She sank back in her seat. Closed her eyes tightly. Pushed the palms of her hands to her ears. Ignore. She tried to convince herself that he was a monster. That he did not deserve the truth or the baby. That he should not know the secret because it was not his to know. It was her's. The Secret was her's. He was prying. He was trying to steal her. Take her away. Claim his half. He was a monster. She pushed her palms to her ears till they ached underneath. Until her whole body shook. Until her eyes burnt from how tightly she had closed them.
She opened her eyes and dropped her hands. He pounded on her window. He did not deserve to know. He just wanted to steal ... steal ... steal ... claim what was not -- was -- is -- his. She wanted her brain to stop moving, churning. Thoughts, thoughts, falling like rain drops. As if the sky had heard her, it began to thunder. The gray clouds gathered above. Maybe if it would rain, he would melt. He would run inside. Seek shelter. She shook her head when he spoke to her. You don't need to talk to him, Lainey. You don't owe him an explanation. You don't have to tell him.
She shoved her keys in. Turned them. Listened to the motor chuckle and then start. She did not want him to be there. She had not wanted him to be in the 'home'. She had wanted the Secret to love her more. To love her only. Not her all-star dad. Not the man that played a game with Lainey's heart just like how he played football. Tossing her around. With his perfect, cool, complacent manner. He was bound to leave Lainey. For someone better. Prettier. More perfect. A better match. He was doomed to do it. Lainey would not let it happen. She had not wanted him to know. She still didn't now.
Don't do this. You can't just leave now. Stay. Who is she? Who is she? Who is she? Who is she? Who is she? Her insides screamed. She rolled down the window a crack and said, ``She is mine.``