When Love Hurts (12 page)

Malcolm gets out of the driver’s seat and waits outside the car. I open the door so Jessica can get out. As soon as she climbs over me, she wraps her arms around Malcolm, and they embrace. I close the door and get in the driver’s seat. I turned back to Malcolm. “Your place, right?”

He lets go of Jessica and gives her a peck. He nods yes to my question and walks in front to his car. Once Jessica gets in the passenger seat beside me, we trail Malcolm back to his place. We don’t say anything, but after five minutes of driving Angela calls.
 

“Where are you?” she asks, sounding more annoyed than worried.

“We found Jessica. I’ll be home in a little while, all right?” I say. She says okay and hangs up. We pull up to Malcolm’s house and follow him inside. I’m still holding Jessica’s hand as if she will run away again.

Just as we walk in Malcolm’s apartment, his phone rings. He smiles before he answers. “Yes, Mom, we got her. It’s all right,” he says. He says yes to a few other things while Jessica and I take a seat on the couch.

“Are you all right?” I ask, looking at her forehead.

Jessica nods. “Yes.”

“You feel okay?”

“Now.”

I stare at her. “I didn’t mean what I said, Jessica. I was just pissed and talking out of my ass. I wished you’d come to me when you needed help.”

I can tell she’s about to cry again, but just then Malcolm gets off the phone with Mom and sits on the other side of her. “Sorry I wasn’t here when you came. I was out of town going to this bachelor party for one of my homies down south. I had no idea you was in trouble or needed help, ’cause you know I got you.”

“I know you do. I know you guys are my family, and I know how much you love me. I just . . . feel so stupid.” She turns to me. “You were right about Chris, Jay. He hasn’t changed, and he never will. I just wanted him so bad that I started to believe it.” She sniffs. “I was trying to make a reality out of something fake.”

“You’re safe now, Jess. That’s all that matters,” I say, looking into her eyes. “I’m sorry about the ultimatum. Now that was stupid. I should’ve had your back no matter what happened.”

“It’s okay.” She shrugs and smiles. “I don’t want to talk about the should’ves and could’ves anymore.” She turns to Malcolm. “Can I stay here for a while?”

Malcolm looks hurt that she felt she had to ask, but I know Jess’s just trying to be polite and not assume anything. Malcolm nods. “Of course.”

“Thank you,” she mumbles.

“We can get you some more clothes tomorrow. A whole bunch of new stuff. What size shirt do you wear now?” I ask, teasing because I haven’t seen her in months.
 

She looks sad for a moment before whispering something I can’t hear at first. “What did you just say?” Malcolm shouts.

I’m still confused and look from Malcolm to her and back again. Jessica takes a deep breath. “I said maternity,” she says, avoiding my eyes. “Chris got me pregnant.”

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