Possession(81)

I chuckle a little at that. “At one point, it wouldn’t have been a question. He was always trying to force me into loving him.”

“But he’s not now. I’m not saying that’s a reason to return to him. I’m just saying it’s a start. And by the sounds of it, that’s one major step he’s made.” She shakes her head on a smile. “Either that or he’s one shrewd, manipulative bastard.”

We both chuckle, and I watch as she picks up the taco and starts eating again. The spices hit my nostrils, making my stomach roll. I screw up my face, and Mandy notices. She starts laughing. “Anyone would think you were pregnant the way you’re carrying on.”

Suddenly, I feel like the wind’s been knocked out of me. I had been so busy concentrating on Drake and getting over what had happened to me that I had completely forgotten about the fact that before I was taken, Drake was desperately trying to get me pregnant.

Heat flushes my skin, and nausea rolls again in my stomach. I vaguely hear Mandy asking what’s wrong when I remember something that was said after Drake rescued me.

“She and the baby seem fine.”

Before I know it, I’m rushing to the toilet and hurling up the banana I’d managed to eat half an hour ago. Mandy follows in hot pursuit, rubbing my back as I hurl.

Once I’m done, she hands me a tissue. “Evelyn, is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt.

She frowns. “But you told me it was a bug.”

“I thought it was, but when you mentioned being pregnant just now, I suddenly remembered what I heard the doctor say after Drake rescued me. He said, ‘She and the baby seem fine.’ Oh God, Mandy. What am I going to do?” I start freaking out and hyperventilating.

Mandy grabs me by the shoulders. “Okay, calm down. We can figure something out. First of all, you need to sit down and breathe.” She leads me out to the sofa in the living room and sits down next to me. “Just close your eyes and breathe.” I do as she asks and try to calm myself. “That’s better.”

Once I open my eyes, something dawns on me. “Why hasn’t he said anything?” I think back, remembering when he said that he would be in our lives no matter what, but not once did he bring up what we were going to do. How is it that he’s let me go knowing this?

“Do you think he’s just trying to give you space to get used to the idea?”

I shake my head. “I really don’t know.” I place my head in my hands. “I just can’t get my head around this. He enrolled me in college knowing that I’m pregnant.”

“Women can be pregnant and still study, you know. It’s not the end of the world just because you’re having a baby. Which leads me to my next question: Are you going to have this baby?”

Looking up to her, my expression must be one of shock. I haven’t even gotten round to accepting the fact that I’m pregnant yet—never mind my choice of whether or not to keep the baby. Jeez, what a mess I’m in. What a mess he’s put me in.

I suddenly realise I have no other choice but to confront Drake about this. That means I have no other choice but to see him. Closing my eyes, I sigh. I was hoping to keep my distance until I was sure, but this news has to be addressed. I need to know why.

I get up quickly and try to locate my phone. “I need to call Drake about this.”

“But I thought you said—”

“I know what I said, but this is huge, Mandy. I can’t ignore this. I need to know why.”

“Why what?” she asks, shocked.

“Why he made me pregnant. Why he’s suddenly letting me live my own life. I just don’t get it, and I need answers.” I flip cushions up from the sofa and lift papers and magazines off of the coffee table. Nothing. “Ugh! Where’s my fucking phone?”

Mandy places a hand on my arm. “Calm your shit. Listen, I’ll ring it, and then we should be able to find it from there.”

Nodding my head, I watch as Mandy punches in her pin and starts calling. Pretty soon, the sound of “Close” by Nick Jonas starts playing. It’s muffled, so we have to lean forward a bit more to trace where the sound is coming from.

“It sounds like it’s coming from the sofa,” Mandy says, walking towards it.

“But I just checked there.”

She gets on her knees and looks underneath. Before long, she’s pulling out my ringing phone. “How did it get there?”

“You must have dropped it and accidently kicked it under.” She ends the call and hands my phone back to me. “Are you going to call or text?”