Knocked Up by Stacey Lynn

Author:Stacey Lynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2018-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Cara

“I ordered pizza. Should be here in thirty minutes.”

“Thanks.” I’m in absolutely no mood to eat.

Braxton sits down on the couch next to me and hands me a bottled water. Reluctantly, I remove my hand from where I’ve been resting it on Lucy’s head, which she has perched on my lap, and take the water. I have no idea how long I’ve sat here, curled in a ball on the corner of his couch, staring out the windows at the darkened view of Portland, but it’s been long enough the sun is now long gone and the skyline is dotted with lights from buildings and cars and a few boats on the river.

I’ve barely paid attention to Braxton moving around his condo, but I’ve registered the sounds of him making multiple trips in and out and the sound of my luggage clunking through the space as he takes it somewhere.

At some point, he took Lucy on a walk and when he brought her back in, she ran to me, licked my face, and settled in her spot on the floor in front of me, peering up at me with sad lonely puppy dog eyes that must be a mirror image of what is in my own.

My parents really, truly suck, and it sucks more that they’re the only parents I have.

Who treats someone horribly and nastily? I still can’t fathom everything they spewed tonight and how horrifically embarrassing it is that not only did Braxton witness it, but he was the object of so much of their trash.

I’ve been painfully reminded how little my parents truly care about me.

“It’s not like I expected a ticker-tape parade or anything,” I say aloud, more to myself than Braxton, who’s sitting next to me. His arm is draped over the back of the couch, his hand fiddling with my hair on my shoulder.

His presence is relaxing despite his lack of response. He’s angry, that was evident from the moment they left and he swept me into his car, mumbling and cursing, maneuvering through the streets of Portland like he was leading a high-speed chase.

“I mean,” I continue, not even knowing why I’m bothering, “I didn’t expect excitement and for my mom to begin planning a baby shower or anything of the sort. And I’ve obviously been avoiding telling them, but at no point in time did I think it would go like that.”

“Perhaps you took them by surprise. They did show up at your apartment worried about you.”

I huff a laugh and twist so I can look into his eyes. Eyes so dark even he can’t hide the taste of his lie. “Cute.” I smile for the first time in hours. “It’s cute you’d give them that much credit.”

“Who’s Dr. Sherman?”

“My dad’s best friend. In a perfect world, in their perfect world, I’d marry his son, Graham. Miles Sherman and my dad went to prep school together. He’s also the CFO of the board at Portland General. Doesn’t make sense how he even saw my name as a patient, but I have no doubt he knows exactly why I was there.

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