“Ana, Ana, is this true? Are you really pregnant with Riker Lord’s child?” one journalist asks.
No.
“Yes, it’s true,” Ana says as she wipes tears from her eyes.
No.
“Wait, it doesn’t add up!” another journalist claims. “Didn’t you and Riker break up two years ago?”
“We did,” Ana says in a shaky voice, her hands are still around her stomach. “But we met again two months ago in L.A. for a meeting and…and now he’s with some other woman…and I….” Ana covers her face as she starts sobbing, and a couple of journalists pat her shoulder in assurance.
No. No. No.
I sit there wide-eyed, at a loss for words. I feel pinned to the bed, unable to move and unable to catch my breath.
What the fuck? What the actual fuck? This isn’t true. It can’t be. It can’t.
I face the door that Riker disappeared into, I’m just waiting for him to come out, but he doesn’t. I know there’s something bogus about this, but I can’t stop shaking right now. I can’t stop thinking about this. I turn off the TV. I can’t stand looking at Ana’s crying face. I can’t stand watching as journalists comfort this person who claims to be pregnant with Riker’s child. Riker’s. There’s no god damn way that this is true. However, something in my stomach says otherwise.
I feel sick and have the urge to run in the bathroom to throw up. I just sit here, though. I’m confined to the couch that lost its comfort. Lost its warmth. Suddenly it feels cold, extremely cold. And that sickening feeling is replaced with this emptiness I can’t describe. I stare at the blank television screen, fearing that it will magically turn back on and Ana’s crying face will show up.
I can only see my face in the TV screen. My face is blank, I can’t let out any tears somehow no matter how much I try. My face is blank, there are no tears like Ana’s. Her face had so much despair. I don’t ever recall seeing so much despair on someone’s face.
I face the door that Riker walked in. I can’t let this go, I need to confront him about this. Even though I still think there’s something odd about this, I grow suspicious. Ana’s face can’t leave my head, and it won’t until I confront him. I needed to know if it’s true, if Ana really is carrying their child. I needed to know. I needed to know now. God, I’m hurting so much now…and what about Nia? She’ll be hurt too. I can’t stand her being hurt. I can’t. I can’t.
30 Riker
I glance into the mirror as I carefully shave unwanted hair off my chin. The cream is smooth against my face, and the razor passes through with ease. While I shave, I think about what’s on our agenda for today. Jane got us breakfast, so there’s that, maybe afterward we can do some more shopping…or some more fucking, whatever works for her and I. Though I’m leaning more to the fucking.
As I finish up, the bedroom door slams open and I jump from the noise. The razor slices through my skin, leaving a cut at the edge of my chin. I cringe at the pain and quickly clean it off with cool water. What the fuck was that? When I dry off, I rush out of the bathroom to come face to face with Jane.
I hold my breath, Jane’s eyes are hardened and locked onto mine, bearing an expression I’ve never seen before. Her face is contorted with a mixture of rage and disappointment, my heart drops seeing her like this. What the hell happened? I open my mouth to speak, but Jane snatches my arm and yanks me into the living room.
“Jane, what—”
Jane turns on the TV and I’m entirely speechless. There is Ana. My ex-girlfriend Ana, and she’s pregnant. She’s in front of the press, crying her eyes out, hoping that I can dump Jane and come back to her to take care of her child. Our child, she claims.
No, that can’t be right. It doesn’t add up. Besides, those tears are fake. I was with her long enough to know that. God, how could I have been so stupid for staying with her for so long? She only wants to get back for the money, nothing more. Now she’s pulling this shit?
It feels like every part of my being is on fire. My shock turns to rage, but before I can explain myself, Jane turns to me, anger still burning in her eyes.
“What is going on, Riker?” she asks me in a cold tone of voice.
“Babe, just calm down—”
“How the fuck can I calm down!?” Jane snaps and slams a foot into the floor. “Your ex-girlfriend is on the fucking TV claiming to be pregnant with your child. I don’t think this is a good time to be exactly calm.”
I place a hand over my face and exhale. I’m just as pissed as Jane is, but we need to get our heads together. I gently take Jane to the couch and we both sit down. I also turn off the TV. I can’t stand seeing Ana’s crocodile tears.
“Jane, baby, please listen to me, okay?” I talk quietly to her and touch her shoulder, but Jane flinches back. The act startles me, but I don’t attempt to do it again.
“I trusted you, Riker,” Jane spat, her eyes are reddening with tears. “I trusted you with my daughter.” The tears are free and they stream down her cheeks. Jane doesn’t bother to wipe them away.
“I know, babe, I know,” I said with my voice still calm, but my heart is beating quickly against my chest. I won’t be surprised if it collapses right there.
Jane finally wipes her eyes and glance up at the ceiling. She shakes her head and falls back into the couch.
“I can’t believe this…” she mutters under her breath. Each
