Gina
“You’regoingtohaveto talk to me sooner or later,” I said as I stood beside Amalia in a coffee shop. It had been nearly a week since the breakup, and she had ignored every call.
I tried going to her house when I knew Brandon wasn’t home to see her. During the first visit – when she didn’t think I was coming – she had answered the door.
Talking to her since then had been nearly impossible.
Amalia sighed as she approached the counter. She gave the barista a small smile. “Two large mochas, please.”
I smiled, but my stomach was tossing and turning. I felt like I was going to be sick. This was the first chance that she had given me all week.
“I don’t want to throw our friendship away over this,” Amalia said as she looked at me.
“Then there’s something else you should know before we get into everything,” I said, knowing I couldn’t keep the baby a secret.
Amalia needed the whole truth before deciding whether to forgive me.
As soon as our drinks were made, Amalia led the way to a booth in the back of the coffee shop. We sat on either side of the booth, looking at each other, and neither knew what to say at first.
“You said there was something else I need to know,” Amalia said after a moment.
“I’m pregnant.”
Her jaw clenched, and she looked down at the whipped cream on her mocha. Amalia’s hands closed around the mug, and she took a deep breath.
When she looked back up at me, there was no anger like I had expected. Instead, there was curiosity and hurt.
“He didn’t say anything about the baby.”
“Don’t blame Brandon. He was just trying to keep you from getting even more hurt than you already are. This entire situation was a giant mess. I should have told you what was happening from the moment it started. Especially once I knew that I was in love with him.”
Amalia sighed and ran her hand through her hair. “So, you’re working for my dad, in love with him, and pregnant with his baby. Does that sum up this cluster fuck well?”
“As good as it can.” I gave a nervous chuckle. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I knew keeping your secret was bullshit, but I was too scared to tell you the truth. I should have told you about everything from the beginning.”
Amalia nodded. “You should have.”
“I don’t want to lose you over this. I hope you know that. You’ve been a great friend to me all these years, and in return, I’ve been pretty shitty these last few months. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.” Amalia took a sip of her mocha. “I don’t know if I can return to being okay again just like that. You dating my dad is a lot to take in. Now I’m going to have a little brother or sister. That’s a lot, Gina.”
“I know it is, and I want you to take as long as you need to dissect it. And if you still don’t want to be friends after, that’s fine. I didn’t want you not to know everything.”
“Well, now I know.”
“Now you know.”
My heart was hammering in my chest as I looked at her, trying to figure out what was going through her head. I knew that I should have told her the truth from the beginning. We had never kept secrets from each other before now.
“I’m sorry,” I said again, though I knew that it was only the first step in trying to fix our relationship.
“Do you love him?” Amalia asked as she stood up and looked at her watch. “Because I told him to break up with you.”
“I do. He’s the one.” I paused as I glanced at her. “I knew that you told him that. He didn’t say so, but I had guessed as much. I can’t blame you either; you’re just looking out for your family.”
Amalia sighed and finished her coffee. “I have to go. If I stay longer, I will be late for a design meeting.”
“Good luck.”
She paused for a moment. “Can we talk again tomorrow?”
“I would love to.”
Amalia gave me a small smile, her gaze darting down my stomach. She shook her head and dropped her mug off at the counter before leaving the shop.
The weight that had settled on my heart felt a little lighter.
Amalia wasn’t kicking me out of her life; it would just take time for us to get past this.
On Monday morning, I walked into the office with my resignation. I didn’t bother to say anything to Mateo as he stepped out of Brandon’s office. I wanted to get in and out of here as quickly as possible.
Brandon was bent over some papers on his desk, his eyebrows furrowed together. He looked like he was lost deep in thought.
Though I didn’t want to disturb him when it looked like he was working on something important, this had to be done.
My heart ached as I knocked on the door. As much as I loved him, I knew we wouldn’t make our relationship work. Not when Amalia disapproved of the whole relationship.