“You’re pregnant?” he exclaimed. I looked up to see him shaking his head and running his hand through his hair. I swore his eyes flashed with hurt, but I had no idea why. “Did you know last week when I came for dinner?” I nodded. “Why didn’t you tellme?”
“I hadn’t told anyone other than my mom andLib.”
“Where’s your boyfriend?” he asked. “Shouldn’t he be here helping get this placeready?”
“There is no boyfriend.” I shook my head. “There neverwas.”
“But you said you were datingsomeone?”
“I never actually said that…” I trailedoff.
“Why would you want me to think you were dating someone Savannah?” he asked, shaking his head again. I shrugged my shoulders. “Well if you’re not dating anyone, whose baby isit?”
I turned away from him, not wanting to see his face when he realized what a terrible person I was. “Just someone I met in a bar,” I mumbled. “I don’t know his name.” I waited a few moments for him to say something, but when I was met with silence, I slowly turned back around to face him. He was staring intently atme.
“I need to go,” he said, sounding angry as he walked backward toward the door, his eyes dropping to my tinybump.
“What? Why?” Panic swirled in my stomach; he looked so hurt and angry. I knew he didn’t feel for me what I felt for him, but he had been a part of my life for as long as I could remember, and before things had gotten awkward between us, we were friends. I couldn’t bear the thought that this one mistake could lead to our friendship being over for good. He took one last look at me before turning and walking out of the cottage, the door slamming behind him. I was left standing alone in the room, tears running down mycheeks.
Brody came rushing in from the kitchen. “Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” he asked, looking between me and Mom, who’d followed him out of the kitchen. “Why did Josh just stormout?”
I dropped my head into my hands, letting the tears flow. I felt my mom wrap her arms around me as she pulled me into a hug. “I think Savannah’s just a little overwhelmed by everything Brody. Maybe we should head home and come back in the morning to have a better lookaround.”
He eyed me suspiciously. “If you aren’t going to tell me what’s going on, I’ll just ask Josh,” Brody replied, reaching in his pocket for hisphone.
“No!” I shouted, pulling away from my mom. “Brody, please just leave it.” I watched him as he looked down at mystomach.
Lifting his hand, he pointed at me. “Is the baby Josh’s?” he asked, his eyeswide.
“What! No. I told you I don’t know who the fatheris.”
“What was all that then?” he shouted, gesturing to the door Josh had just leftthrough.
“Leave it Brody,” my mom saidsternly.
I sighed. “It’s okay Mom, it’s time he knew.” I turned to face him, dragging in a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down. “Brody, I’ve been in love with Josh since before I really knew what love was.” I watched as his face clouded with confusion. “He doesn’t feel the same and things have been strained between us for the past few months. When I told him about the baby, he stormed out.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Just one more person who hatesme.”
“In love with Josh?” he repeated in disbelief. “And he knows how youfeel?”
“Well I’ve never actually told him in so many words, but yes, heknows.”
“Why didn’t you ever tellme?”
“You always warned me about going after your friends, and I thought maybe you wouldn’t bring Josh home if you knew how I felt. Are you angry withme?”
“I’m not angry Sav. You can’t help who you fall in love with, I just wish you’d toldme.”
“I thought you’d bemad.”
He walked over to me, wrapping his arms around me, and I heard him sigh. “I told all the guys to stay away from you. I remember how we only thought with our dicks back when we were kids. I didn’t want any of them treating you like that, but we’re all grown up now, and even though you’ll always be my baby sister, if you wanted to be with Josh and he wanted the same, I wouldn’t stand in your way. I just want you to be happy.” I felt his arms tighten around me and he kissed me gently on thehead.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but it doesn’t matter now,” I said into his chest. “He’s not interested, and after finding out about the baby, I doubt he’ll even speak to meagain.”
“It doesn’t sound like he’s not interested—why storm out if he wasn’tbothered?”
“He sees me as his little sister. Maybe he’s disappointed in me—Dad certainlyis.”
He squeezed me tightly again before releasing me and turning to Mom. “Did you know about this?” he askedher.