by Smith, Megan
“I’ll be over around ten to take you back to school,” he said. “Wish I could stay a few more days, but I’m pretty sure Mason is ready to get rid of me.”
“I’m his sister.” I smirked. “He can’t stay mad forever.”
Hunter grunted, started the truck, and took off.
I took my bags and approached Mason.
“Can we talk now? Like adults?” I asked.
Hailey tried to get up off his lap. He pulled her back. Her jaw clenched.
“You need to talk to her. Knock this shit off, Mase.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed. He looked past me. “I ain’t talking to anyone.”
I stood there, stunned that he would say something so hurtful and immature. Hailey pushed his shoulder back, got up, and walked in the house. A second later, she came out with her purse and keys and told Mason, “I’m leaving. When you decide to grow up call me.” She glanced at me. “Love you, Kenzie. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure if I was going to cry or scream. Mason threw the front door open with such force it banged against the wall
His voice carried over the house.
“Bitch.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The last two months flew by in a haze. All my classes were going great; and Hailey and I had moved out of the dorms and in with Hunter and Bentley. We only stayed at the dorms once a week to make our presence known. I had offered Bentley money for Hailey and me staying there all the time but he told me as long as we cooked dinner three times a week then that was payment enough. Otherwise, they would still be eating pizza every night.
Mason still wasn’t talking to me. He ignored Hunter and abandoned Hailey. Hailey said she was fine, but I knew it was eating her up inside. There were a few times I caught her crying late at night. She said they talked a few times but never for long, because baseball was taking up a lot of his time. I talked to Cooper and he said that Mason was still being a dick about all this shit. He was snapping at him and Jaylinn all the time and Cooper was fed up with it. I asked about what he was doing all the time that he claimed he was busy. Coop said that he was at baseball most of the time but when he wasn’t, he was out partying and getting trashed.
Hunter hadn’t been the same since the argument. I think when he caught Hailey crying a few days ago, that it caught up to him because he started to take it out on me. He would pick a fight for no reason. I was late getting home from work last night and he flipped out and asked me a million times where I was.
The tension made me sick. As soon as I woke, a wave of nausea swept up from my stomach. I ran to the bathroom to throw up. Hunter came in as he had the last few times and held my hair back for me. When I was done, he would help me in the shower. He apologized for taking things out on me and I would always forgive him. How could I not, when he looked at me with those eyes of his that had my stomach doing flip-flops. After we showered, he carried me back to bed and made love to me. He always made sure to take his time with me after I got sick or after fighting.
I must have fallen asleep after we were done because Hunter’s side of the bed was empty and cold. I went downstairs to get something to eat before I started to feel sick again. Hailey sat at the bar, eating a sandwich and reading a book.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” Hailey said. “Hunter keeping you up all hours of the night?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, actually he isn’t keeping me up at all lately.”
“You’ve been sleeping a lot. You feeling ok?”
“Not really.” I grabbed a bowl from the cabinet. “All this tension with Mason is really starting to wear me down. It’s been two months since that fight, and enough is enough.”
“I keep trying but as soon as I bring it up, he makes some kind of excuse to get off the phone.” She closed her book.
“Hails, work on your relationship with Mase. Don’t worry about us. I’m his sister. He has to get over this eventually. Once we go home for the summer, Mom will put a stop to this bullshit.”
Hunter raged into the room, slamming the door and interrupting Hailey.
“What the fuck, CC?”
I frowned. “What the hell is going on?”
“You tell me, what else are you hiding from me?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” My stomach started turning. “What’s going on?”
“Dominic showed up on Christmas morning and you never told me?”
I grabbed my stomach, trying not to think about getting sick again.
“It wasn’t a big deal. Cooper was there with me. He just stopped by to tell me that Brittany lied about being pregnant. That’s it; he wasn’t there more than five minutes before I told him to leave.”
My stomach rolled. I took off running to the bathroom to throw up again.
Hailey knocked at the door. I greeted her from the bathroom floor. The tiles helped to cool my face off.
“Oh, sweetie, are you ok?” Hailey said, lifting my head on to her lap.
“You have to get me out of here. I can’t do this shit anymore.” My stomach was turning again; I held it tight trying to make it stop. “I can’t be around him. My stomach won’t stop knotting.”
I started crying. How could this happen? He was pissed off about something that happened two months ago, something that was no big deal.
“Alright look, you go grab your stuff and meet me back downstairs. I’ll get us back to the dorms. I think you just need a little space.” Hailey ran her fingers through my hair.
I got up off the floor, threw some water on my face and went upstairs to grab my things. I quickly put everything in a bag. I didn’t want to have another fight with Hunter. I snuck down the stairs as Hailey confronted Hunter in the living room. I waited outside, but she didn’t follow. Bentley pulled in the driveway and I ran over to his car.
“Bentley, could you give me a ride back to the dorms, please?”
“Yeah, sure, everything ok?”
“No, but it will be.”
He dropped me off and I said, “Don’t tell Hunter. If he asks if you saw me, just say no.”
“Kenzie, you know I can’t do that.”
I knew that I shouldn’t ask him to lie for me, but I didn’t want Hunter chasing after me.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for the ride, Bentley.”
Hailey pulled up behind us. She hopped out of the car and rushed to my side.
“Come on, sweetie; let’s get you up to our room.”
I blinked back tears as we walked. She swore. My vision focused in time to see Dominic. And Brittany.
Great fucking timing.
“You ok, MacKenzie? You don’t look so good.” He asked.
“Dom, I really need to get her upstairs.” Hailey pushed past him and guided me to the room.
Dominic followed us the whole way up, but didn’t say anything more. I dove into the bed, pulled the covers over my head, and begged for sleep to come.
***
I didn’t hear from Hunter for two weeks. Not one word. The only thing worse than him avoiding me was my constant nausea. The stress was destroying my stomach. I knew it was bound to happen. Mason refused to back down, and I knew it would lead to the end of my relationship.
I sat in the library, scanning ID badges, when Logan snuck in a cheeseburger. The smell of it made me sick; I didn’t make it to the bathroom. I got sick in the trashcan under the desk.
Logan’s mouth dropped open. I frowned.
“I’m sorry; I haven’t been feeling well lately. Whatever that is,” I said, pointing at his cheeseburger, “made my stomach turn.”
Logan nodded and stalked off to the back office. After a few minutes of a relatively stable tummy, I went to apologize. He was on his phone, facing away from me.
“Dude, I think she’s pregnant.”
Holy shit! I rolled my eyes. Logan, you idiot. Who the hell did he get pregnant?
“You have to get her to take a test.”
&nb
sp; I snorted. What an ass. Were his legs broken? Why couldn’t he take his girl to get a test?
“Because, when I was home over Christmas break, my sister was the exact same way.”
I shook my head. I didn’t need to get involved in that fiasco.
Ten minutes later, he emerged.
“Go home,” he said.
“What?” Shit, I shouldn’t have waited to talk to him. “I don’t get off for another two hours. If you’re worried about me getting sick again, I won’t.”
“I’m not worried about that; just go home. I’ll cover you.” Logan grabbed my hand and helped me off the stool I was sitting on.
“Are you sure? I really don’t mind staying. I already feel better.”
“I’m sure.”
I slung my purse over my shoulder. Logan took a breath.
“Are you leaving Friday for spring break?”
“Yeah, Hailey and I are heading home.”
“I got your shift covered tomorrow. I’ll see you after you get back.” .
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure; see you when you get back.” He stopped me before I left. “Kenzie. Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
As soon as I walked out of the library, I sent Hailey a text to see where she was. I didn’t see Dominic sneak up behind me.
“Damn it, Dominic,” I said.
“Sorry, thought you heard me coming up.”
I finished my text and slid my phone back in my purse. I felt a little awkward talking to after everything went down and now being with Hunter.
“Are you heading back to the dorms?”
“Yeah, on my way.”
He kicked a rock from his path. “You talking to Hunter yet?”
“No.”
The rock bounced into the street.
“How are you getting home then?” he asked.
“I asked Jackson to come pick us up.”
“Well, I can take you. I was actually getting ready to leave tonight anyway.”
“Let me call Hailey.” I reached in my purse and dialed Hailey’s number. I felt shitty using him for a ride home but it would get me home earlier and less of a chance of running into Hunter.
The radio lowered before she answered.
“Hey, where are you?” I asked.
“Out with Zeke. What’s up?”
“Logan sent me home because I got sick at work and gave me tomorrow off. Dominic offered to take us home tonight. You want to go?”
“Hell yeah! I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
I shrugged at Dominic. “I guess we’re heading home tonight. Thanks.”
“Great! I have a few last minute things to pack and take care of so I’ll come meet you in about an hour?”
“Sure.”
I walked off towards the dorms and Dominic took off the other way towards Brittany. Hailey and I got everything ready to go and put all our bags by the door, waiting for Dominic to come. He finally showed up right on time. We got all the bags loaded in his car and left to head home. After having a huge fight with Hunter about Dominic, I hope this didn’t further piss him off to the point where we couldn’t even be friends.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
We got into town late, but Dom wanted to stop at the store before he took us home. He was in and out and quick to take Hailey home. I promised to call her in the morning. Dom headed towards my house, but he pulled the car off the side of the road.
I raised my eyebrow. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I need to talk to you now that there isn’t anyone else around.”
“Dominic, please just take me home. I can’t do this with you right now.”
“Listen to me.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared straight ahead.
He cleared his throat. “Did you sleep with Hunter?”
Groaning, I dropped my head to the back on the seat. “I’m not talking to you about this, Dominic. I don’t ask what’s going on with you and Brittany; don’t ask about me and Hunter.”
“I know, but just answer the question. It’s important.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Damn it, Kenzie, just answer the question!”
I was fuming, but I knew him well enough to know if I didn’t answer him, I would be here all night and I really just wanted to go home. Huffing, I said, “Yes.”
He ran his hand through his hair before reaching into the center console. He handed me the drug store bag.
“You need to take this.”
I opened the bag and shot my eyes up to him.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’m not pregnant, asshole.” I shoved the bag back into his chest. He was silent for a moment.
“I can’t be pregnant, I’m on the pill,” I said.
“Then what do you have to lose?” He held my stare. “This isn’t you being upset. You’re different.”
“Take me home.”
Dominic put the car back in drive. I slammed the car door when I got home, but he pushed the bag back at me. I shoved it in my purse.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you back at school.”
“Let me know if you need a ride back.”
I hauled my things out of the trunk and headed inside.
“Kenzie,” Dominic called out. “If you need to talk or anything, call me.”
He didn’t wait for me to answer; he got back in his car and backed out of the driveway.
My mom was pacing the floor when I walked in
“Oh, thank God.” She squeezed me into a hug.
“Mom?”
“Hunter has been calling nonstop looking for you. He said your phone is turned off, and he couldn’t get a hold of you.”
Nice, why was he calling now?
“Well, Hunter shouldn’t worry about me. He hasn’t for the last two weeks. Hailey and I got a ride home from Dominic.”
“What do you mean he hasn’t worried for the last two weeks? Are you fighting?”
“Yeah, because of Mason’s bullshit.”
“Oh, baby girl, I’m so sorry.” She gently rocked me back and forth. The swaying was doing nothing for my stomach.
“Look, I’m really tired and I just want to go to sleep. We’ll catch up later.” I kissed her cheek and started for the stairs.
“What do you want me to tell Hunter when he calls back?” She asked.
“Tell him whatever you want.”
I didn’t care if he got pissed off because I took off again or because Dominic took us home.
I went upstairs, dropped my bags, slipped off my shoes and curled up in bed. I fell asleep for a little while, but the drug store bag taunted me. It was after three in the morning when I had finally had enough and got up to take the test just to prove to Dominic that I was not pregnant. I might have wanted to prove it to myself too.
I hid the bag and darted into the hallway. Hailey and Mason whispered outside their door. What the hell was Mason doing here this late at night with Hailey?
Mason grabbed my arm before I could get past him. He pulled me to his chest and hugged me. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an asshole lately.”
I pushed off back. “If you don’t mean it, then don’t apologize to me, Mase. I know you’re only saying it because I’m not with Hunter anymore.”
He frowned and said, “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to see you hurt, and, from what Hailey’s told me, you are hurting.” He pulled me back to his chest and kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to Hunter tomorrow.”
Shaking my head and trying to hold in the tears, I said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s over between us.”
I need to figure out if what Dominic said could be true before I worried about anything else. If it’s positive I’m not really sure what will happen to us.
“I’ll fix it. It’s my fault. I don’t think he’s good enough for my little sister, but I don’t want to see you like this every day.”
Tears streamed down my
face, soaking his shirt. “Please, don’t. Let it be, for me.”
He sighed and wiped a tear from my cheek. “Ok. I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks, Mase.” I glanced at Hailey. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I pulled her into the bathroom with me and turned on the faucet so Mason couldn’t hear us. I pulled out the test from the bag, and her eyes flew open wide.
“You have to be shitting me!”
“Shh, Hailey.” I flipped the box over and read the directions. “Turn around. When I’m done, I need you to look at this and tell me it’s negative, ok?”
She turned around and nodded. I followed the instructions and cleaned myself up, refusing to look at the godforsaken test.
“Ok, tell me it’s negative.”
Hailey slowly turned around, gasped, and put her hand over her mouth.
That was not the reaction I wanted.
“Hailey, it’s negative, right?”
She looked at me but didn’t say anything.
Fine, I guess I had to do this on my own.
“Fuck!” I yelled and then put my hand over my mouth.
Five, ten, twenty minutes went by and we both just stared at the test in disbelief.
Mason must have been worrying. He banged on the door.
“Kenzie, Hailey, you guys ok? You’ve been in there forever.”
Worried he would barge in here, I threw the test back in the bag and shoved it under my shirt. I pointed at Hailey.
“Don’t you dare say a word to anyone.”
I walked straight into my room and stashed the test in the back of my underwear drawer. I paced the floor for the rest of the night. The test had to be wrong. I always took my pill at the same time every day, and I never missed. There had to be a mistake.
Around eight the next morning, I still couldn’t think about going to sleep. I needed to talk to someone. I couldn’t talk to my mom, and Hailey had no idea about being pregnant.
Chloe!
I grabbed my cell and dialed Chloe.
“Kenzie, what in the hell are you doing up so early?” She yawned as Alex cried in the background.
“Um, can I come over? I need to talk to you.” I was already downstairs, keys in hand.