my own ears, even I’m starting to sound like a fuckin’ broken record.
“Hey, Tamia,” Ashley says nonchalantly. “I guess it’s only fair that you know what’s going on since you are his girlfriend.”
I reach for Tamia, but she pulls away from me. “What is she talking about, Kellen?”
“Baby, come here,” I say in a pleading voice. “It’s not important right now. Ashley was just leaving.”
“Kellen, are you kidding me? So, you don’t think it’s important that she knows that you’re going to be a father?!”
Tamia
A father?
This can’t be happening. I start to feel dizzy, and in the back of my mind, I’m hoping that this moment is just a bad dream.
“Tamia.” I hear Kellen call my name. I guess I’m not dreaming.
I turn to him, and I look at his face to detect that what Ashley revealed was a lie, but all I see is hurt in his eyes.
“You’re pregnant?” I finally choke out, looking at Ashley’s smug expression.
“Yes, I am, and Kellen is the father.”
Before I know it, Kellen is standing in front of me and blocking my view from Ashley.
“Baby. Look at me—”
Without a second thought, I slap Kellen so hard across the face that I shake my hand to try to relieve the sting. He’s in shock, holding the side of his face, not expecting that I’d resort to violence.
“We’re done!” I spit out.
I storm out of the kitchen and through the front door. I can hear Kellen yelling my name, but I ignore him and start to run until I reach Jay’s Range Rover. I get in and start it up. I put the SUV in reverse and look in my rearview mirror to see Kellen running in my direction. I shift the gear to drive and floored it. My tears blur my vision, and I’m so distraught that I don’t notice the stop sign ahead of me until it’s too late. I feel the impact before I can register what’s going on. The Range Rover spins several times before it comes to a complete stop.
“TAMIA!” I hear Kellen frantically yell, and that’s the last thing I hear before darkness overtakes me.
Nineteen
Kellen
“Somebody call an ambulance!” I yell. “Tamia, can you hear me?!” I scream while banging on the driver’s side door. I try opening the door, but it’s jammed shut from the impact caused by the other vehicle. I peer through the cracked window and see that Tamia is unconscious. “Tamia!”
“Kellen! What’s going on?” I hear someone call out.
It’s Tyson and he’s running in my direction. “Call an ambulance!” I shout at him.
Without a word, Tyson turns around and hauls ass back to his apartment.
I look back at the other vehicle and see the driver being tended to by other bystanders. The driver seemed fine, but a little shaken up. I jog around to the passenger side of the truck and try opening the door, but it’s locked. “Shit!” I scream in frustration.
“Kellen, an ambulance is on the way. Here, let me help you. I grabbed my bat on the way out.”
I step away and watch as Tyson takes several swings at the passenger window until it shatters. As soon as he steps away, I rush over and reach inside to unlock the door. I swing it open and quickly get in to check on Tamia.
“Whatever you do, Kellen, don’t move her. We don’t know if she has any broken bones,” Tyson warns from behind me.
I gently touch Tamia’s face and whisper her name. I lean forward and gently kiss her lips. “I’m so sorry, baby. Please wake up.” I examine her face and see a small cut above her left eyebrow and a bump on her forehead. I hear sirens in the background, and they’re getting closer. The inside of the car turns red from the flashing red lights, signaling that help is finally here.
“Sir, I have to ask you to get out so that we can check on her.”
I get out and begin pacing back and forth while watching the EMTs and firefighters tend to Tamia.
“Man, I’m sure she will be all right,” Tyson says to me.
“She has to be.” I stop pacing. “This shit is all my fault.”
We both just stand there watching the police, EMTs, and firefighters around us.
“Kellen!” Ashley calls from several steps away.
The sight of her brings back all anger from her showing up to my apartment unannounced tonight. I take several steps toward her, but Tyson holds me back.
“Get the fuck out of here, Ashley! Haven’t you done enough already?”
“Kellen, calm down, man,” Tyson advises.
I’m literally ready to do bodily harm to Ashley, and she’s showing no signs of emotion. With one final look at me, she thankfully walks away. Tyson releases his hold on me, and we now see two EMTs rolling a stretcher over to where three others gently remove Tamia from the front seat. I attempted to run over and see her, but I’m stopped by a cop.
“That’s my girlfriend!”
“I understand, sir, but please allow them to get her secured on the stretcher and into the ambulance. You’re more than welcome to follow behind them. I’m sorry, but its policy.”
I acknowledge that I understood and watch as they strap Tamia to the stretcher.
“Miss, can you hear me?” an EMT asks her. “If you can, squeeze my hand. Okay, that’s good. Now, what’s your name?”
I’m listening to it all go down. She’s awake, thank God.
“Okay, Tamia,” the EMT continues, “we’re taking you to the hospital to make sure you’re all right.”
I push my way past the cop to get to Tamia, but I’m halted when he grabs my arm. “Sir, I told you that you can follow the ambulance.”
I snatch my arm out his grasp.
“Kellen, come on. I’ll take you,” Tyson says.