“I’m doing this for you.”
Her palms fall to my chest. “He and I, we have an agreement.” She gasps through her tears. “He put it all in a contract that I had no choice but to sign.”
The despair in her gaze is suffocating, but I manage to ask, “what’s in the contract Meyer?” I’m almost to fucking afraid to find out.
“It says if I tell anyone about him and me, about our marriage or the fact that we have a child together, I’m agreeing to surrender all rights to Bailey over to him. And if I get caught up with any of his athletes, I’m agreeing to the same thing.”
My face falls, my body growing numb.
Being with me will hurt that baby girl.
I feel fucking sick.
I feel like beating the fuck out of that piece of shit.
Meyer’s palms slide a little higher. “Do you know why he did that?”
Clenching my jaw, I give a hard shake of my head, gently kissing hers when a tear slips from the corner of her eye.
Meyer’s smiles a broken one. “Because I told you.”
My body grows stiff. “Meyer.”
She nods in answer.
“So that part was true? Me and you ... so how do you know she’s not my—” The words fly from me instantly, but the look in her eye has them ceasing just as fast. I speak through the knot in my gut. “You were already pregnant when we met.”
“Yeah,” she whispers.
“What happened?” My shoulders fall. “I need to know everything. Tell me everything.”
Meyer nods, pulls in a deep, shattered breath, and takes me back in time.
q
Fifteen months Earlier
February, Spring Semester Sophomore year
Meyer
Music of all genres blares from every direction, adding to the chaotic scene that is Ruckus Row on a Friday night. The entire place is lit up from one end to the next, laughter and chatter loud in the cold night air.
Glancing around, I tug at the hem of my Avix University sweater, making sure it reaches well below my waistline, as if there was anything to hide.
There is, but nobody will know that for another couple months, if what I read online was true.
Please let it be true.
“Found it!” Bianca calls from behind me.
Forcing a smile, I turn toward her right as she’s closing the back door of her new boyfriend, Cooper’s car.
She waves her phone in her hand. “Right between the seats, just like I said it would be.”
“What would he do without you?”
“Spend a lot of time with lotion, that’s for sure.”
A laugh leaves me and Bianca smirks, slipping her arm through mine.
“Don’t think I’m buying that fake smile for a second.” She shakes me, and we face each other. “I’m not sure what your insistence on coming out tonight was about and even though we both know you’ll tell me soon enough, that’s not the point. The point, however, is that we can leave right now. I mean, I do have the man’s keys. We could take that bad boy for a quick spin.” She lifts a brow, but I know what she’s doing, and I love her for it.
She’s right, though. I came here for a reason and that is to forget, to let go of my new reality, and be the girl I was a week ago, before those two blue lines change everything. At least for a couple hours.
“And skip out on a frat party? Are you crazy?” I play my role.
“Aww, chica, you’re so cute.” She leads us through the few people gathered near the porch, and an underclassman at the door pulls it open for us, allowing us inside. “It’s a team house party, not a frat party, but trust me, there will be plenty of Sharks in the sea, if you know what I mean, all you gotta do is smile, and let the frenzy begin.”
My lungs expand with a full inhale, and I glance around the room.
“Or maybe all you have to do is stand there looking pretty.”
Frowning, I look to her and she dips her head slightly.
“Girl, don’t look, but the great white of this bitch is staring this way.”
My head snaps forward.
“Oh, my god! What did I say?” She laughs, dragging me to the side.
“Sorry.” I chuckle. “I don’t see anyone anyway.”
“That’s because he’s smooth. You’ll see him when he wants you to know he’s looking, but honey, he’s looking.”
Right then, Cooper rushes up, annoyance clear in his dark gaze. “Sorry, but I’ve gotta go. Dumbass freshman fucker needs a bailout downtown.”
Bianca shakes her head. “You can’t drive.”
“And he can’t fight so ...” Another two guys walk up behind him, making me laugh.
I turn to Bianca, pulling my arm free of hers.
She shakes her head, but I’m already nodding mine.
“Go. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“I’m not leaving you here.” She frowns.
“Half of my dorm is here somewhere,” I remind her. “I’m fine.”