My Player Bestfriend (Book #1)

Chapter Twenty Three

The air between Austin and me felt heavier than ever before. I could feel the weight of his disappointment pressing down on me, suffocating me with every word he spoke.

"Why didn't you tell me, Mary?" His voice cracked with hurt, and I immediately felt a pang of guilt. "Why Luke? Why keep this from me?"

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. I opened my mouth to explain, but no words came out. What could I say? What excuse could I offer that would justify keeping such a huge secret from him?

"Why did you think it was okay to hide something like this?" he repeated, pacing the small room, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I thought we were building something real, Mary. I thought we were past all the drama and the lies."

"I... I didn't want to hurt you," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know how to face you after everything. After everything we've been through. I didn't want to tear us apart."

Austin stopped pacing and turned to face me, his eyes searching mine. He stepped closer, and for a moment, I thought he might reach for me. But he didn't.

"So you decided to just... not tell me at all?" His voice was colder now. "I'm supposed to just be okay with this? You think I wouldn't find out?"

I could feel the walls between us growing higher and higher with each word he spoke. I wanted to explain, to make it right, but I couldn't. He wasn't giving me the chance.

"Austin, please," I whispered, my hands trembling at my sides. "I wanted to tell you. But... I didn't know how. I didn't want to lose you again. I didn't want to ruin what we were finally rebuilding."

He sighed deeply, rubbing his face with his hands. The frustration was clear in every line of his face. "I don't even know where to start with this, Mary. This isn't just some small mistake. You're pregnant with Luke's baby. That's huge. And you kept it from me."

"I didn't know what to do," I admitted. "I thought I could fix things, but now... I don't even know if I can."

The silence that followed was thick and heavy. Austin's jaw tightened as he looked at me. I could tell he was struggling with his emotions, with his own sense of betrayal and disappointment.

"You should've told me, Mary. We're in this together. Whatever happens next, we figure it out together," he said softly, his voice breaking with raw emotion. "But instead, you kept me in the dark. You lied to me."

"I didn't lie to you, Austin. I just—" I stopped, the words getting caught in my throat. "I didn't know how to face this. I didn't want you to think I was just another mistake."

Austin shook his head, taking a step back. "That's not it. I never thought you were a mistake. But this... this is a mess, Mary. And it's not something I can just look past. Not without understanding why you kept it from me."

I nodded slowly, biting my lip. I understood. I knew he needed answers. But I didn't know if I could give them to him. Not in the way he deserved.

"I'll be here for you, Mary. I'll help you through this," Austin said after a long pause. His voice softened. "But I need you to be honest with me. No more secrets. No more lies."

I looked at him, my heart aching. His words cut deep. He was offering me a chance to rebuild, but at the same time, I could see the hurt in his eyes, the doubt creeping in. It wasn't just about the baby anymore. It was about trust. And I had shattered that trust.

"I'll be honest," I promised. "From now on, no more secrets."

Austin nodded slowly, though the tension in his eyes hadn't gone away. "You need to tell Luke, too. He deserves to know what's going on. No more running from the truth."

I took a deep breath, nodding. He was right. I had to face Luke, too. I couldn't keep running from it.

Later that night, after Austin left for his tour rehearsal, I sat in the hotel room, staring at my phone. I knew I had to face Luke, but I wasn't ready. Not yet.

I wanted to fix things with Austin. I needed to fix things with Austin. But the weight of the situation, of everything I had kept hidden for so long, was suffocating.

I took a deep breath and finally typed a message to Luke:

Luke, we need to talk. Can you come over?

He replied almost immediately:

I'm on my way.

I didn't have the energy to think through what I was about to do. The guilt was already eating me alive. I just needed to face Luke, to tell him everything. And then, somehow, I needed to make things right with Austin.

When Luke arrived, he looked at me with concern, his expression softening as he saw the tears in my eyes.

"Mary... what's going on?"

I shook my head, my chest tightening. "I don't know how to fix this. I don't know what to do."

Luke sat down beside me, his hand reaching for mine. "Hey, we'll figure it out. But you need to talk to him. I mean, Austin. You need to tell him the truth."

"I did," I whispered. "I did tell him. But... it's not that simple, Luke."

He squeezed my hand. "You can't keep running from this. Austin cares about you, Mary. I know it's complicated, but don't let the fear keep you from doing the right thing."

I nodded, wiping my eyes. "I'm just scared. I'm scared I'm going to lose him for good."

Later that night, I went back to my hotel room, staring at the phone in my hand. I had a choice to make. The right choice. And I wasn't sure if I could make it.