Wynn

I'm one lucky girl.

Who'd have thought after all the tears, hormones and mistakes of the past few weeks that I'd be thinking that? But I know it's true because, despite all of my crazy, which is admittedly significant, I'm not going to my appointment alone.

I'd planned to be a big girl, to suck it up and figure things out on my own. But everything changed on the night I spilled my guts to Wyatt. He promised me he'd be there for me, and he is, having volunteered to take me to an OB we located across town in an effort to keep things private. At least for now...

The boy is selfless to a fault. I'm certain I don't deserve his friendship, especially after what I attempted to orchestrate with Colby and Cole, but here he is, despite my protests. At least he and Colby are together again. It's nice to see that some things are working out for the best.

"Let's do this," Wyatt says as we enter the double doors leading to my future.

I'm handed a sizeable load of paperwork to fill out by a cheerful receptionist who is definitely a cougar. She's gotta be pushing fifty, but she can't stop staring at Wyatt, who's completely oblivious. It's bold on her part, really. For all she knows, he's my baby's daddy.

Yuck.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with Wyatt—it's just that he's like a brother to me.

"Wynona Caldwell," comes a voice from the opposite side of the waiting room. The nurse smiles when I nod, gesturing for me to follow her back.

"Come with?" I plead, suddenly feeling apprehensive. I've known all along that this is life-altering, but having it confirmed and seeing my baby for the first time...it's a bit daunting, to be honest.

"Sure, if you want," he says, rising to his feet. I nod, grateful that he's being so cool about everything. Obstetrics and gynecology aren't traditional comfort zones for most guys—they just enjoy all the things related to it. Still, he doesn't seem the least bit bothered as he follows me to the exam room.

The nurse smiles brightly, arranging all of the various forms. "Is this the father?" she asks, indicating Wyatt.

"No!" we bark in unison.

"I'm just moral support," Wyatt clarifies, seating himself in one of the spare chairs against the wall and smirking at me. I roll my eyes, smiling in return. He always helps to lighten the mood.

"Oh, I see," she chirps happily. "No worries! Wynona, please step onto the scale for me, so I can get a quick weight."

"You, close your eyes!" I demand, pointing at my now snickering companion as I move toward the scale in the corner. The nurse quietly takes my weight before waving me over to the exam table, where she proceeds to ask me dozens of super personal questions, which I notice with some satisfaction, have Wyatt squirming and blushing in his seat.

"Alright, Miss Caldwell," she says, gathering up her clipboard and stethoscope. "The doctor will be in to do the ultrasound in a few moments."

"Thanks," I say as my heart starts pounding furiously in my chest. Somehow, after all the pregnancy tests, puking and emotional breakdowns, this is the moment that will make it real.

Dr. Hollister enters minutes later, chatting pleasantly with Wyatt and me as she preps me for the ultrasound. I'm feeling rather pleased with myself, having switched up my wardrobe to include a variety of yoga pants. That makes it easier when she drapes my lower abdomen with sheets, tucking them around my belly before squirting a clear, lukewarm jelly on my stomach.

She takes the ultrasound wand then, gliding it over the gel on my skin when she finds her objective. "There's your baby, mama!" she coos, pointing toward the screen. "And here is baby's heartbeat."

My eyes are instantly filled with tears as I take in the image. "Oh," I whisper. It's all I can manage, as I'm simply overcome. It's the first time anybody has ever laid eyes on the baby that's both Caldwell and Galloway, and Cole isn't here for it.

I'm grateful for Wyatt's support, no question, but I'm also utterly lost. The other half of my soul is missing, and it's never been more apparent to me than it is in this moment.

...

I haven't been able to put the printout down since we left my appointment.

I'm really going to be a mom.

I've known this of course, but seeing it firsthand today has made it all too real. I'm excited about the possibilities that our futures may hold, but I'm also scared out of my mind. There's one thing I know for certain, though: this little person growing inside of me will never wonder what it feels like to be loved and adored.

I pull up to my house with the picture resting on my lap and slip it into my purse when I see Zach is outside. He's so focused on his skateboard that I doubt he'd notice anything I'd be holding, but I'm not ready to share this with him just yet.

Shit.

That's a luxury I won't have for long, with the reality of what's to come setting in about as subtly as a wrecking ball. I'm not showing now, but it's not like that will last forever. That is unless I'm like that woman on Instagram who still has a six-pack eight months in...

Right. Who am I kidding? Sooner or later everybody will know about this, whether I'm ready for them to or not.

I slip out of my car, making my way toward the house, which thankfully does not come stocked with parents today. Zach nods in greeting as I pass him, taking a deep breath before attempting another death-defying heelflip on his board.

He nails it just as I'm reaching the front door, glancing my way for approval. I give him a thumbs up, smiling. He's so innocent, so free—both things I most assuredly am not. Not anymore anyhow.

I grab a bottle of water en route to my room, looking forward to the solitude, as I'm in desperate need of time to think. I've got to figure out how to tell everyone, of course, but the first person I need to speak to is Cole. Things have been so strained between us, so I'm not quite sure how he'll handle the news.

Making matters even more challenging is the fear I'm harboring over what he'll do when he finds out. I'm certain he'll tell his father, and I'm terrified of what will befall him once Harris knows.

Though not telling Cole is out of the question, obviously...

...Or is it?

I sigh, feeling torn over, well, everything, really. But, I know what I have to do. I've got to tell Cole. I can't imagine not knowing if I were in his shoes. It wouldn't be right. Harris can be managed somehow, even if I have to drag Cole away—hide him and give him a new identity.

Okay, I'm officially losing it. I'll chalk it up to hormones, just like I do with everything else these days.

Retrieving the black and white photo, I drop my bag beside the nightstand before falling onto my bed. The springs groan inside of the mattress and I wince. If this bed is already struggling to support me, it's got another thing coming. I sit up, crossing my legs and staring at the image for the thousandth time since my ultrasound.

That moment is something I'll never get over, but my heart wrenches every time my mind drifts to Cole. I took that experience away from him by withholding the truth.

I had no right.

It's amazing how I've managed to screw things up so badly. This is a new low, even for me. Only now my actions don't affect me alone—they affect Cole, too, and of course our baby...

I'm startled by a quiet knock on my door, immediately tossing the photo behind me.

"B, you scared me." I place my hand over my heart, exhaling with relief that it's her and nobody else. Things have been tense between us for a while, but she's still my best friend.

"I know," she replies solemnly, seating herself on the bed next to me. She glances behind me, her eyes undoubtedly taking in the image I had no time to conceal as she folds her knees up to her chin, wrapping her arms around them. She always protects herself this way when she's uncomfortable. "Wynn, we gotta talk. I know what's been going on."

Of course she does.

I almost feel like laughing, though it'd be completely absurd in this moment. But this is B, the girl who knows me better than I know myself sometimes. I'm not surprised she's figured things out, and I'm glad she has.

Relief fuels the tears that flow unbidden. The truth is, I've needed Colby desperately, but I've made such a disaster out of all my relationships, especially with her. She should hate me for treating her like my punching bag, and she's done nothing to deserve it. I bury my face in my hands, my emotions skyrocketing into cray cray territory without warning.

"I'm not mad at you, Wynn," she continues. "I just wish you had trusted me. Also, I think you should know that Morgan and Mr. Carter saw you and Wyatt leaving the doctor today."

"Crap," I groan, immediately perplexed by the level of stupidity those two achieve so effortlessly. "They're idiots for being out together like that."

She smirks, draping her slender arm over my shoulders. "You okay?" Her sincerity is a welcome comfort to me, and I offer the best response anyone could under these circumstances.

I shrug.

Reaching behind me, I grab the photo, and she shifts closer to me for a better look at it.

"Makes it pretty real, huh?" I manage. I always knew that someday we'd share moments like this with each other, but I always imagined us settled and being, oh I don't know...adults.

She takes the image from my hand, and I point out what each part is to the best of my ability. It looked like Greek to me when the doctor first pulled the ultrasound, but I do my best to remember how she mapped it out for me.

"It's so tiny," she says quietly, her voice cracking as she blots away a tear. "I was mad at you," she adds, and I don't attempt to stop myself from laughing at her admission.

I have my friend back.

"I would've been too. I've been awful. Partly because I've been puking my brains out," I admit, cringing. "But mostly because I'm scared out of my mind. I'm just so sorry."

"Stop apologizing. I already told you, I just wish I could've known sooner... I would've handled things differently," she asserts, and I know she means it. Colby's heart is golden, and I'm certain she's been conflicted in her frustration with me, maybe even blaming herself for my hostility. "And despite Lana's conviction, I know that Wyatt's not the daddy." She rolls her eyes and I scoff.

"I should've owned that there was something going on with Cole any of the hundred times you asked, but I didn't want to admit it to myself," I confess. "I'm such an idiot."

The full scope of my idiocy with the boy that I love smacks me squarely in the face. I could have saved us so much trouble—all of us—but instead, we're here in this big shit pile I made for us to trudge through.

"Stop," Colby pleads to no avail.

I did all of this, though. It's time to own it.

"He even asked if we could be together, and I told him no. That's when he started chasing after you," I mutter, the words forcing their way out like bile.

"You haven't told him yet?"

"Wyatt already told me that I have to. Like, right away," I say in my best Wyatt impression. "I will. It's not right to keep it from him."

"The time's never gonna feel right," she urges, and she's right. "Wyatt can take the heat 'til you're ready to talk to Cole, but you'd better make it quick because this news is gonna spread like wildfire."

She's right, and don't I know it...

...

I always felt like Wednesdays got a bad rap from people. Humpday they call it. I've always liked school, and I've never really been one to long for the weekend, but today, Wednesday is my own version of Dante's Inferno.

I've decided that I won't let the gossip rule me, but this is not my idea of a good time. Walking through the senior locker bay, whispers follow me with every step. People snicker and point as I pass, acting as if I can't hear or see them in all their superior glory.

Whatever.

A few months from now, I won't see most of these people ever again, and when I do they'll have gained their freshman fifteen or thirty pounds. We'll see how high and mighty they are then. I'll get the last laugh, being the milf of all my pimple-faced compatriot's dreams. Only I'll be all Cole's.

If he'll have me, I suppose...

Maybe it's stupid, but the truth is the rumors wouldn't really bother me if these morons had their facts straight. I wouldn't be half as irritated if they were spreading the real story around. Their scandalous mouths are gonna do a lot of damage.

I spot Cole leaning against his locker, books in hand with three desperate juniors surrounding him. He spares a glance in my direction, and instead of that smirk that makes me weak in the knees, he's ice cold.

Damn.

The rumors have nothing to do with him, sure, but he doesn't deserve the hell I know he's going through. I've gotta make things right, and soon.