I turn to see Aunt Willow leaning on the door frame.
“Do you need someone?” She takes a step closer to me.
I nod, unable to speak. Without a word, she folds herself on the tile, wrapping herself around me. This right here is Aunt Willow’s best gift. She’s the one who’s always there no matter what. She never asks questions, pries, or judges. She gives you time, and it’s exactly what I need.
“I’m pregnant,” I whisper as hot tears trail down my cheeks. “I’m pregnant.”
I’m not sure why I repeat it. Maybe it’s me convincing myself that I really am. Also, it’s the fact that Braxton has been doing a damn good job of ghosting me since I told him. I chalked it up to him being busy, but that’s just bullshit. I know that now, beyond a shadow of a doubt since being home. My family will be pissed and possibly hurt, but they’d never go silent on me, leaving me to go this alone and so far that’s the only thing he’s done.
“Okay, Annie.” She soothes her palm over my hair, controlling the mess. “How do you feel about it?”
“I don’t know. I’m scared, embarrassed, and numb if that makes any sense at all?”
“Yeah, it does.” She leans her cheek on my shoulder. “I get it. I’ve been there.”
I remain silent, with my forehead pressed into my arm resting on the toilet.
“You gotta talk about it, girl. You have so many people and if it’s too hard to talk to someone, you write it down. Express your fears and joys. This is your life and body. You have an army behind you. The thing is you just have to let us in and not shut us out.”
“Dad’s going to be pissed.” I sit up gently until I’m relaxing on the tub and Willow is facing me.
A slight smirk curves up one corner of her mouth. “That he will be. It’s just a fact, but he’ll get over it.”
Everything I’ve thought the last few weeks spills from my lips in a spatter of randomness. Willow keeps up with all of it.
“Braxton and I were great and now it’s like he’s fallen off the face of the earth.”
“How?”
I tell her how he’s been acting, for the most part going silent on me.
“He’s an athlete like you, right?”
I nod, feeling a jab of pain to my side, realizing once again everything that I’ve screwed up. My future. Scholarship. And the love of the game.
“It could be that he’s just processing all of…”
I interrupt her. “Or that he’s a massive asshole who’s going to run from all of this.” I wipe the tears away from my cheeks.
“That’s very possible as well.” She smiles wide and reaches over grabbing my hand. “You’re one hell of a force to reckon with, Annie. I’ve witnessed it for years and have no doubt whatever you put your mind to that you’ll conquer it, no problems. You’ve got this.”
“Annie.” Dad’s deep voice echoes into the bathroom.
Faster than a damn jackrabbit, Willow leaps to her feet, slams and locks the bathroom door. I caught the briefest second of my father’s face before the door shut.
“Jesus, Willow.” He pounds on the door. “Let me in.”
“No.”
“Yes!” he demands.
“No.”
“I’m going to kick your ass.”
“I’m not seven anymore.” She props her hand on her hip as if he was standing right before her. “Plus my husband could kick your ass blindfolded.”
“Just let me in,” he replies, ignoring her taunts.