My Little Secret

11

"Where were you yesterday?" Tyra said as she hugged me. "You didn't answer any of my texts or calls."

"My moms took my phone away. They thought it'd do me good not to be on my phone." I sighed as we started walking to class.

"Are you alright though?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I guess."

"Sam." She stated as we sat down.

"I know." I looked away. "I think they're trying to find someone."

She smiled. "You have no idea how happy that makes me." She then took a deep breath. "Pete found him."

It was like my heart stopped. "What?" I whispered.

"There was a parental match. He sent me the info yesterday, if you want to come over after school and look at it." I could only nod. "What do you think?"

"I don't know."

"Happy?" She smiled slightly and elbowed me.

"Anxious." And it was true. My heart was beating faster and my stomach was in knots.

Tyra rolled her eyes. "You're always anxious. That's like a default for you." My lips quirked up in a smile.

"Sad yet true." Tyra laughed then bit her lip and chewed. I knew there was something more. "What?"

"Pete found him... which means he was in the system." She said quietly.

"Oh..." I said. "For what?"

"Assault." She said. "Didn't get any time though."

"Oh..." I said again.

"It's probably nothing bad really." She said as the teacher walked into the room.

"Because assault is ever good." I sighed slightly and tried focusing as the teacher started talking.

School passed by slowly. Maybe it was the anticipation of finally knowing who my father was. Or maybe it was because I wasn't paying attention to anything.

Slowly but surely, the school day came to an end and I found myself walking outside the doors and to my car. It was Friday and I was thankful that I didn't have to do any work and that I could relax for a little while.

But then I remembered all the dad stuff.

Do I call him dad? Father? Sperm donor?

I sighed as I drove out of the parking lot. My hands gripped the steering wheel. I was trying to decide if I should go home and let my mom know I was going to Tyra's or just text her. I knew they'd know something was up so I just decided a text was good enough.

When I pulled up to Tyra's and shut the car off I sent a quick message to our group chat. "Went to Tyra's."

I got a response almost immediately.

"Alright princess."

"Love you baby, stay safe."

I replied then exited the car and walked to the door. When I had just entered the house I heard Tyra call me.

"What?"

"Don't take your shoes off! We're going out in a few!" She yelled.

I furrowed my brow but went to her room in my shoes. "Where are we going?"

"To see your pops." Tyra grinned from her bed, her computer on her lap, like it was no big deal.

My heart skipped a beat. "No. I don't even know who he is."