Yard Sale

She doesn’t even give me a chance to respond before she’s walking back toward the lift. I take a minute to talk to Em, letting her know I’d see her in a couple of days for her private lesson before I decide to head back down myself.

That was a fat fail. At least I have dinner to look forward to.

That was, quite possibly, the most embarrassing moment of my life. I cried after someone complimented my ass. It wasn’t just that Cam was being sweet about wanting to cheer me up. It was a combination of things. The view. Seeing him interact with Emersyn. And knowing that I have to share my secret soon, when part of me likes having this little pinecone all to myself. Worrying about his reaction. All of it.

If I’m not crying, I’m horny, hence letting him kiss me. What was I thinking? That’s all pregnancy is for me at this point—crying over nothing and fantasizing about everything. I feel like I have exactly zero control over my emotions or hormones, and that’s the most frustrating part.

This morning, Tuck planned to keep me company, but my brothers wanted him to go boarding. He was reluctant, but I told him he should go. I’m not his girlfriend. It’s time for us to act like it. After I took the lift back down, I didn’t wait for anyone. I decided to go back to my room and get ready for tonight. Besides, I needed a minute to clear my head after running into Cam for the second time in as many days. Small towns suck.

Sutton and I have plans, so I showered and then grabbed a quick bite to eat with Tuck. Now, I’m staring at my suitcase, debating what to wear. I’m not sure what we’re doing, but I think she said something about going to her friend’s house. Since I don’t think we’re going to be out in public, I decide to wear a cute gray formfitting wrap dress that does nothing to hide my growing stomach and my taupe-y suede over-the-knee boots. I throw on a gray scarf and an oversized cardigan, grab my purse, and head down to the lobby, hoping I’m not unlucky enough to run into Camden Hess for a third time. Sutton’s waiting for me in her SUV outside the revolving doors, and I rush toward the passenger door, already feeling the bitter cold seeping into my bones. Sutton squeals when I open the door, hugging me over the middle console.

“I fucking missed you!” she yells into my ear. “And look at you!” She pulls back, pushing my cardigan out of the way to get a better look. “I knew. I just fucking knew it,” she says, shaking her head.

“What?” I ask defensively.

“I knew you’d be the cutest pregnant bitch alive. You’re all tummy, and even that is tiny.”

“I’m only like twenty weeks. You’ll have to roll me around soon.”

“Doubtful,” she says, pulling out of the parking lot.

“So, where are we going again?”

“I asked my friend Briar to hang out earlier. She’s sort of new in town, but she’s good people. You’ll like her. She invited us to hang out at her friend’s house.”

“Like, a party?” I ask. “Because I don’t want to be the pregnant chick at the party.”

“No.” Sutton laughs, “They’re just hanging out. Probably playing some pool and some snowskate.”

“What the hell is snowskate?”

“Like skateboarding…in the snow.”

“So, snowboarding?”

“Huh,” Sutton says, looking contemplative. “I never thought of that. They’re different somehow.” She shrugs. “Anyway, Briar is gorgeous and the most genuine chick I know—besides you,” she adds belatedly. “And her fiancé? Jesus Christ, that guy is probably the hottest guy I’ve ever seen in real life. I mean, I’m a little afraid of him, but he’s fun to look at.”

“You’re a mess.” I laugh.

“Says the pregnant girl in denial,” she slings back, rolling her eyes.

“Shut up. I am not in denial. I’m very aware that I’m going to be in charge of a human life in just a couple of months.”

“And you’re going to rock it, so get that panicked look off your face. This is a good thing, Mollie. The best thing, even if you can’t see it now.”

My stupid pregnancy hormones strike again, and it’s all I can do to nod without bursting into tears. I’ve been working temp jobs since being laid off, while looking for other career opportunities. I still live with my best friend-slash-fake boyfriend. The baby’s father doesn’t even know. I feel like a failure of a mom and my kid hasn’t even been born.

“Do you think he knows?” Sutton asks, cautiously.

“No. I don’t think so, anyway.” I texted Sutton about running into Cam, conveniently leaving out the part where we kissed.

I turn up the radio to avoid talking about this particular subject, and “Closer” by The Chainsmokers blares from the speakers. We’re driving for longer than I expected, past the city limits. There aren’t any streetlights out here, and the roads are long and windy.

“Are you sure you’re not actually taking me somewhere to kill me?” I ask, only half-joking.

“I’m just following the directions she gave me. I’ve never been out this far.”

We drive for a more miles on the edge of the lake, the road becoming increasingly narrow, and the sky darker. The snow is really starting to come down now, and the streets are covered in white. Finally, we pull up to a dark brown cabin. It’s covered in snow, and there are three guys with what appears to be skateboards without the wheels and one tiny blonde girl bundled up, standing in the front yard.