Page 29 of Ruin The Friendship
Which apparently was the wrong choice, since Lydia lets out an irritated noise, going back to looking out the window.
No more words are said on the short drive to our building, and as we take the elevator to our floor, the tension between us increases with each ding of the elevator.
Once we are in the confines of our apartment, I’ll ask my questions. I just have to hold out a few more moments. I unlock the door and let her in.
“Will you please say something?” Lydia chokes out as soon as I shut the door.
I freeze, stunned that she’s so upset. But if she wants to get this over with, so be it.
“Fine, how did you get pregnant?” I ask, my tone bordering on accusatory, though I don’t mean it to be.
What the hell am I doing?Why are we fighting right now?
“Well, when a man and a woman…” she replies with a snarky edge, though it feels half-hearted. Her shoulders sag, and pure exhaustion washes over her face.
I wish I could hold her in my arms and eliminate all her fears. I know right now that’s her driving force. Fear. This is a big life change. She has to be scared.
I interrupt her. “Stop it, Lydia. You know what I mean.You live with me. How did you find the time to get pregnant?”
“I have a life outside of you, you know.” Her cheeks burning red with each word.
I was gone visiting my parents for a week this summer. Was he in our apartment?
A clawing jealousy steamrolls through me as I gasp, clutching my chest dramatically. “Did you bring him here when I was away this summer?”
“That isso notthe point right now!” She mutters something under her breath.
I need to fix this. The last thing I want is to fight with her. I reacted when she did, and I shouldn’t have. She’s obviously had to keep things to herself for a while and is stressed. What I should do is relieve her stress, not add to it.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” I reach for her, but she steps away, breaking off a piece of my heart with it.
“Just say it.” Her voice is timid as she stares at the floor.
“Say what?”
“Say you’re disappointed in me,” she screeches. Her wrapped hand is still against her chest, the ultrasound photo held tightly in her good hand.
“What? Disappointed?” I growl, stepping closer to her. This time, she lets me. “How could Ieverbe disappointed in you?”
“I’m pregnant!”
“And I’m a hockey player!” I lift my hands in exasperation.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Her eyes narrow, burning with the fire I know and love.
“I’m just stating facts. I thought that’s what we were doing!”
“Oh, my god.” Lydia groans, walkingto the coffee table and setting down the photo before sitting on the couch, rubbing her face with her good hand. “I’m spinning in circles at this point. It’s making me dizzy.”
I sit beside her. “Come here.”
I open my arms for her. Thankfully, she scoots into my embrace, and I hold her close, breathing in her familiar warm vanilla scent.
“I’m not mad or disappointed in you.Never. I have questions, but those can wait if you aren’t up for it.”
She shakes her head into my chest. “No, I need to get it all out. Hiding this from you was brutal, even if it was only for a short time. I was scared because when I told you, I knew that would make it real.”
I take a deep breath. “Alright. I’m going to start with the big one, then.”
