The Save Game

Chapter 11

"Please turn that off." Allison grumbled when Sal's text tone dinged for what felt like the hundredth time.

Sal opened one eye and looked at her from across the bed. He reached out and pulled her close to him.

"How about I turn you on, instead?" He trailed his fingers over her bare thigh. "I love when you wear my t-shirt to bed."

Just as she let herself get caught up in the moment, Sal's text tone sounded again.

"Really?" Allison threw her head back onto her pillow and let out a sigh.

Sal turned over and picked up his phone.

"I'm sure it's just the guys mes......" He stopped mid sentence and sat up quickly.

"What?" Allison asked, sitting up behind him and looking over his shoulder.

There was no mistaking the picture that stared back at her. It was from just a few years ago. She was sitting on Paul's lap, obviously feeling the effects of whatever their drug of choice had been that night.

"Who took this picture?" Sal asked her gently.

"I don't remember." She said honestly. "Look at me, Sal. I probably didn't even know where I was when that was taken."

Allison laid back on the bed and ran a hand over the growing bump of her stomach. There were days when she honestly thought she didn't deserve another chance at being a mother.

Sal set his phone on the side table and laid beside her, propping himself up on his elbow.

"They're running a story about your drug use. And your miscarriage." He placed his hand over hers on her stomach. "And Paul."

She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. Neither would benefit her, so she just laid still.

"It's nothing we don't already know." Sal kept his focus on her face, trying to figure out how she felt. "Let them get it out there in the open. We'll confront it head on and let them know that it doesn't bother us because it's the past."

Allison nodded but didn't speak. If the gossip magazines had managed to get a picture of her from her time with Paul, she knew it was only a matter of time before they knew what Sal didn't. The truth.

"There's something you should know." She said calmly. "About Paul."

"Don't." Sal leaned over to kiss her cheek. "You don't owe me any explanations."

"I really think I do." She turned her head so that they were looking into each other's eyes.

Before she could gather the courage to blurt it out, his text tone filled the room again. He pressed his lips together and tried to force a smile before turning over and retrieving the phone. He laid back in bed and scrolled through the incoming messages.

"Drugs, drugs, Paul, miscarriage. Oh, here's the latest. You're pregnant." Sal tossed the phone on the bed beside him. "They're running stories now. And apparently a picture of you pregnant will bring in seven figures."

"What's the plan?" Allison asked, looking toward the window of Sal's apartment.

"There isn't one. I've learned to just let these things run their course." He answered.

"So, I shouldn't try to hide the bump?" She ran her hand over her stomach.

"Absolutely not." Sal smiled. "If they get the picture, they get it. It's not a secret."

He leaned down and lifted the tshirt she was wearing, giving him access to her bare bump. Gently, he pressed his lips there.

"Thank you for this gift." He ran his hand over it again before getting out of bed.