Tanner's Unrelenting Soul (The Cunningham's Book Two)

Kaysen Please!

KAYSEN*

I’m woken up by my mother knocking on my door, opening it and flicking on the light. “Time to get up, if you want to be presentable for church, before Cora wakes up.”

Groaning, I fling my pillow on top of my head. “I’m not going. Let me sleep in for once.”

“No. You don’t get to do this. Going to church is the only time Cora gets to see and play with her friends. She’ll be very upset. It isn’t her fault you came home late last night. Get out of bed. If you are lucky, maybe she will take a nap later.”

“I have never missed church, mom. Hell, I haven’t so much as drank a drop in my life, or anything. I work at a damn bar for christ sakes. It’s no secret that I have always been a perfect angel mom. You could give me this get out of jail free card for once.”

Glancing up and seeing my mother’s scowl with her arms crossed made me want to hurl my pillow at her. But to calm the storming seas going through her ocean colored eyes; I just roll my eyes and fling my legs over the side of the bed. “Fine. I’m getting out of bed now. You can leave.”

Once I’ve taken my shower and made it back to my room to fling some presentable clothes on, my cell phone chimes away. I snatch it up from my bedside table and see it was an unrecognizable number, so I sent it to voicemail. I figured if it was important, whoever it was would leave a message.

Imagine my surprise when I heard Tanner’s voice in that voicemail telling me he was leaving and wouldn’t return for a while. Then, when I listened to the voicemail again, I realized he had said it would be best if we didn’t see each other again.

I’m feeling extremely distraught, given the circumstances, which is not surprising. At first, I felt upset until I remembered that our encounter was only meant to be a one-night stand. However, it turned into two unforgettable nights that blew my mind. I had hoped for something more between us, but Tanner had changed his mind about that. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. We don’t know each other beyond the amazing sexual connection we shared. We might not have much in common. Still, he opened up to me and share a part of his past. I just can’t comprehend why he would suddenly decide to leave me out of the blue.

After taking a breather, I gave Hector a call. I informed him I would work Friday and Saturday nights for the next month and then I wouldn’t be working there any longer. Surprisingly, Hector was understanding about the situation, which was a pleasant surprise. I had expected that he would freak out and even develop negative feelings towards me, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Cora will begin Headstart in a year, so if something happens and I need to get a job, I could always get a day job somewhere. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get my editing and publishing company started by then, though, and I wouldn’t have to worry about having to get a job. What if my mom’s right, though, and the competition is too high? I guess I won’t know until I throw myself out there. Which is what I intend to do hell or high water.

***TWO MONTHS LATER***

I had gone in a week ago and had gotten my yearly check-up and had received my pregnancy prevention shot. Then got a call from my doctor saying that my pap smear had come out abnormal. They said I didn’t have any STD’s, but that my OBGYN wanted to do a follow-up exam and take some tissue off of my cervix.

My Aunt Stacey and my grandmother had both died of cervical cancer. So I knew that this wasn’t good news.

***

I just arrived in a room, and I’m stripped from the waist down with a sheet over me. The nurse had taken a blood test to check for pregnancy. It’s a given that I will be fine and not be pregnant. I have not been with anyone since Tanner, and I’ve gotten my shots on time. I also remember getting the morning-after pill. So everything should be fine.