Chapter 5
Mia’s mother hit our door with both fists.
Not knocked.
Hit.
“Ava Carter!” she screamed. “Open this door!”
Dad told me to stay back.
Mia stood in the hallway, frozen.
Her face had gone so pale I thought she might faint.
“It’s my mom,” she whispered.
I had met Sandra Lewis a hundred times.
She could be charming when she wanted.
She could also turn cruel so quickly it left everyone pretending they had misunderstood.
That night, she slurred every word.
Dad opened the door only halfway.
Sandra shoved against it.
“You,” she spat, pointing at me over his shoulder. “You selfish little witch.”
Dad’s face hardened.
“You need to leave.”
“My daughter had a future with the Parkers until Ava made everything ugly.”
Mia made a tiny sound.
I turned to her.
“You don’t have to listen to this.”
But she could not move.
Sandra pushed harder.
“The Parkers were going to help her. Ethan’s family has money. Connections. But now they’re embarrassed because your daughter couldn’t keep her mouth shut.”
Dad stepped outside and pulled the door mostly closed behind him.
I could still hear every word.
“My daughter was betrayed,” he said.
Sandra laughed.
“Your daughter got dumped. There’s a difference.”
Mia flinched like the words had struck her.
Something inside me snapped.
I opened the door.
Dad turned.
“Ava.”
“No.”
I looked at Sandra.
“Your daughter is pregnant, scared, and being used by people who do not care about her. And you came here to yell at me?”
Sandra sneered.
“She wouldn’t be scared if you had stayed out of it.”
Mia whispered, “Mom, stop.”
Sandra’s eyes swung to her.
“You shut your mouth. You have already done enough.”
Mia’s face crumpled.
I stepped between them without thinking.
“She’s your daughter.”
Sandra’s lips curled.
“And you were supposed to be her friend.”
That hit.
She saw it and smiled.
Dad said, “Enough.”
Sandra pointed at Mia.
“You’re coming home.”
Mia shook her head.
“No.”
The word was barely audible.
Sandra froze.
“What did you say?”
Mia grabbed the stair railing.
“I’m not going with you.”
Sandra laughed.
“You have nowhere else.”
Mia looked at my father.
Then at me.
I knew what she was asking.
I hated that I knew.
I hated that even after everything, the old promise between us still lived somewhere.
Dad answered before I could.
“She can stay tonight.”
Sandra’s face twisted.
“You have no right.”
“She’s eighteen,” Dad said. “She can choose.”
Sandra turned cold.
“You think raising another man’s baby will make Ethan love you? He won’t. His mother already called me. They’re discussing options.”
Mia’s hand went to her stomach.
“What options?”
Sandra’s face changed.
She had said too much.
Mia stepped forward.
“What options, Mom?”
Sandra looked away.
Dad’s voice was sharp.
“Answer her.”
Sandra rolled her eyes.
“They want a paternity test first. Then, if it is Ethan’s, they want lawyers involved. Custody. Support. Reputation management.”
Mia whispered, “Custody?”
“They said the baby would have better opportunities with them.”
The room went still.
I watched the blood drain from Mia’s face.
“They want my baby?”
Sandra waved a hand.
“Don’t be dramatic.”
Mia backed away.
“No.”
“Mia.”
“No!”
The scream tore out of her.
She clutched her stomach and sobbed.
Dad stepped fully between Sandra and the door.
“You need to leave right now.”
Sandra cursed at him.
He took out his phone.
“I’m calling the police.”
That did it.
She staggered backward, still shouting threats all the way to her car.
When she left, the silence inside our house felt heavy.
Mia slid down the wall.
I stood there, shaking.
Dad crouched in front of her.
“Do you feel safe going home?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Do you have somewhere else?”
“No.”
He glanced at me.
I knew he would not force this on me.
He would send Mia to my aunt.
Call a shelter.
Do whatever needed to be done.
But Mia looked so young sitting on our floor in that hoodie.
So guilty.
So terrified.
I swallowed.
“She can stay in the guest room.”
Mia looked up.
Hope and shame crossed her face at the same time.
“Ava, I don’t deserve—”
“I know.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
Dad brought blankets.
I went upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom.
Then I finally cried.
Not pretty tears.
Not quiet tears.
I cried until my chest hurt.
Because my boyfriend had cheated.
Because my best friend had lied.
Because her baby was innocent.
Because I hated them both and still could not let Mia be dragged into another unsafe house.
A soft knock came at the door.
“Ava?” Dad said.
I opened it.
He took one look at me and pulled me into his arms.
“I don’t know how to feel,” I sobbed.
He held me tighter.
“You don’t have to choose one feeling.”
“I hate her.”
“I know.”
“I’m scared for her.”
“I know.”
“I miss her.”
“I know, baby.”
That made me cry harder.
The next morning, Mia left a note outside my bedroom door.
I’m going to the clinic. I won’t ask you to come. Thank you for letting me sleep somewhere safe.
I read it twice.
Then I grabbed my keys.
I found her at the bus stop in the rain.
She looked shocked when I pulled up.
I rolled down the window.
“Get in.”
“Ava—”
“I’m not your friend today,” I said. “I’m your ride.”
May you like
She wiped her eyes.
Then she got in.
