“Before we go, I’m going to use the restroom.”

“I’ll go with you,” Dayton offers.

“Sounds good. We’ll meet you two out at the golf cart,” Dad replies, walking away with Billy and obviously not finding it strange that Dayton offered to go with me.

“Are you feeling okay?” my bathroom escort asks quietly as we walk through the clubhouse toward the restrooms.

“Just nauseous.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, it is technically your fault, so I accept your apology,” I mutter, and he laughs softly.

“My sister-in-law used to eat ginger candies when she was pregnant with my nephew. I’ll ask her where she got them from and get some for you.”

“My doctor mentioned ginger tea, but I hate tea, so I haven’t gotten any.” I peek up at him. “Also, my dad doesn’t know that I’m…” I glance around, then whisper, “pregnant.”

“I assumed as much.”

“I’m going to have to tell him soon though.” We turn to walk side by side down the hall where the bathrooms are located. “Especially since Mom and Jacob both know and Mom has been stressing about having to keep it from him. If I don’t come clean, she’s going to crack, and that won’t be good for a multitude of reasons.”

“You and your dad seem pretty close.”

“We are. He’s…” I try to come up with a way to describe my relationship with my father. “He’s not my friend. He’s never been my friend. But I respect him, and he’s one person I know I can depend on no matter what.”

“It’s good you have that relationship with him.”

“Yeah.” I rub my lips together as anxiousness crawls up my spine. I wouldn’t say that I’m scared to tell my dad that I’m pregnant, but I am worried he’s going to be disappointed, which is always worse than him being mad. I also hate the idea of him having to deal with the fallout publicly if the media gets ahold of the story and uses it to attack him.

I don’t tell Dayton any of that, though. I don’t want my worries to influence his decision.

When we get to the women’s bathroom, I motion toward it with my thumb. “I guess I’ll meet you out here when I’m done.”

“I’ll be here,” he says, and I head into the ladies’ room.

It doesn’t take me long to finish, and when I step back out into the hall, I find it empty. Figuring Dayton went into the men’s room, I lean back against the wall and take out my phone, starting to scroll through my social media.