Chapter 44

The second decision proved even harder.

Fred.

Just thinking his name made Poppi’s stomach tighten.

She loved her stepfather.

He had raised her.

Protected her.

Believed in her when she hadn’t always believed in herself.

He had been there for every birthday, every school event, every heartbreak. He had taught her how to drive, sat beside her when she cried, and never once made her feel like she was anything less than his daughter.

And now she had to tell him the one thing that might completely destroy the life he thought they were all living.

She was pregnant.

With Madden’s baby.

Her hands trembled as she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the test sitting on the nightstand.

She had looked at it so many times that morning that the two lines almost didn’t feel real anymore.

Almost.

She placed a hand over her stomach.

There was nothing to feel yet.

No movement.

No bump.

Nothing that should have made this feel real.

And yet, somehow, everything had changed.

Madden was leaving for Maryland.

Tomorrow.

The thought made her chest ache.

Maryland meant distance.

Time.

A new life.

And Poppi couldn’t let him leave without knowing.

She couldn’t let him board a plane thinking their biggest problem was figuring out how to stay away from each other.

This was bigger than that.

There was a baby now.

Their baby.

She wiped at the tears gathering beneath her eyes.

She knew she couldn’t tell Fred first.

Not because she wanted to hide it from him.

But because Fred’s anger would explode before he had a chance to hear anything else.

Valyn had to know.

Her mother would be furious.

Terrified.

Heartbroken.

But Valyn was also the only person who might be able to keep Fred from making a decision out of anger.

Poppi needed her mother standing beside her.

Not in front of her.

Beside her.

Together.

United.

Then…

They would tell Fred.

No more secrets.

No more lies.

No more pretending.

But before any of that—

Madden needed to know.

The next morning arrived far too quickly.

Suitcases sat by the front door.

Madden’s duffel bag was already packed, his Maryland hoodie folded over the top.

Fred stood outside by the truck, talking about the drive while Madden loaded the last of his things into the back.

Madden laughed at something Fred said.

It was a normal laugh.

The kind that made Poppi’s heart hurt.

To anyone watching, he looked like a college student headed back to school.

Excited.

Ready.

Only Poppi noticed the exhaustion behind his smile.

Only Poppi knew he’d barely looked at her all week because looking at her hurt too much.

Every time their eyes met, something passed between them.

Something neither of them was brave enough to name.

Poppi stepped onto the porch.

“Madden?”

He froze.

He slowly turned around.

His eyes found hers.

“Yeah?”

She swallowed.

“Can we… talk?”

Something changed in his expression immediately.

He glanced toward Fred.

Then back at her.

“Yeah.”

He walked toward her without hesitation.

Poppi stepped off the porch and started toward the side of the house.

Madden followed.

Neither of them noticed Valyn watching from the kitchen window.

Her heart sank.

She knew that look.

She had seen it before.

And she knew exactly what Poppi was risking.

Madden stopped beside the garage.