Stay with Me: A Second Chance Accidental Pregnancy Romance

by Lea Coll

  “Okay,” I said, drawing out the word.

  “Scoot over,” Wyatt said to me as I moved over to allow him to sit next to me in the booth.

  When he sat, the cushion dipped with his weight and his legs were spread so the entire length of his muscled thigh rested against mine, causing my breath to catch, before he pulled his leg away.

  “We want a joint party and we’d like you two to plan it together,” Jack said, looking back and forth between us.

  I felt my teeth clench. I didn’t have a choice. I wanted to be there for my brother and I owed him for how he’d quit his job last year to help out Dad so I didn’t have to.

  “We want to go Baltimore for the weekend—ballgame, fancy dinner, night on the town, hotel rooms, brunch the next morning, the whole thing. You lived in the city for years, so you can help Wyatt,” Samantha said.

  “I want to make sure Jack’s bachelor party is fun, so looks like you’re stuck with me,” Wyatt said quietly, his blue eyes on mine. I was stuck between the window and Wyatt and I felt like all of the air had been sucked out of the room.

  “That’s kind of why we invited both of you here this morning. I don’t know what happened between you two, but it was—”

  “Hella awkward last night,” Jack added.

  “Yeah, things were super tense between you two,” Samantha said.

  I waved them off. “It’s no big deal. We dated a little in high school and broke up when I went to college. There’s no big story there.” I shrugged. “Typical teenage stuff.” Then I bumped shoulders with his, the touch causing a tingle to run down my arm. “Right, Wyatt?” I managed to squeak out.

  Wyatt cleared his throat opening up a menu. “That’s right. It was a clean break.”

  Jack raised his brow but didn’t press any further.

  I’d broken it off with him. Why did him calling it a ‘clean break’ irritate me? I needed to avoid Wyatt, plan this wedding, find a new job, and go back to my life in the city.

  Samantha and Jack updated us on their plans for the wedding and the family drama surrounding it, thanks to her mother.

  When we’d finished eating, I leaned back in the booth with a hand over my stomach. I felt so bloated and tired from the greasy fried egg sandwich and cheesy hash browns I’d eaten.

  “Lucy? Is that you?”

  It was only my second day in town, and I was confronted by another person I’d distanced myself from. My childhood best friend, Kristen Cook, hovered at the end of our table, eyes wide as she took me in. “I’d heard you were home but didn’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve seen you since—”

  “Since I left for college,” I said quietly, leaning forward and placing my elbows on the table so I could see her better. I hadn’t made the effort to keep in touch with Kristen over the years. I could see the hurt I’d caused in Kristen’s eyes and I felt terrible.

  “What are you doing home? Is it just a quick visit?” Kristen asked.

  “I’m in between jobs at the moment so I agreed to help these two plan their wedding.” I gestured across the table at Samantha and Jack.

  “Oh, that’s nice. You’ll be home all summer then?” Kristen asked.

  “I’m not sure, honestly. I’m planning to get a job and move back to the city, so we’ll see.”

  She nodded. “Well, it’s nice to see you, I guess.”

  I tried not to be offended by her use of the phrase I guess. I deserved whatever she had to throw at me.

  “Maybe I’ll see you around,” Kristen said.

  I should have kept in touch with Kristen. She’d reached out to me over the years and I responded at first, but at some point my responses were slower to come and fewer in number until she’d stopped trying. “Yeah, maybe we could get together and catch up sometime?”

  She must have seen the sincerity on my face. “Sure. I’d like that.” With a small smile, she said, “Bye,” and joined her family in another booth. Before I dated Wyatt, I spent most of my time with her family. We’d grown up together.

  “You didn’t keep in touch with Kristen? Your best friend in high school?” Wyatt asked and I could hear the lightly layered disgust in his words.

  Annoyed now, I said, “It wasn’t like that. We drifted apart. You know how it is you get busy with work and school.”

  I saw the hurt in Wyatt’s eyes before he looked away and I sensed Samantha shift uncomfortably.

  “I guess everyone’s disposable to you, huh?” Wyatt stood abruptly pulling a few bills out of his wallet and throwing them on the table. “I’ll see you guys.” He nodded at Jack and Samantha.

  My stomach dropped as I watched Wyatt walk away. Pain filled my chest at the idea that Wyatt thought less of me. Growing up, his opinion and support had always meant the most.

  “This was such a bad idea,” Samantha said, watching Wyatt stalk out of the diner.

  “It’ll be fine,” I said, but I knew it wouldn’t be. Wyatt was still as angry as he was the night we broke up. I didn’t see him getting over it anytime soon. It was going to be an awkward few months at home if I had to work with him.

  “Excuse me,” Samantha said, waiting for Jack to slide out of the booth.

  Jack waited until the door to the bathroom shut behind Samantha. “What the fuck happened between you two?”

  “Nothing.” I chewed my lip, watching out the window as Wyatt approached a white Jeep Wrangler with no doors or top. A moment later he got in and pulled out of the lot.

  “That didn’t look like nothing,” Jack said. And when I didn’t answer, he continued, “I know it’s none of my business, but I work with Wyatt now. We’re friends.”

  I felt his unspoken words: You’re going to leave but I’ll still be friends with Wyatt.

  “I do not want to be in the middle of whatever that was,” Jack said, giving me a pointed look.

  “It won’t be a problem.”

  “Make sure it’s not. The whole point of asking you to be our wedding planner was to reduce Samantha’s stress. If Wyatt and you working together is going to be an issue—”

  “It won’t be, I promise. I want to help you guys, not cause more stress.” But it was definitely going to be an issue for me. Wyatt held on to so much anger for what happened, and I couldn’t blame him. I handled it badly back then, but we were young. “I’ll talk to him and smooth things over.”

  When Samantha returned, Jack stood to allow her back into the booth. With his eyes trained on mine, he said, “See that you do.”

  Lucy

  That afternoon I sat on my parents’ porch trying to figure out the best way to talk to Wyatt. It was best to meet with him in person so that nothing could be misconstrued over text or phone. He’d see that I was sincere in my regret over what happened and my desire to move forward. We used to spend time at the drive-in movie theater, the old swimming hole, the marina, or in the bed of his truck staring at the stars, which inevitably led to fooling around. No, our old hang-out spots in high school brought back memories I didn’t want to think about.

  A neutral location would be best—a coffee date? If brunch was any indication, being near each other for a long period of time would be a problem.

  I pulled up my phone, scrolling through my contacts, hoping his number was still the same. I typed: Sorry about this morning. Can we meet up to clear the air?

  Wyatt: A little late for that don’t you think?

  My fingers hovered over my screen. I know it’s too late for us, but we need to get along for Jack and Samantha’s sake.

  It took a little longer for him to respond this time, so I prompted: Just coffee. Short and sweet. No pressure.

  Wyatt: Fine, but meet me at my cabin.

  I chewed my lip at his answer. His cabin was not a neutral location. It was where he lived, his personal space—it would be intimate. I wanted to be able to walk away if it got too heated, but I also wanted to prove to him and myself that he didn’t affect me anymore. What better way than to go to his home?

  Wyattr />
  I waited in my rocking chair on the porch of my grandfather’s cabin staring over the Chester River and the small dock, which led to my boat. I was proud of the home and my boat but what would Lucy think? Would she think it was beneath her? Not fancy enough? Why did I still want to impress Lucy?

  I’d reacted strongly to her presence at the engagement party and in the small booth at brunch. How was I going to be near her in my home? How could I resist her? I’d keep our conversation focused on Samantha and Jack’s wedding. There was no need to talk about the past. There was no way I wanted her to know how her leaving devastated me.

  I heard Lucy’s car crunch over the gravel of my driveway before it came to a stop.

  “I’m on the porch,” I called out when I heard the slap of flip-flops on the paver stones leading from the driveway to my side door. Lucy stepped onto my porch in an olive green tank and cut-off shorts.

  “Wow, Wyatt. This is amazing.” She stepped up to the railing, the wind blowing her long dark hair.

  “It’s my grandfather’s cabin. We used to rent it out after he died, but I wanted to live here.” My voice was gruff and tight. I never thought Lucy Perry would be standing on my porch. Instead of the stylish outfit she wore to the engagement party and brunch, this was the Lucy I’d known in high school—casual, carefree, and natural.

  She sat in the matching rocking chair next to me, only a small table separating us. “I don’t blame you. I’d live here too if I could.”

  My muscles tightened. What was she talking about? She’d always talked about moving away and living in the city—how much more exciting it would be than living in this small town. I tilted my head toward the water. “I thought you wanted nothing to do with this place.”

  “In high school I wanted out. I wanted something more—something else. In the city—”

  “Did you find what you wanted?” I hadn’t wanted to talk about our past, but it was inevitable.

  Lucy’s smile was sad and wistful. “I did. I worked in a boutique graphic design firm. It was a big deal to be hired so soon after I graduated. I felt important. It was what I always wanted, but it was more than the job. We threw extravagant parties. I dressed in trendy clothes and went out on the town with my co-workers. I partied as hard as I worked. It was fun and exciting.”

  As she talked, her eyes brightened and her body shifted with excitement. She didn’t want to be here. She was only here by circumstance and I had to remember that. No matter how amazing it felt to have her here next to me on my porch, she didn’t want this. She’d always wanted something better and bigger. Something I couldn’t offer her. I shifted forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

  “I felt like someone who mattered,” she said quietly.

  My heart clenched. I knew her parents arguing affected her deeply when we were together, but I had no idea how much. “You mattered to me.”

  I hadn’t intended for this conversation to be heavy, but something in her openness and her vulnerability cracked the walls I’d surrounded myself with since she’d left.

  “You were important to me too. That was never the issue or the problem.” Her eyes were filled with pain.

  “Then why did you—?” I stood abruptly. I’d told myself I wouldn’t discuss our relationship. I wouldn’t let her know she still affected me. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over and done with. I told you if you walked away, we were done.”

  She looked up at me from her seated position, her face pensive. “I’m not here to discuss that.”

  I leaned back on the railing facing Lucy with my arms crossed over my chest as I waited for her to get to the point.

  “I want to find a way to put this behind us for Jack and Samantha. Can we be friends?” Her brown eyes were soft and pleading.

  I sighed loudly looking out over the water. I could never deny her anything, not when she looked at me like that. “You’re not here for long anyway, right?”

  A flash of pain crossed her face. “Right. I’m only here long enough to save some money and find a new job in the city.”

  She stood, which brought her body close enough that I could smell lilacs. Her scent and her casual outfit reminded me of the hours upon hours we’d spent together as kids talking about everything and nothing. It was so easy back then. “You know, dressed like that, you look like the Lucy I used to know.”

  Her gaze held mine. “I’m still that Lucy.”

  “Are you?” I wasn’t so sure. Yeah, she still wanted more out of life—more than our hometown had to offer, but was she the same deep down? Did she take care of those closest to her? Or was she too wrapped up in the status of her job and success?

  “I was living my dream, Wyatt.”

  The muscles in my face relaxed. No matter how I felt about her, I wanted her to be happy. “I’m glad things worked out for you.”

  “They didn’t, or I wouldn’t be here.” Her voice was harsh but then softened as she continued speaking. “But you’re doing great. You live here.” She gestured at the water which lapped at his deck in the early evening light.

  I’d strung lights along the deck railing and they started to light as the sun faded from the

  sky, making the moment more intimate.

  “I saw your work truck in the driveway. You work for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.”

  I nodded.

  “That’s awesome. You’re doing exactly what you always wanted to do.” There was no trace of bitterness in her voice like when we’d discussed our dreams in high school.

  Back then, I knew I wanted to stay here, which drove her crazy. I went to college locally because of Washington College’s river and field program. I’d always wanted to be an officer with the DNR and the degree was necessary if I wanted to be promoted. My immediate supervisor, Jason Agnew, was recently promoted to sergeant leaving his position open. The opportunity I’d wanted for years was finally within my grasp.

  “Right now I’m an Officer First Class, which means I patrol and respond to calls on ground and water but I’m really interested in management. I applied for a corporal position where I’d supervise other officers in the entire district of Kent County. My goal is to move up to sergeant, where I’d be responsible for supervising an entire area, the Upper Eastern Shore.” I got the old familiar rush I used to get whenever I’d go to Lucy with good news.

  “I hope you get it.” Her tone was appropriately encouraging but a flicker of sadness flashed across her face before she quickly masked it.

  “The decision is based on our performance evaluations and a test.”

  “You’re a hard worker so I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.” She rested a hand on my arm. “Good luck on your test.”

  “Thank you.” I’d missed having someone to talk to about my dreams and goals.

  Lucy was quiet for a few moments before she changed the subject. “How’s your family? How’s Sutton?”

  There was nothing but genuine interest and amusement in her face. My twin sister, Sutton, was a little wild in high school and Lucy knew how it drove me crazy. I worried about her constantly. “They’re good. My parents still live in the same house. Sutton is a marine biologist and works at the Baltimore Aquarium.”

  We’d shifted so I stood with one hip leaning against the railing facing her as she gripped the railing and leaned over to study the water.

  “You can literally fish from your porch.” She glanced up at me with excitement, but my eyes caught on her fingers because there was a tattoo of a crescent moon.

  “When did you get that?”

  Her smiled faded as she followed my gaze to her tattoo. “Oh, during college.”

  “Does it mean something to you?”

  She took in a breath as if she was deciding whether to tell me. “It does. I got it to remind me of that night on Assateague. You know, when we camped out on the beach under the stars?”

  I knew exactly what she was talking about. She’d just turned eighteen and I’d asked her parents’ permi
ssion to take her camping overnight. It was the first night we’d made love under the stars. I couldn’t take my eyes from the crescent moon on her finger—a reminder of the night I realized I was in love with her and I wanted forever with her.

  All of those feelings came rushing back with an intensity that made me sway on my feet. I tightened my grip on the railing and forced my eyes away from the tattoo. She’d gotten what had to be a painful tattoo in a visible location. Every time she looked at her finger she’d think of me. A tingle ran through my body from the top of my head and down my spine.

  “I thought—” I looked out over the water. “I thought you didn’t think of me—that you wanted nothing to do with me?”

  Lucy shook her head and looked away from me. “It wasn’t that simple.”

  An awkward silence filled the space between us. I’d never understood why she left but she’d tattooed the memory of us on her skin. That had to mean something. The idea that there was more to our break-up—something I’d missed took hold and wouldn’t let go.

  “I’m so proud of you, Wyatt. You got everything you wanted out of life.” She smiled, but it was wistful.

  “Not everything. I don’t want you to think you left me here pining for you.” I was quiet for a few seconds until I couldn’t resist and reached a hand out to brush her hair behind her ear, and her breath caught. “Maybe I did for a while, but then it was clear you weren’t coming back.”

  Lucy moved even closer so that we were a hair’s breadth away from each other and I lowered my face, her breath mingling with mine. I wanted to shift my hand to the back of her head, breaching the distance between us to find out if her lips were as soft as they looked. “Back then, I wanted you to stay—to choose me,” I whispered.

  Our lips were so close. If she pushed up on her toes slightly, we’d be touching. My fingers itched to pull her into my body, to feel her curves against me.

  “You didn’t chase after me.” The words flew out of her mouth and it was like cold water had been thrown over us. Her fingers touched her lips as if she couldn’t believe what she’d said.