"Ava?" I slowly open my eyes and shift, my neck hurting badly because I have fallen asleep in my seat. I rub my skin and turn my head to look at Ms Lewis. "Is this your house?"

I groan, squaring my shoulders slightly, looking out of the window. The corners of my mouth lift, a very familiar feeling forms in my chest. I'm home. I will be alright. My dad always knows what to say to me, and he will know what to do. He will help me to figure it out.

"Well, based on a toothy smile on your face, this is your house." I glance sideways at Ms Lewis and nod.

"Yeah, it's my home." I unbuckle my seatbelt and put my hand on the door to open it. "Thank you so much Ms Lewis."

"Penelope." She says and I pinch my eyebrows together. "My name is Penelope. You can call me that... when we're not in the library, of course."

"Of course." I guffaw, opening the door and climbing out of the car. Penelope does the same and helps me to collect my stuff from her car. "Won't you be in trouble? Students often come to the library-"

"I called my friend, Lena, when you fell asleep. Everything is okay. I will start work as soon as I go back." Ms Lewis says as I take a step back, intending to say goodbye. Suddenly her eyes go wide as she gawks at something behind me. "Is that your father?"

I look over my shoulder, seeing Dad strolling in our direction. My whole body warms up with tenderness just from the sight of him. He's my rock, through thick and thin. My dad is my everything. "Yeah, that's my dad."

"Ava..." She mumbles, as her cheeks fire up. Oh my freaking God! This is so adorable, so I even forget about my own problems for a moment. My father is a fucking dilf, and I think my nice librarian is crushing on him hard... just because of his looks. Damn, what would happen if she knew what a gem he is? This is gold, and I'm grinning like an idiot. "I didn't-"

"I know how my dad looks, Penelope. I'm not judging." I shrug and turn around to face him, still leaning into her ear. "And he's single."

I hear her suck in a breath, and I can barely hold myself from laughing out loud. All the shit that has happened to me is worth it just for this situation. I'm being honest.

"Hey kid. I didn't expect you home so early. Don't you have classes?" Dad's eyes are on me, and I know he's not angry. Just surprised and probably curious.

"Something came up... I decided to skip." I shrug my shoulders, extending my huge backpack to him. "I have perfect grades. One day won't change that."

"I have no doubt." He cracks a smile and then shifts his gaze to Ms Lewis. "Thank you for giving my daughter a ride. I'm Dax."

"It's very nice to meet you, Dax." She stutters, becoming even more flushed than she already is. Ugh, Ma'am. You're such a good-looking, kind and smart woman. My dad is not a freaking superstar with a big ego, just talk to him!

"Dad, this is Ms Lewis. She works at the library." I decide to take the initiative into my own hands, noticing as Dad checks her out. "You can call her Penelope. She's incredible."

With that, I leave them and head in the direction of the house. The only thing I want right now is to go to my room, take Smokey with me and sleep. I'm drained and considering the talk I will need to have with Dad... I really need to recharge my batteries.

🏒✨🏒✨🏒

"So..." Dad trails off, sitting on my bed a few hours later. He let me sleep, without trying to wake me up for answers. He knows me damn well, so he's aware I always need time to gather my thoughts if something is bothering me. "What happened? You had plans to come home, but I didn't think it would be until tomorrow morning."

"What do you think about Ms Lewis? She's cute, isn't she?" I wink at him, and Dad shakes his head with a smile.

"She's cute, yes. What is more, she helped you when she felt that you needed it. Even if she wasn't obligated to do that. We exchanged numbers, and I promised to invite her to dinner. As a thank you."

"Definitely as a thank you." I tell him with a meaningful look on my face, and he hits me with my pillow. "Dad!"

"Stop making fun of me." He narrows his eyes, trying to look stricter. "Start talking. What happened?"

I pull my legs to my chest, wrapping my arms around them and putting my chin on my knees. I sigh and lower my eyes to my blanket. Fuck it! I have a problem and I need someone to talk to about it. Dad is the best person for this. "I'm pregnant."

"Um, Ava, if you want me to hear you, please stop talking to your legs." I sigh and peel my eyes to my father's face.

"I'm pregnant."

His expression doesn't change, as he continues to look at me calmly. I hold his gaze, chewing on my inner cheek. I want some reaction. Anything. Total silence is the worst. "Did you take a test?"

"Three. They all were positive."

"Did you go to see the doctor?" I shake my head no, hugging myself tighter. "Well, we need to go to the doctor, kid. Sometimes those tests could be a false-positive."

"Okay." I nod my head, swallowing a lump in my throat. I honestly cried so much yesterday that today it feels as if I don't have even a single tear to shed.

"I'll call Andrea. She might be able to help."

"Ew, Dad! She's your ex! I don't want her to look at my lady parts." I probably look like a little bird with my feathers ruffled, but I don't honestly care anymore.

"She's my ex, but she's also a great doctor and a real pro. I don't know anyone better than her in our town." He taps on my nose, laughing wholeheartedly. He's so calm and collected, and it flows to me too, slipping under my skin and cooling my nerves. "I'll make a call, while you get dressed."

Dad stands up from my bed and ambles to the door, turning around and boring his gaze to my face. I grab Smokey as if he's my shield, because I instantly know what my father is going to ask... and I'm not fucking ready for that conversation. "Have you talked to Colton about it?"

I purse my lips tighter, sliding down on my back and hiding under the blanket. "I have no idea who you're talking about."

"Ava." Dad warns, but I stay hidden. Please, Dad, if you want us to go to the doctor, don't ask me anything about him. He isn't worthy of my worries and tears. He's no one. "Get dressed."

With that, he closes the door behind him and the only sound I hear is my cat purring, cuddling close to my belly. I dig my fingers in his fur, shutting my eyes closed. Seeing the doctor is the only thing I should focus on.

🏒✨🏒✨🏒

Layla and I are in my room, watching Frozen 2 together. She's lying on her belly, while I sit with my back pressed to my headboard. My best friend has stayed with me since the moment she walked into my house around 10pm on Friday, and it is already lunch time on Saturday. She refuses to leave, treating me as if I'm a fucking crystal vessel for holy water, I'm just pregnant. Yup, five weeks along... all narrows down to the only time I let him fuck me bare. Hooray! Ava Mason is the biggest twat on Earth.

"Do you want something to eat?" Layla catches my gaze over her shoulder, and I shake my head. We ate an hour ago, and I'm really full. "What about some water?"

"Apple juice." I tell her and she hops off my bed. "You're the best."

"It's the least I can do to support you." My best friend edges to the door and leaves my room.

I turn the volume up and try focusing on the screen. It's hard and not really working. My mind keeps racing in circles, hoping to find a solution to my situation. With no luck. There are only two options, and I'm not sure what I should do. At all.

All of a sudden, the door of my room opens and Layla bursts inside. "The fucking moron is here."

"What?" My heartbeat accelerates, and my palms start sweating. I don't want to see him, and truthfully I don't understand why my dad is bothering to talk to him. I told him everything that happened once we returned home from the doctor, and he said he understood my actions. Then why?

"Thompson is downstairs, talking to your dad."

"I don't care." I shrug, lifting my shoulder and playing it cool, right until I hear a knock on my door and his voice.

"Can I come in?" He sounds quiet, while a million different emotions swim around me. The biggest one... is anger.

Layla rakes her gaze over my face, expecting my decision. I can't hide from him forever, that's for sure... so why not deal with this shit once and for all? I can always cry later. "Can you please wait downstairs?" I whisper and my best friend nods, stepping close and hugging me tightly.

"Stay strong, babe." She kisses my cheek, steps back and opens the door. She strides past him, bumping into his shoulder on her way and hissing something under her breath. My best friend is the best, for real.

Thompson saunters inside my room and closes the door behind him. I focus my attention on the wall, refusing to even look at him. Yet, it's impossible. I don't really need eyes to feel him... his presence in my room makes it incredibly small at once. I feel him move, even if I keep my gaze glued on anything but him.

"I wasn't able to contact you... and thought coming to your house would be the best shot I have."

"A very wrong thought. I don't want to see you. I don't want to talk to you. And I don't want to hear you."

"Ava, I'm sorry. I know I let you down-"

"You know nothing, Colton!" Aaaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd, it fucking begins! My stress level is through the roof, and holding myself back is definitely not what I have in mind. I jump to my feet, meeting his gaze and seething. "I thought my life was falling apart, when I saw the tests' results. I spent almost two fucking hours, crying on my bed in the dorm! Two fucking hours I was pitying my own existence, and giving myself a chance to get my shit together. Then I thought... Colt and I are in this together. We will figure it out. We will talk and we will make a decision about what to do."

"We will figure it out." He blurts, words rush to come out of his mouth. "I just got back from San Jose, I signed the contract-"

"I don't fucking care!" I shriek, bursting out with tears. "When Jordan told me you know about my pregnancy, I was ready to fucking kill her. It was my secret and I wanted to tell you myself. She ruined it for me, stealing that moment away from me. No matter what, I still went to your place. I hoped to talk to you... so we could figure out our decision together. I was so blinded with my fury I didn't even realize until I was already in your apartment... My boyfriend knew I was pregnant, and he did nothing. Nothing! He didn't call me. He didn't send me a message. He fucking left me alone when I was at my fucking lowest! I'm eighteen. I'm a freshman with no future... and you fucking left me when I needed you!"

"Ava, Thursday was crazy. I went to see my dad right before my flight, then I went to the airport and landed at San Jose around 1am on Friday already. I talked things through with my agent for a few hours, and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow in my room. Friday wasn't any better... negotiations, signing the contract, dinner and then another flight... I tried calling you when I was home, but-"

"When did you know about the contract signing?" I cut him off, only one question basically burning on the tip of my tongue.

"On Monday evening."

"And you couldn't find a single moment to let me know?" My voice trembles as my tears are suffocating me.

"You were so excited about your news, about your hobby and I didn't want to ruin the moment for you. I was going to tell you before, but things were hectic... we haven't spent more than 20 minutes together since Tuesday-"

"Go away." I mutter, staring him right in the eyes. He's a traitor. He betrayed my trust, and I don't want to see him. I will figure out everything myself.

"Ava, please-"

"Go the fuck away!"

"Babe, please, this isn't us. Let's talk-"

"There is no fucking us, Colton. You left me when I needed you the most. You left me when I fucking realized that my life would never be the same, regardless of my decision. You left me when I was at my fucking lowest... You disappeared like a fucking coward! So please do me a fucking favor, and see yourself out."

"I wanted to secure my future, so I could take care of you! Of our baby! I wanted to be prepared to give you the life you deserve!"

"You took my life away." I hiss, wiping away my angry tears. My tears are full of disappointment. My sad tears. I'm struggling for breath, tears blurring my vision and my heart breaking into a thousand pieces. "I hate you, Colton. I would give up everything in the world if I could just erase you from my memory... You're no one."

He clenches his jaw hard, his deep brown eyes are stormy, as a night cloud when it's close to a downpour. He's the guy I thought I had a future with, but I can't even look at him anymore.

"Go the fuck away." I whisper and he nods. He twirls around, opens the door wide and takes a step further, glancing at me over his shoulder.

"I don't care what you say, Ava. You're mine. And you will give birth to our child, proudly flashing a ring on your finger so the whole fucking world... so every single person on this planet will know you're Colton Thompson's wife."

The sound of the door slamming is the only one I'm able to register. I'm too stunned to speak... and I'm too exhausted. I lower myself down on my bed, pull the blanket over my head and close my eyes. Layla joins me a few minutes later, not saying a word, not asking a question. She just wraps herself around me and holds me close. Exactly what I need right now. Nothing else.