Baby Daddy

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚒𝚡𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

As much as I hate to admit it, Maddie is stronger than me. In every sense of the word.

Even with the searing anger in her eyes, pointed finger and low dead voice, you can tell Reilly is rattled. His fist clench and unclench several times before he talks back, pointing to nowhere.

Unlike me, she doesn't cry, she doesn't crumble just yet. Maddie says her piece before storming off without hearing another word from him.

I try to imagine how different things would have been if I just accepted Michael's proposal without fighting. Would I still be pregnant? And if I wasn't so jealous of Maddie, would I be lying to her and everyone about the baby I'm supposed to be having?

One thing is for sure, I wouldn't be feeling this way every time I think about it.

Like I want to cry and just. . .die.

"Whoever said love was easy?"

I turn my head and Brenda forces a cheeky smile while looking in the direction Maddie and Reilly were standing a minute ago.

I try not to stare at her. She looks like a complete mess; dark circles under her eyes, blotchy skin, up do with dark strands of hair spilling out of their hold, and a fanny pack put over a pant suit and tank top.

It's unusual.

My eyes drop to the dark purple piece of clothing she has in her hands then back to her face.

"Do you think it's a good time?" I joke, crossing my arms.

"These days," She shrugs, genuinely smiling. "Its hard to tell."

With that said, Brenda purses her pale lips as if saying "good luck" then proceeds towards the exit.

I find Madilyn back stage, alone, bracing herself in front of a vanity. Strong.

It's cold and dark here, less lighting than the front stage.

If there was a wall, I'd knock but instead, I sit in the chair on her right and take a glance in the mirror before adjusting my position.

I think back to her quarrel with Reilly and watch her take deep measured breaths.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." Her lips are pressed in a smile when she looks at me, nodding. Then she laughs, "I can't believe you went shopping with Fiona."

She's changing the subject.

"I didn't have much of a choice," I laugh. Call it a desperate move.

My heart breaks when I take a look at her face. She turns her body and swipes hand across her cheek.

"Did you get anything?"

When I think about everything that happened yesterday, my mood takes a deep dive and I wonder why I didn't just stay in bed. Maybe wallow a little longer.

I just had to go out with Fiona. All in the name of friendship.

"You said something about Michael on the phone."

Maddie finally looks at me, her lips twisting as she thinks. "You mean about Fiona being Michael's girlfriend."

I force a laugh, "What?"

But I saw them. In the kitchen. . .

"Yeah, you didn't know?" her face scrunches up, her mood lifted. "Everyone knows. But she was with Randall though, then went after Michael I guess."

What?

"I feel sorry for the guy," she says a second later, wiping the smudge at the corner of her lips. "He looks like he knows how to do his thing."