Jenalyn: A Splitting Personality (#2) [Complete]

Chapter 8: Jenalyn

Friday, 7:49 P.M.

I'm glad Mama Gold isn't home, but Harper is already down my throat about the party. I've barely even got my foot through the door before she's asking if I "slipped up."

"I'm not going to be mad at you, Jena- but I need to know this will be under control if you really want to do this..." she says as she follows me down the hall to the bedroom they had designated as mine after my second visit here. "I haven't told Mom yet... I think you need to understand what this will mean for you before you make the decision to-"

"I had a shot." I inturrupt before she can go on any further about how I should second guess this pregnancy. Any decision regarding my body, my child...will not be on someone else's terms! "I had a shot, realized my mistake, and left. I'm keeping it, Harper. Tell her when and how you want, but it's happening."

Harper sighs as she leans against my doorframe, arms folded neatly over her chest. "You know that can't happen again, right?" she asks, trying but failing to keep her tone from scolding. "-and I'm going to need to tell her something about a father, Jena. You're going to have to tell the world something about a father..."

I don't want to think about the father. I don't even want to remember that night with Rob! I don't want to think about any of this, honestly... the lies I'm going to have to tell to get through this? The risks I'm going to have to take? 

I let myself fall back onto the soft mattress centering the large room I've grown rather accoustomed to. "Why can't you tell Mama G it was a one night stand?" I ask, letting my eyes fall shut as I just imagine the look on the woman's face if Harper had brought that news to the table. "She already judges the Hell out of me- top it off with that one."

I can't see, but I can feel Harper's eyes roll from where I lay across the room. "She loves you, Jenalyn." she snaps. "-and even if I told her that, you'd still need a story for Hayden. That is not a story for Hayden."

She's right... as much as I hate to admit it- she's right. About the Hayden thing- not the Mama Gold thing. If I want this kid to have a better life than I did... Hayden is probably going to be my only hope.

"Okay," I sigh, pulling myself from my mattress and turning to face her. "Just... give me a little more time. Give me a week or two and I'll find Hayden a boyfriend."

Harper lets out a small laugh, but I can tell it's forced over the concern that's written more clearly across her face. "Not just any boyfriend!" she says, finally deciding to make her way over to my bed. "A boyfriend you could bring home to Mama Gold-  because that will be a thing, you know?"

Before I have time to decide whether or not I want to let myself get offended over her lowkey dig at my choice of guys- the doorbell chimes throughout the house startling us both. "Who is it?!" I ask Harper, more panicked than intended only because I half expect Dane to have cracked the case about Rob and have traveled cross-country by now.

She immediately turns around and starts to head out of my room. "It's Tyler!" she calls over her shoulder. "Mom doesn't trust me to move the furniture in the attic- so why not call over the daughter's ex? Makes sense, right?"

I roll my eyes, matching her tone of voice- but I can't help the excitement from flooding my body as I hop off of my bed and run to catch up to her. "He was at a house party!" I say when I catch up. "He's been drinking for like- hours!"

Harper lets out a small laugh. "I know. Mom knew-" she says as she reaches the door. She turns to me before opening it. "Doesn't matter to her though- as long as the furniture is moved! You know her! It gives me a chance to go grab some food or something. Coming?"

It takes me a moment to process my options- Go out with Harper, and be lectured for the next couple of hours about this pregnancy? Or stay here and bug Tyler, who is probably a little more intoxicated than he'd like to lead on to be...?

"I think I'll probably just lay down." I say after a moment, watching as Harper barely even second guesses it before turning around to open the door.