To Believe In Promises (Tumbling Down trilogy - DM fanfic)

Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun (Ch.24)

I wake up and jump from my unexpected doze-off. When I look around, I see I'm in my room, it's still light out, so not too much time had to have passed. Grabbing my phone, I read "4:41". A twenty minute power nap isn't so bad, I guess.

When I relax, I notice Tyler's still with me. Arms around me, but his hand is rested on my stomach. He really is excited about this baby, isn't he?

I turn over and push into him so he wakes up. It doesn't take more than a couple seconds. He smiles and me and rolls me onto my back.

Me: When do you have to go home?
Tyler: Probably soon.

I frown, but know it's true. I reach up to hold his shoulders.

Me: How am I going to talk to my family without having a repeat of a half hour ago?
Tyler: Text me the entire time. I'm guessing you're not the only girl in this family who is obsessed with her phone.

I smirk.

Me: I guess. A little.

His hands squeeze my waist and his lips plant a kiss on between my eyebrows.

Tyler: Don't think about it. Just go hang out with your cousins and forget for a little while. It'll be enough, for a few hours. What are they doing downstairs?
Me: Either playing stupid truth or dare games or something or watching Netflix.
Tyler: Then go do that. It's okay.

He falls beside me and wraps me up with his arms, close to him.

Me: What if I throw up?
Tyler: You haven't thrown up much. Did you smell the food yet?
Me: Yeah.
Tyler: I think you're good. If anything, say you don't feel good. Your family should know you enough to know to back off. I'll tell them you ate later on if you can't finish the food then.
Me: Thank you.

I hear the rattling of a phone against my night stand. Reaching for it, I see its Tyler's phone.

Tyler: Who is it?

He reaches for the phone but I lean away and reach the phone out of his grasp. Rolling off the bed and speeding away, I answer it.

Me: Hey, Jessie.

Tyler keeps trying to get the phone, but I dodge him.

Jessie: So your family is more exciting to Tyler than his own?
Me: Nope, just me.
Jessie: I see. Well is he asleep or something?
Me: No, he's right there.
Jessie: Well why'd you answer the phone?
Me: I got to it first.
Jessie: Can I talk to my brother?
Me: I guess.

I hand over the phone and Tyler pushes me back onto the bed.

Tyler: She needed me for something...Yeah...I know...Whatever I'll be home in five minutes.

I frown as he hangs up.

Me: I don't want you to go.
Tyler: You knew I had to eventually. You'll be fine.

He sits next to me and pulls me close. I feel his kisses and relish in them.

Tyler: I love you.
Me: Love you too.

He leaves and I stand alone in my room for a minute. When I notice actually 3 minutes have gone by, I sneak out of my room and down to the basement.

It doesn't take long after that for the food to be ready, so we all go up and get some. I take a good amount - not too much, not too little. And then everyone my age heads back down to the basement, where Family Feud is waiting for us.

But it's all too soon - well to me it couldn't have been soon enough - when people begin to leave. Gotta love the fact a bunch of little kids need to be in bed.

I read the time yet again and see its 8:51, and all that's left are my parents, my sister, and Mindy, who I totally forgot was here.

Nobody wants to clean up anything, but I slide off my chair to help Dad organize the remaining food so it can all fit in the fridge.

Dad(whispering): Hey, I need to talk to you.

A cold, dreadful fear runs through my body. My palms collect moisture faster than my heart begins to beat.

Me: About...?
Dad: It's important.

So I find myself sneaking - sneaking? - to the front porch to stand with Dad.

Me: It's freezing out here, jeez!
Dad: I just need your opinion. Then you can go back inside.

I hug myself, nodding.

Dad: So...what would you say if I told you I was going to propose to Mindy.

I feel like I was hit with a brick. Marry?! He hasn't thought about that, like, ever.

Me: When dad you decide this? Why now?
Dad: Is that a yes or a no?
Me: Am I seriously the person you should be asking? Of course it's a yes.

I hug him tightly, feeling weirdly happy for him. He just seems so excited. And him and Mindy have been dating for so long.

After I pull away, I them turn to go back inside. But he stops me.

Dad: So that's my secret.
Me: Well I don't have any secrets of my own, so...
Dad: Come on. I know something is seriously bothering you. You wouldn't have been acting so weird all night if something wasn't.

The whole sweaty palms, heart racing thing happens again. I just look up at him and shake my head.

Dad: Stays between us.
Me: It can't.
Dad: Why not?
Me: Because it can't!

He looks at me for a second. And its in that moment I realize, A: how much deep shit I'm in, but also, B: that I'm just like him.

And I have to tell him or else we'll be standing out here until we both get hypothermia.

Me: Dad...I'm...I'm pregnant.

I'm not sure what hits him harder: the fact he's now knows I've had sex before. Or the fact he'll be a grandfather at the early age of 45.

All my attempts of not crying have been blown to shit. I don't even say anything else; I just walk. Down the street, not even to Tyler's house. Just...walking.