A Crush on Her Best Friend's Brother: Complete Box Set (13 page)

Since
she decided to stay, she knew she could save extra money. She would
pick up a couple of extra shifts at her job. It would be a good
thing, and maybe she could get her mind off of Brad. He needed to be
the first one she told. She had been pushing him away more and more.
They talked once every couple of days. He told her he loved her every
time he hung up the phone. She wasn't sure what was on his mind. Did
he think she didn't like him? Did he not notice? Did he have so much
going on that he didn't even care? She knew she was going to tell him
that night on the phone and wasn't looking forward to it. It was
going to be so hard not to see him.

Her
phone rang just as she was on her way into her room from work. She
was so tired, but she couldn't put off telling Brad.

“
Hello,”
she answered.

“
Hey,
babe. How was your day?” he asked.

He
always sounded so happy. She loved him so much.

“
It
was crazy. I'm so tired, but I have to finish some homework. Work was
super busy. How was yours?” she asked.

“
It
was okay. I worked out with some of the guys and had classes. I can't
wait to see you. I'm counting the minutes until I can hold you in my
arms. I was thinking about getting a room while we're home. What do
you think?”

“
About
that,” she said in a low voice.

“
Rachel,”
he said. “What's wrong?”

“
I'm
not coming home. I have to work. They won't give me the time off,”
she said.

That
was a good excuse, right? He had to buy that, she thought.

“
What?”
he snapped. “What do you mean they won't give you the time
off?”

“
I'm
the newest person there. I have to work.”

“
Then
quit,” he snapped. “You have to come home.”

“
I
can't. I need the money, Brad.”

“
Why
do you need the money so bad? Don't you want to see me?” he
asked.

“
Of
course I do,” she said. “I really need the job. I can't
go. I'm sorry.”

She
felt like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. What she
was doing was the right thing for him. Why did he have to make it so
hard?

“
Is
there someone else?” he asked.

“
What?
No,” she snapped. “Why would you say that?”

“
I
don't know what to say. You've been pushing me away and avoiding me.
Don't you think I've noticed? Either there is someone else, or you
don't have feelings for me. I have not been with anyone else since
Thanksgiving. I committed myself to you. I don't understand what's
going on with you. Maybe you never felt the way you said you did
about me.”

“
I
promise there is nobody else. I love you, Brad. I just think you
should have a great college experience and keep your mind on
football. I know how much it means to you.”

“
You're
really not going home?” he asked.

“
No,”
she said.

“
I'm
not either. I'm staying at school. You can go home. I won't be
there.”

She
heard a female voice call his name.

“
I'm
not going. I told you, I have to work. I can hear that you're busy.
Go have fun. I have to go.”

Rachel
hung up without waiting to hear his response. She burst into tears on
her pillow. It was time to get it over with. She pulled up a text to
her best friend and Brad's sister Karen.

Rachel:
I just wanted to let you know that I'm not coming home over break.
They won't let me get out of working. Have a great time with Sam.
Tell your parents and brother I said hi.

She
was hoping not to get a response. Her friend was so wrapped up in her
new man, it wouldn't bother her. She was wrong. The response came
right away.

Karen:
That's bullshit! I have been waiting to see you. Get your ass home in
two days.

Rachel:
I can't. I'm the newest employee and have to work. It will only be
two or three more months, and we'll be home for the summer. Have a
nice week.

She
knew Karen was mad, but she would get over it quickly. Rachel hurried
to text her mother. She knew that would be fine. Her mom was so
wrapped up in her boyfriend and moving that it would actually be a
relief she wasn't going home.

Rachel:
Hey mom. Just wanted to let you know I won't be home for break. I'm
going to work, so I can make extra money.

She
knew it would be hours before she would hear back. Rachel put her
phone aside and cried herself to sleep. She had to keep her baby her
priority and do what was best for everyone.

Brad
didn't call or text her the next few days. He probably went home
anyway. She knew he was just upset she was blowing him off. He would
be onto someone else or super busy with football. There would be no
time to think about her. She was the one with all the time and nobody
to talk to. Her thoughts were all she had.

Her
mom had been fine with her not coming home, and Karen hadn't said
anything else. She knew she had pulled it off. They all thought she
was working. Her roommate had left for the week, and she had the room
to herself. Mostly everyone was gone, so the dorm was nice and quiet.

Rachel
got back from work and checked her phone. He still hadn't text her or
called. She missed him so much. Lost in her thoughts about what she
would do for the summer, she didn't notice the time ticking by. She
ate what she picked up on the way home and watched television.

Her
mom would be completely moved by summer. Brad stayed at his apartment
in the summer. She would be able to go to her mom's until she could
get a job and apartment. Hopefully, she could have her own place by
the time the baby was born. Her bank account was growing every week.

She
was full from her food, and she knew she could fall asleep in
minutes. Rachel changed into shorts and a tank top and looked in the
mirror as she rubbed her belly. She loved the little one more than
she thought possible.

A
knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. It was probably a
friend of her roommates that didn't realize she was gone. Rachel
swung the door open and her mouth dropped open as she covered it with
her hand.

“
Karen,”
she said. “What are you doing here?”

Karen
walked into the room, turned, and crossed her arms over her chest.

“
Why
aren't you with Sam?” Rachel asked.

“
Why
am I not with Sam you ask?” Karen said in a clipped tone. “I
thought my best friend was spending the week with me. She backed out
at the last minute. I went home and found out that her mother moved
in with her boyfriend, and my best friend wouldn't be living across
the street anymore. Something she probably should have told me
herself. I know that I've been busy at school. I know that I've spent
a lot of time with Sam. I have tried to call you, but you are always
at work or doing homework. My best friend has been completely blowing
me off. I'm not with Sam, because I got on a plane to go and see what
the fuck happened to my best friend.”

Karen's
face was red, and Rachel knew she was pissed. With Karen's sudden
appearance, Rachel had totally forgotten that she was wearing tiny
shorts and a tank top that was not doing anything to hide her belly.
Before she could move to grab a sweatshirt, Karen's eyes moved down
Rachel and stopped suddenly on her stomach.

“
What
the fuck?” Karen said, as her eyes opened so wide.

Rachel
thought they were going to pop out of her head.

“
Before
you say anything,” Rachel began, but Karen cut her off.

“
Are
you going to tell me it is my imagination or that you had a big
dinner? I'm not buying any of it. This is the reason you didn't come
home, isn't it?”

Karen
fell onto Rachel's bed and looked up at her.

“
I
really am working. I just got home a bit ago. You can't tell anyone.
I mean not at all. My mom just moved in with her man. I don't need
her worrying about me yet. I'm saving money so I can get my own
place. I have everything planned out. I need time. I will tell
everyone myself. I just need you to give me some time.”

“
Are
you going to tell them on your way to the hospital?” Karen
asked.

“
I
don't want anyone to be disappointed in me. I want to have my plan
ready when I tell them,” Rachel said.

“
Who's
the dad? Are you together? Is he helping you? How far along are you?
When are you due? Is it a boy or a girl? Can they call me Aunt
Karen?” Karen rattled off question after question.

That
last one kicked Rachel right in the stomach. She had no idea how true
it was.

“
Slow
down,” Rachel said. “No, we aren't together.”

“
I'll
kick his fucking ass. Who would knock you up and turn their back on
you?”

“
Stop,”
Rachel demanded. “It's not like that. I'm happy, and I love
this baby more than you could imagine. It's not his job to take care
of me. He doesn't even know I'm pregnant. That's my business. I'm due
at the end of August. I'm having an ultrasound to find out the sex
next week. I have an ultrasound picture.”

Rachel
leaned over and took the picture off the desk next to her bed.

“
Everything
is going great. The little one is healthy. I'm fine. I'm just tired
all the time. I'm not coming back to school next year. When this year
is done, I'm going home. I'm going to stay with my mom, wherever she
lives. I plan to get a job and an apartment before the baby is born.
In one year, I'll go back to school close to home. It's very
important that you don't tell anyone. Not my family or yours. I'm
begging you. I want to be the one to do it.”

“
Fine,”
Karen said. “You need to quit pushing me away. I don't
understand why you didn't tell me. Did you think I would judge you? I
want to be there for you.”

“
This
is for me to figure out. You need to have the fun college life. I'm
not getting in the way of that.”

“
You
wouldn't get in the way of that,” Karen said.

“
I
need you to promise me something. No matter what happens, you have to
promise to love this baby. You can get mad at me or judge me, but
don't ever take any of it out on the baby.”

“
I
would never do that. I'll love the baby like my own. I can't wait to
find out what you're having. I'm going to spoil them like crazy. Are
you going to tell the dad? How have you been able to avoid it?
Doesn't he see you and notice?”

“
It's
not someone from school. I won't tell you who he is. He needs to know
first.”

“
If
he's not from school, then he's from home. It happened when you were
home. Who could it be? Wait, I didn't even know you weren't a virgin
anymore,” Karen said.

“
I
went out while I was home. You were busy with your man. I'm going to
tell him soon. I want him to know he can be a part of the baby's life
if he wants. If not, I'm okay with that. I would never keep him from
his baby. I don't plan on being with him.”

“
I
can't believe you had sex, and I didn't know,” Karen blurted
out.

“
That's
the most shocking part of all of this for you? I had sex,”
Rachel laughed.

Karen's
phone buzzed. She looked down at it and typed for a minute.

“
Couldn't
Sam be away from you for a few minutes?” Rachel joked.

“
It's
Brad,” she said.

“
Does
he know that you're here?” Rachel asked.

“
Yes,”
Karen answered. “I told him you were avoiding me, and I was
coming to track you down. He wanted to make sure I got here safely.
He's a brat, but I love him. I know he'd shit if he knew some guy
knocked you up and isn't helping you. You're one of the family. I
know he'd want to kick the guy's ass.”

“
You
can't tell him either,” Rachel snapped. “You promised you
wouldn't tell anyone.”

“
I
can't tell my brother?” Karen asked. “You know I'm super
close to him. He won't tell my parents.”