28. Confusion

A slow rhythmic beeping pulls me from the darkness.

My eyelids heavy as I force them open. White light. Too bright. The ceiling blurry.

My body aches in ways I didn’t know were possible—dull throbs layered over sharper pains that flare whenever I try to move.

I groan softly as I feel something squeezing my hand. I look at it, and see a hand holding mine.

“Evi,” The voice makes me freeze. I turn my head slowly and there he is. Wes.
“How are you feeling?”

“What happened?” I ask, closing my eyes. My head feels like it’s going to explode. I reach for my temple, feeling the bandage they put on.

“You were in an accident, but you and the baby are fine.”

My mind spins, trying to catch up. The crash. The headlights. The sound of metal collapsing. And—wait what?

“Baby?” I whisper to myself. My hand instinctively grabbing my stomach.

“You’re four weeks pregnant.” He lets go of my hand, looking at me with a small smile. “Nick is on his way.” He says, his voice just as soft as I remember.

He stands up from the chair he had put next to my bed. He walks toward the door, turning to face me before he walks out.
“Congratulations, Uhm..” he nods, closing the door.


A few hours later Nick enters the hospital room.
“God Evi,” he sits down on the chair next to my bed. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“You okay?” he asks, searching my face.

I nod, a little hesitant. “It hurts… but I’m okay.”

His shoulders drop a little, but the worry doesn’t leave his eyes. He knows…

“I didn’t know.” I mumble, my voice shaky, tears forming in my eyes.

He nods, understandingly. “What are you doing here? Why did you come back?”

I shrug.
“Is Bill here to?”
I shake my head, wiping the tears from my cheeks. “No.”

“Did you have a fight?” I look at him.
“I broke up with him.”
Nick frowns. “You broke up with him? Why?”

I tell him everything. How L.A. didn’t feel like home. How Bill was never there. How because of that we had fight after fight… until the moment I left. Without telling him. Only leaving a ridiculously small note on the kitchen table.

“What do I do?” I ask, looking into my brother’s eyes. Hoping he has the answers.

He sighs, leaning closer, his elbows resting on the matras next to me. “You wanna keep the baby?”

Another tear rolls over my cheek. “I don’t know..” I say, confused, scared. I didn’t have time to process anything. I broke up with Bill and now… I’m pregnant?

He nods, grabbing my hand tightly. “Let’s just… go home.”



We step inside my house. It feels so much colder now. I thought being here would fix everything. That this place would still feel like home. But it does not.

I step inside the living room, and I startle as I see Bill sitting on the couch.
His eyes widen the second they land on me, roaming over the bruises on my face, the cuts along my arms.

He jumps up, taking two big steps toward me.
“Evi, what happened?” He asks concerned, panic in his eyes.

Nick stands between me and Bill, pressing his hand on Bills chest, pushing him back. “She’s fine, Bill.”

Bill takes a step back, trying to make eye contact with me. “Can we talk? Evi? Please.”

I lower my head, staring at a random spot on the floor, my hair hiding most of my face.

“She should rest.” Nick says, his voice stern.

I hate seeing Bill like this. The look in his eyes says it all. But I don’t have the energy for this right now. So instead of stepping in, I don’t say anything at all.

“Evi—“
“You should go, Bill.” Nick cuts him off.

I look at him from under my eye lashes, just for a split second. I can’t look at him for any longer.

He stands there for a moment longer, before he walks right past me. I inhale, as if I was holding my breath for way too long.

“I was serious,” Nick says. “You should rest. Doctor’s orders.”

I nod. “Would you mind calling Brenda? I want her here.”

“Of course.” He says, pressing a kiss on my forehead.