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It should have scared me—the idea of having a baby before college was over. All I felt was joy. Life with Hunter was nothing like I’d ever experienced before. I knew in my gut that everything would be okay.

A warm hand grabbed my arm above the elbow.

“Can’t stay away from me, can you?” My smile morphed into a scowl when I turned and realized it was Mitch, not Hunter, who held me. I yanked my arm away. “What do you want?”

Mitch pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He grabbed a wad of cash and pressed it into my hand. “That should cover it.”

Puzzled, I looked at him. “Cover what?”

“The abortion you’re going to get.”

Dumbfounded, I stared at him. So many awful thoughts ran through my mind, but I couldn’t say a single word. After what seemed like an eternity, I shoved the money at him. “I’m not getting an abortion,” I hissed.

Mitch grabbed my arm and pressed the money back into my hand. “Yes, you are. You’re not saddling me with support payments for some squawking brat.”

“It’s not even yours.”

Mitch narrowed his eyes at me. “Get rid of it, Summer.”

“Fuck you.”

“No, Summer, fuck you. All you girls are alike. You’ll claim it’s not mine until the day it pops out, then you’ll hit me up for child support.”

I was so angry I couldn’t speak. People looked at us now. They watched the entire scene unfold. I wanted to sink into the dirt and die. I hated that I’d let this slip earlier. I should have known Mitch would find some way to fuck with me. I opened my mouth to say something, but caught sight of Hunter. His gaze locked on mine for a moment, then he shook his head and disappeared into the crowd.

No.

No. No, no, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. “Hunter, wait.”

I threw Mitch’s money at his feet and then took off after Hunter. I didn’t care who saw me chase after him. It didn’t matter anymore. I had to find him. I had to make him understand.

I caught up to Hunter on the stairs. He had his jacket and car keys in his hand.

“Hunter, please.” I reached for his arm, but he yanked it away. The look on his face crushed my soul. “Everything is so messed up. Let me explain.”

He shook his head. “There’s nothing to explain, Summer.” He pushed past me and kept going.

I followed him outside. I ran in front of him and pressed myself against the driver’s side door of his car. “Hunter, please, I don’t know what you think you heard, but it’s not what it looks like.”

“Are you pregnant?”

“Yes, but—”

He cut me off. “Then there’s nothing to talk about.”

“Just listen to me, will you,” I pleaded even as he moved me out of the way. I struggled, but with every second that passed, my resolve to make him listen faded. “The baby, it’s yours, Hunter. Yours and mine.”

He looked at me as if I’d just told him his dog had died. “Then why was Mitch giving you money for an abortion?”

“Because he thinks it’s his.”

Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t bother to wipe them away. If Hunter was going to turn his back on me, I was going to make sure he remembered my pain.

“So he knew before I did. Why would you tell him first if it’s mine?” I opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off again. “Save it, Summer.” He moved me out of the way and then got into his car.

“Where are you going?”

Hunter didn’t answer me. He wouldn’t look at me. How could he? He hated me. Love had turned to hate in a matter of minutes all because he wouldn’t listen and I lacked the power to make him. I stepped back and watched him leave. A crowd had gathered. Everyone stared. Everyone whispered. Everyone except Mitch. He smiled with his hands shoved into his pockets.

There was no way I could walk through the crowd of people. I turned and headed down the driveway. I wouldn’t let them see me cry anymore. I wouldn’t stand by while they whispered about Hunter and me.

I found a secluded part in the garden and sat on the bench by the pond. It wasn’t long before my mother found me. She sat next to me, draped her arm over my shoulders and pulled me close.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I sniffled, then shook my head.

“Can you listen?” After I nodded, she continued. “Mitch was a jerk to do that to you, but don’t worry about him, honey. Even if he doesn’t want to be there for you and the baby, know that you have our support. David and I will always be here for you, no matter what you need.”

I wanted to laugh, or cry, but everything crumbled away and all that remained was an emptiness so complete it numbed me. I didn’t care that everyone thought Mitch was the father. It’d be easier to explain than the truth.

“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” Mom didn’t follow me. She knew I wanted to be alone.

I slipped into the house unnoticed and then crept up the stairs. Mitch waited for me outside my bedroom.

“What do you want, Mitch?”

“The offer still stands.” He held the wad of cash.

“It’s not yours, Mitch.” I covered my stomach with my hand as if I could hold it even closer and protect my baby from Mitch and his awful words.

“Oh, I know it’s not.” He shoved the money back into his pocket and the corner of his mouth turned up into a grin. He took a step toward me. “I didn’t at first. I thought you were trying to fuck with my head, play some kind of mind game with me. Then I saw Hunter come out of the study. He never leaves a party unless it’s for a piece of ass. I wanted to see his score, so I waited. Imagine my surprise when you came out of that room with that freshly fucked look.”

“Congratulations, you figured it out. You figured out my secret, then ruined everything. Hunter is gone, Mitch. You can leave too.” I tried to step around him, but he blocked my path. He towered over me, stared me down, tried to intimidate me, but I was beyond being intimidated now. “Why, Mitch? Why did you do it?”

“Karma? Maybe.” He leaned closer. “Revenge? Who knows?”

He stepped out of my way and then disappeared down the stairs. I slipped into my room and looked around. I clamped my hand over my mouth as I suppressed a sob. Memories of Hunter were everywhere. He was gone, but his presence surrounded me, filled me, yet his absence was deeply felt.

I dug a suitcase out of the closet before I tossed my clothes into it. If there was one perk about my new stepfather, it was his bank account. I’d beg to be sent away somewhere for the summer. I’d beg him to rent me a cottage in the woods or an apartment in the city. I had to get away. I couldn’t start over while I was still surrounded by all the memories. I’d raise this baby by myself.

Chapter Fourteen

“You should give him a chance, Summer.” Felicity was giving me the face again. The round puppy dog eyes and full, pouty lip. “He really likes you.”

“Yeah, everyone wants to date the pregnant ones. They know we put out and they can’t knock us up. I’m a horn dog’s wet dream,” I scoffed.

Even though I wasn’t noticeably pregnant yet, dating wasn’t high on my list of things to do. My plan was to complete the first semester of this year, then return the following fall when the baby was a bit older.

“Come on, Summer. You’ve barely left the apartment all week. Besides, Craig isn’t like that.”

“I’m too tired to leave the apartment.” I sank into the couch and grabbed the remote. I flicked through the channels, but Felicity took the remote from me.