Embittered Ruby by Nicole O'Dell Page B

for a drive or go somewhere private?” They sure couldn’t talk in her basement bedroom and risk being interrupted. If Kim and Harper found out Nate was in the house, they wouldn’t give up until they found him. He had to quit being so nice to them so they’d leave him alone.
    Kimberley occupied the theater room, watching a movie with Tiffany, and Dad was due home any minute and would enter through the garage, so that ruled out the kitchen. If they were going to talk, they had to get out of the house pronto.
    “Mmm-hmm. I like the way you think.” Nate licked his lips.
    Carmen giggled. “No. Not for that kind of privacy. I just…We need to talk.” She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans.
    “Everything okay?” Nate’s eyebrows knitted together.
    “Yeah, don’t worry. We just need some privacy where no one can interrupt us.”
    Nate set his jaw with determination. He grabbed her hand and pulled Carmen through the house, out the front door, and into his Camaro parked right outside. He stared at the road and drove in complete silence until they were well away from the property. “Are you about to break up with me?” His eyes darted toward the passenger seat and then back to the traffic.
    “Oh no!” Carmen clutched his hand with both of hers. “Nothing like that. In fact, the opposite is more like it.”
    Obvious relief flooded his face. “I’m not sure what you mean. But I’m glad it’s not what I was afraid of.”
    Nice development. Great to know he feared her dumping him. Maybe things would go better than she’d hoped when she dropped the bomb.
    The Camaro sailed into an empty parking space at the nature preserve. “Want to walk?” Nate tipped his head toward the winding path.
    Carmen nodded and pulled herself from the deep bucket seat. From all she’d seen and heard about being pregnant, in a few months climbing out of his car would be much more difficult. She glanced at the backseat. Was there room back there for an infant car seat?
    Nate hurried toward the walking trail then slowed so Carmen could fall in with his steps. “Okay. You’re scaring me. What’s up?”
    “I have to tell you something, but I’m afraid you’re going to get mad.” Carmen bit the inside of her lower lip until she tasted blood. How could she say this to him? “Just promise you’ll listen until I’m thr—”
    He stopped dead on the trail and turned to face Carmen. “Did you cheat on me? Is that what this is about? Because if you did…I don’t even know what to say. That’s like the worst thing you could tell me. I can’t believe you’d—”
    “I’m pregnant, Nate.”

Chapter 11
    C armen watched as Nate’s face turned white then sort of gray. His expression was blank—his eyes didn’t even twitch. Was he going to pass out? What would she do if he collapsed?
    “Say something.” Please. Please.
    “I. What? Us?” Nate blanched. “You can’t be serious. How?” He strode away from her toward the trees lining the path.
    This was nowhere near the reaction she’d hoped for. Well, what had she expected really? Cartwheels and hugs? Carmen needed to give him time to adjust. He would come around. He’d have to. Right?
    Carmen stayed in the center of the path where he’d left her. Walkers and runners stepped around her. Several shot her glares, but she stood rooted to her spot. Staring. Waiting.
    Nate hunched over, his hands on his knees, shoulders shaking. Was he crying? Should she go to him?
    A few moments later, he wiped his face with his sleeve, pulled his shoulders back, took a deep breath, and slowly turned, searching. His eyes found their target and rested on Carmen’s face.
    She gasped. His face was drawn. His eyes scared. She’d put that pain on his face, the fear in his heart. It was her fault.
    Nate stared at her for several long moments. Not blinking. She stared at his chest, looking for evidence of breathing.
    What was he thinking? Did he hate her? Did he know what she’d done?
Say something,