Page 79 of Savage Heart

My face floods with shame. I would never want Maverick to find out. He . . . I’d hoped . . . ugh. We’re never going to be together anyway—I made sure of that when I said we shouldn’t do anything to mess up our friendship, and I’ve regretted it ever since. Not that we would’ve been anything anyway . . . I’m Cherry Sullivan’s daughter. Our worlds are more different than he realizes. But now there’s absolutely no way he’d ever be with me, knowing I’ve slept with Lincoln.

“I promise.” I put my hand over my face and peek at him. “And we won’t be any different either, you and me.”

He laughs quietly. “Of course we won’t.” He gives me a sideways glance. “Was it at least good for you?”

I snort. “I don’t even remember, except little things here and there. I think so?” I pull the covers over my head.

He laughs and tugs them down. “I remember that you’re hot. But I already knew that.” He grins and then shakes his head. “God, I can’t believe we did that.”

“I’m never drinking again.”

“Yeah, that’d probably be a good idea for me too . . . It’s just so fun.” He smirks and gets out of bed, and I yelp, covering my eyes.

“May as well get a good look, since you can’t remember,” he teases.

“Shut up,” I mutter. “Don’t let my mom see you leaving.”

“What if she’s on the couch?”

I moan. “I don’t know. Just come up with an excuse.”

I hear him getting dressed, and then he tugs the covers down.

“Don’t beat yourself up over this, Sullivan. It happens.” He moves to the door and lifts his hand before going out the door.

“Not to me it doesn’t,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes.

“Hey! I knew I’d catch someone sneaking out of her room one day, but you’re not the one I expected to see!” my mom says from the other room, her laugh abrasive.

I roll to my side, letting the tears fall.

Five weeks later, I stare at the test in shock. I don’t know why it hadn’t registered that my period was late, but once it did, I couldn’t get a test fast enough. I drove to the next county to buy the test and took it after my mom passed out.

Positive.

I text Lincoln, my hands trembling, and ask him to come over as soon as he can. There’s a knock on the door within half an hour.

“What’s the urgency?” he asks when I open the door.

I wave him back to my bedroom and hold up the test. He goes pale and sits on my bed in shock.

“What the fuck, Iris.” He puts his head in his hands. “I never go without a condom. How could I fucking—?” He looks up. “I’m so sorry.”

“Me too. I . . . I’m not on birth control. That was the only time I’ve had sex.”

He looks up at me. “Iris,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry. Were you even . . . were you okay?”

I nod, looking down.

He sighs, then starts shaking his head. “I can’t do it, Iris. We can’t have a baby.”

I sit next to him.

“I’m finally getting out of here.” His eyes are pleading as he turns to face me. “I don’t want to be my dad, stuck working on Harrington Ranch. You said you wanted to get away too . . . get away from your mom. What are we going to do? We’re too young for this. Iris, tell me you hear what I’m saying.”

“I know. You’re right . . . about all of it. We’re too young for this, but . . . I don’t think I can get rid of it, Lincoln.”

He stands up, his eyes flashing with anger. “I’m not gonna ask you to get rid of it, but . . . we have to give it up for adoption. We can’t raise a baby, Iris. We’re not even gonna be in the same state!”