“Maybe,” I lie. “I guess he’s okay.”
“Okay? The guy runs track. He’s hot.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to him, okay?”
Rochelle frowns at me. “I don’t know what’s with you, but you gotta relax.” She takes a swig from her bottle of Strawberry Hill. She’s been drinking it since we pulled out of her driveway.
“I think I’m still not over that stomach bug.”
“Oh no. You aren’t canceling.”
“I didn’t say I was.” I slip my black ballerina style flats on, turning to face her hoping the swell of my stomach isn’t all that noticeable.
“Have a drink of this.”
“No thanks.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want to.” I leave her in my bedroom and hope she’ll drop it. “What time does this party start anyway?” I look to Colter and he shrugs.
“You’re pregnant?” Rochelle gapes at me, eyes on my protruding stomach.
“What?”
Her gaze widens. “You won’t drink. You’re gaining weight in your belly. You were sick but only in the mornings. Oh. My God. Alexa.” She grabs my bottle of vitamins I forgot were on the counter and rattles the contents.
“Ro, drop it. Please.”
“Admit it.”
“What?”
“Say it. You’re pregnant.”
“It’s good for my hair and nails is all.”
“Don’t lie to me. You’ve been doing a lot of that lately.” She throws the bottle and the cap falls off. My pills scatter across the tile of the kitchen floor.
“Don’t be like that. You’re a hateful drunk
.” I bend to start picking up the vitamins.
“At least I’m not a liar.” She towers over me, venom dripping from her.
I peer up at her with tears streaming down my cheeks. “Yes. Fine. Okay. You caught me. I’m pregnant. My life is a mess. I’m barely holding it together. Are you happy now?”
“Who’s the father?”
“Please don’t ask me that. I don’t want to talk about this right now.” I wipe at my cheeks and stand to face her, abandoning the mess for later.
“Why is this guy you’re seeing such a secret? How old is he, Alexa?”
I look to Colter hoping he’ll I don’t know help me in some way. “I can’t tell you.”
“Oh my God. Is it...is it Colter?”
“No. No way. I’d never do that to you, and he wouldn’t either.”