The White Rabbit

6.) Time for the Truth

12 weeks pregnant:
"Audj? You okay in there?" Lyla asks concerned knocking on the bathroom door of their apartment.

I had spent all morning in the bathroom, unable to keep anything down and honestly there's nothing to keep down because everything sounds vile to me. With my face surrounded by porcelain, I throw up once more and my stomach tightens as if it's trying to squeeze every last drop out of me. I take a swig of Gatorade that Lyla gave me this morning and I pull my face out from the toilet.

"Ya...I'm fine..." I lie but it seems to have led up and I push myself off the floor and wash my hands.

"Okay, I made you some toast when you're ready." she muffled through the bathroom door.

I look in the mirror and I am a complete mess. My hair is in a sloppy bun, there's vomit on the corners of my mouth, and my clothes haven't been changed since Friday night...it's Sunday. I wipe the vomit off my mouth and wash my hands again before leaving the bathroom.

Kevin and Lyla are sitting at the table waiting for me while eating breakfast. Kevin's eyes stay on his food but Lyla looks up and smiles a half smile. She points to my plate with two pieces of dry toast ready for me to eat.

"Come...sit...eat." Lyla demands and pulls the chair out for me.

I nod and come sit next to them and reluctantly eat the toast just so I have something in my system. I toy around with the toast and feel the tension in the air. I've been sleeping on their couch and sometimes in my office at the bakery for nearly 3 months now. I've definitely overstayed my welcome and I know that.

"Audj... I think it's time." Lyla says then gulps some orange juice awkwardly.

"I know...I know...I need to hunker down and find my own place. I'm sorry. I've taken advantage of your hospitality." I admit while placing the toast down and picking the crust with my finger.

"Well ya...there's that and...you've been moping around here pregnant for almost 2 weeks now. It's time you tell this Dean guy. You have gotta put some of this burden on the guy who knocked you up. You can't carry this entire load." Kevin finally chimes in.

Lyla elbows Kevin in the arm,"I told you to say it softly!" She hisses.

"Ya, but I quite literally am the only one who can carry this load." I awkwardly laugh pointing to my stomach that resembles more of a bloated belly full of a pizza than one with a baby inside.

Kevin chuckles and snaps a piece a bacon into his mouth.

"I mean...you're not wrong." he says with a mouth full of bacon.

"He deserves to know, Audj." Lyla chimes in with empathy for Dean.

"Why? He made his choice. I was a one night stand. That's what he wanted." I sigh now having completely obliterated this toast's crust with my nervous fingers.

"Ya, he did make his choice, and choices have consequences. And now he's gonna be a daddy. And daddy needs to put his money where his dick was and help you." Kevin snaps trying to get me to see the big picture.

Lyla sends shooting dagger eyes at him,"Kevin!" She shouts through her teeth.

"I think you're scared..."Lyla continues.

"I'm not scared. I've accepted this pregnancy," I chuckle awkwardly taking a bite of my mangled toast.

"Scared that he won't want you. That he won't want them." She states pointing to my growing bump.

I place my hand over my belly protectively and I know she's right. What if he doesn't want anything to do with me...with us? What if this is where it really ends. Right here. With me and this baby.