It all started with a game

Chapter 22

I tried to answer but no response came to mind. I had no idea of what to say. What do you say to someone who's about to be a father? "Is she keeping it?" Was the only thing I could will myself to speak, knowing Mateo would surely want to keep the child if given the option.

"No clue." Mateo clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "But her parents are kicking her out of the house for getting pregnant, and she's planning on dropping out of high school. She doesn't want to see me anymore."

I tried to put all the pieces together with the bits of information I'd been given. How could she not tell him if she was keeping it or not? And how could she not want to see him again if they're having a child. Mateo would never let his kid go without a fight. Unless... "Wait, is it yours?"

"Nope."

And now everything was starting to fit into place, why Mateo was angry instead of worried. I knew Mateo, if it was his, he'd want to keep it and he'd be sitting here crying with me if she wouldn't let him be a part of the kids life. But if it wasn't his, and Maria slept with someone else, then it was no wonder Mateo was that upset. "Who's the father?"

"She won't tell me."

That was not a good sign. I knew Maria, and that is exactly the kind of information she would tell Mateo. I may not like her but she does do her best to be straight with Mateo and knowing who the father is would be enough to crush his dreams of being with her. So why wouldn't she tell him? "Are you sure it's not yours?"

Mateo nodded, falling backwards on the sofa.

I drew in a soft breath, trying to approach this cautiously. "Are you absolutely certain?" It wasn't like Maria not to tell him who the father was. "Because, I know you might have used protection but that doesn't always mean—"

"It can't possibly be mine," Mateo mumbled.

It had to be his. Why else would Maria keep it a secret from him? "Mateo, condoms aren't 100%—"

"It's not mine!" Mateo snapped, rubbing his eyes. "It can't be mine because we never..." he trailed off.

"You never what?"

Mateo stared at me like I was a complete idiot. Probably deserved. "Sex, Ryder. We never had sex. And if I have to give you the 'where babies come from' speech, I'm out of here."

I blinked, once, twice, three times. "You've never had sex with her?" I examined him, trying to figure out what in the world that was supposed to mean.

He's never...
But Maria...
And...
Wait...

"You're a virgin?!" I shouted, the revaluation finally setting in.

"Oh my goodness." Mateo smothered his face with a pillow. "I hate you."

"Why didn't I know this?" I gaped at him. My best friend, my only friend and I had no idea.

"Because, you just assumed I'd slept with Maria and I didn't want to correct you."

"Why not?"

Mateo glared at me, his face bright red. "Because, mate, your body count is higher than my IQ. How was I supposed to tell you?"