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“It’s quite simple,” he said bitingly. “Tell her you’re marrying the father of your child.”

I stared at him for a beat, studying his expression, not quite believing him, nowhere near understanding him. Whatever he was thinking, I was finding nothing I could read.

Finally I got out my phone and called my roommate.

“Hey,” I said when Maddie answered.

“Hey,” she responded. “Everything okay? Aren’t you at work?” It was unusual for me to have free time, let alone my phone on hand, while on the job.

I was instantly stumped on where to start. “I ran into Coach North,” I finally settled on.

I heard her gasp on the other end. “What did he say about the pregnancy?” she finally asked.

“He wants me to move back in with him,” I continued, “but he’ll still cover my half of the rent.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. “That would be nice. I’ll look for someone else, but while I’m looking, I’d appreciate that. So, are you guys like back together?”

I looked at Carter. He was just staring at me, arms crossed over his chest.

“We were never really together,” I explained, because it was the truth, “but now that he knows about the baby, he wants to help out with him.”

“Is that what you want?” Maddie asked.

“If it’s what he wants,” I responded.

Carter was glaring at me. “Tell her I’ll be coming by to get your stuff today,” he said, voice stern and leaning into mean.

Maddie heard him. “He sounds angry. I’ll pack your stuff up for you, if this is really what you want. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “Just a little shocked and tired.”

“How did you just happen to run into him?” Maddie asked. She was having as hard of a time taking this all in as I was.

“He was on a date at the mall, and they came into the café together.”

“He was on a date?” She sounded scandalized.

I was a bit gratified that she was stuck on this fact, because I sure as hell was. “He was.”

“Was it like his girlfriend? Is he even single now?”

“I don’t know. They were pretty hot and heavy.” Now it was me glaring back at Carter as I spoke.

He took the phone out of my hand and put it to his ear. “She’s getting off track. We’re getting married today or tomorrow. I’ll be there in a few hours to get all her things. She’ll call you back later.”

He put my phone in his pocket. I don’t even think he realized he hadn’t handed it back. He was already on his own phone.

“I’m looking into what we need and how soon we can be married,” he said without looking up. “It’s Vegas, so I assume I can arrange it all quickly, though obviously I’ve never done this before, never even thought about it, so we’ll have to figure it out as we go along.”

“Can I have my phone back?” I asked him, tone careful. He was just so volatile in his current mood. “I need to call work. My boss is really nice. It’s rude to just not show up.”

He handed it to me. “As long as calling them involves you quitting that job. I saw the size of some of the trays the waitresses were carrying around there. I can’t believe you thought that was a good idea when you’re seven months pregnant.”

I was back to glaring at him. “What else could I do? I’m not exactly qualified for anything else.”

“You weren’t supposed to get a fucking job at all, not in your condition. You were supposed to tell the rich father of your child that you were pregnant. I know you fucking know I always would have supported you.”

I didn’t say anything.