Chapter3
My chest tightened. I knew exactly who she meant, but the last thing I wanted was this conversation.
“I don’t even know where to start, Leila,” I admitted quietly. “We didn’t exchange numbers. I don’t even know his last name.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re telling me you had a one–night stand and didn’t get his number?”
I winced. “It was… a complicated night.”
Leila grabbed her coat, determination blazing in her eyes. “Alright, we’re going to the hotel. We’ll find him.”
I shook my head. “He doesn’t live there. He
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said he was staying for a week–just passing through.”
She froze, then snapped her fingers. “The bar. Someone there might know him.”
“Leila, this is ridiculous,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
“What’s ridiculous,” she shot back, “is your acting like this isn’t a big deal. You’re having his baby.”
“I know that!” I snapped, my voice cracking. “You think I’m not scared out of my mind? I don’t even know where to start!”
Leila softened, stepping closer. “Then let me help. But you can’t shut down on me, okay?”
I nodded weakly, barely able to meet her
eyes.
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Then she frowned, a new thought dawning. “Wait. What’s his name?”
I froze.
“Don’t tell me…” Her eyes widened. “You don’t know his name.”
I swallowed hard.
“Are you serious?” she hissed. “You don’t even know the name of the guy whose kid you’re carrying?”
“It was one night!” I shot back. “I didn’t think
“Clearly,” she interrupted, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Okay. No judgment. But we’re finding him. Name or no name.”
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“And if we don’t?” I whispered.
Her expression softened, but her tone stayed firm. “Then we’ll deal with it. Together.”
“W–What?” I stammered, staring at Leila in disbelief. “You found him?”
She grinned, leaning against the doorframe like she’d won the lottery. “Found your baby daddy. You’re welcome.”
My chest tightened. “How?”
She smirked. “Went back to the bar. Bartender remembered him–apparently, he’s
a regular”
I blinked, heart racing. “You just… asked?”
Leila shrugged, but her smugness was impossible to miss. “I might’ve flirted a little.
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Maybe bought him a round. Details don’t matter.”
I crossed my arms. “Leila…”
“Relax!” she interrupted, pulling a napkin from her pocket. “Look.”
I stared at the name scribbled on it: Mark Adonis. Below it, a phone number. My hands trembled as I took it.
“Call him,” Leila said firmly.
“Now?” My voice wavered, every instinct screaming to delay.
“Yes, now,” she snapped, her gaze sharp. “He deserves to know. And so do you.”
I gripped the napkin, my pulse roaring in my ears. There was no running from this
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anymore.
I felt my breath quicken as I unlocked my phone, staring at the keypad. This was it. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number.
The phone rang. Once. Twice. I swore I could hear my own pulse in my ears. By the fifth ring, I could feel the cold sweat gathering on the back of my neck. This was the moment.
Seven. Eight. The line cut to voicemail.
“It’s gone to voicemail,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. A strange relief washed over
- me.
Leila shot up from the bed. “Leave a message! Now!”
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I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the button to end the call. But Leila’s frantic gestures pushed me forward. I put the phone back to my ear, the beep almost echoing in the silence.
“Uh, hi,” I stuttered, my throat dry. “It’s Elena… we met a few months ago at the bar.”
Leila glared at me, silently urging me to keep going.
“I–I need to talk to you about something. It’s important. Please call me back.” I rushed the last words out, my voice shaking.
“Shit! What do I do?” I hissed, waving my phone in front of Leila. “What does this mean?”
Leila’s eyes widened in shock, and she grabbed the phone from my hand, accepting
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the call before I could blink. She slammed the phone on speaker, leaning in close. “Talk” she hissed under her breath.
My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I stared at the screen. What the hell was I ⚫ supposed to say?
“Hello?” A deep, gravelly voice answered after a few seconds of agonizing silence.
I froze, looking at Leila, who was now gesturing wildly for me to speak. I couldn’t find my words.
“Hello?” His voice grew impatient.
8
