Chapter 31: Meeting the Parents

Jalen was glad to be headed to Sydney’s place because he desperately needed to talk to someone who didn’t look at him as someone who betrayed them.

He arrived at Sydney’s place about fifteen minutes later, sitting on her couch after she let him in. He took a moment to exhale and gather himself before telling her everything that had happened since she first told him she was pregnant.

He didn’t hold anything back. He laid out the last few days in exhausting detail—Kristen’s pregnancy and her devastated reaction to the truth, Megan’s escape and her sharp new lawyer, and finally, Rachel’s explosive guilt and the realization that she, too, was likely pregnant.

When he finished, Jalen sank back onto Sydney’s couch, scrubbing his hands over his face, feeling completely drained.

Sydney watched him carefully from the other end of the couch, her legs curled underneath her, wearing an oversized hoodie and shorts. She looked comfortable, but her expression was anything but.

“Damn,” she finally said after Jalen laid everything out. Sydney let out a slow breath, shaking her head. “I mean, I knew things were gonna get crazy,” she said, leaning back, “but Jalen, this is ... a lot.”

Jalen let out a humorless chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “You think I don’t know that?”

Sydney didn’t say anything for a long moment. She just watched him, reading him, seeing the guilt and weight he was carrying.

“I think,” she finally said, softer now, “you need to stop and ask yourself what YOU actually want.”

Jalen looked at her, and she held his gaze, serious, but not judgmental.

“Like, really want,” she pressed. “Because right now, it just seems like you’re drowning in all of this, trying to take care of everyone, but not once have I heard you say what you actually want for yourself.”

Jalen exhaled, shaking his head. “It’s not that simple, Sydney.”

“Maybe not, but it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to think about it,” she replied.

He looked at her, and for the first time in a while, he had no words because the truth was, he hadn’t stopped to think about what he wanted.

He’d been so focused on handling everything, making sure he didn’t let anyone down, trying to keep everything from falling apart, but maybe it was already falling apart.

Sydney shifted, placing a hand on his. It was a small gesture, but it grounded him. “Just like you told me, no matter what happens,” she said, gentler now. “You’re not in this alone, Jalen.”

He looked down at their hands, at the woman carrying his child, and for the first time all night, he let himself breathe. Jalen nodded slowly, squeezing Sydney’s hand for a brief moment before leaning back against the couch.

What do I want?

Hell, if he knew. Right then, all he knew was that everything was spiraling faster than he could keep up with.

Sydney shifted next to him, tucking her hair behind her ear before looking at him again.

“So, what now?” she asked.

Jalen let out a slow exhale, staring at the ceiling for a moment before answering. “I need to check on Rachel,” he said. “She was completely wrecked. I don’t know if she’s gonna want to talk to me, but I can’t just leave her like that.”

Sydney didn’t look thrilled about that, but she nodded. “I get it,” she said. “But Jalen, you can’t fix everything for everyone. Rachel’s got to deal with her own choices just like the rest of us.”

Jalen rubbed his hands together, knowing she was right but still feeling uneasy about it.

Then Sydney sighed, looking away for a second before biting her lip. “There’s something else,” she said hesitantly.

Jalen glanced at her. “What is it?”

She looked at him now, eyes more vulnerable than usual.

“My parents,” she started, hesitating for a second before continuing. “I have to tell them about the baby.”

Jalen sat up a little straighter.

“Oh,” he said, realizing just how big this moment was for her.

Sydney nodded, looking down at her lap. “I’ve been putting it off because I know exactly how this is gonna go. They’re gonna flip,” she muttered, rolling her eyes at the thought. “My mom’s probably gonna cry. My dad’s gonna go on some rant about how I ruined my life, and I’ll get the whole speech about how this wasn’t what they wanted for me.”

Jalen listened carefully, knowing how much weight Sydney carried when it came to her parents’ expectations.

She looked at him now. “But I need to get it over with,” she said, “And I was wondering, would you come with me?”

Jalen blinked, surprised.

“To tell them?” he asked.

Sydney nodded, biting the inside of her cheek. “I know they’re gonna be mad either way,” she said, “But if you’re there, at least I won’t be facing them alone.”

Jalen looked at her for a long moment before answering. “Of course,” he said.

Sydney relaxed slightly, like she was afraid he might say no. “Thanks,” she murmured.

Jalen gave a small nod, but inside, he knew that this was going to be a whole different kind of battle, and it was coming sooner than he was ready for.

Two days later

Knock*Knock*

“Rachel! Rachel! Please open up!”

Rachel sat on her couch, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the door as Jalen’s voice echoed through her apartment.

Her eyes were still puffy from more crying she did earlier, her body exhausted from the emotional weight of everything.

She wanted to pretend she wasn’t home. Pretend she didn’t hear him. Pretend she didn’t care. Two days ago, she would have.

Jalen knocked again, more urgently this time. “Rachel, please,” he called out. “I just—I need to know you’re okay.”

Rachel squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sound. She wasn’t okay, and he was the exact reason why. But as much as she wanted to hate him, he was also the only person on the planet who knew the full, terrifying reality of what she was facing.