Slowly, I scroll down. Even though she only sent the first text a couple of minutes ago, she’s quickly becoming desperate.

I really need to talk to you.

MATT.

I need you.

It’s really important.

Please just call me when you see this.

PLEASE.

I throw off the covers and sneak out of bed. Looking down at the time on my phone, I see that it’s really early. Jorge and Amy aren’t even up yet, so I step out of the apartment and call Kimmie from the hallway, just to make sure I won’t wake anyone.

She answers right away. “Matt. Thank God.”

“Kimmie, what’s wrong?”

“I need to explain in person. Can I see you?”

I almost say no. I’m half asleep, and she won’t even tell me what’s going on. But then an instinct kicks in deep inside of me. She sounds so scared. I have to get to her.

“Of course,” I say, feeling wide awake all of a sudden. “Where?”

“Central Park? I’m by the West Ninetieth Street entrance.”

“Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thank you,” she says quickly. “Thank you, Matt. I really—”

“Kimmie,” I interrupt her, because she’s starting to scare me. I’ve never heard her sound this upset. “Are you okay?”

“I—” She chokes. “I’ll be better when you get here.”

“Just hang on.”

As soon as we hang up, I rush back into the apartment. I change into the first clothes I can find, and I write a quick note on a pad that’s in the kitchen drawer.

I had to go somewhere. Text me if you need me. —Mateo

I leave it on the table for Jorge, Amy, and Sophie to find when they wake up, and then I run out the door.

I find Kimmie pacing around a bench. I figure she might have been sitting earlier, but she must’ve gotten impatient and started walking around in circles.

“Matt!” Even though her face lights up when she sees me, something about her seems off.

“Kimmie,” I say as she wraps her arms around my waist. I return the hug, patting her softly on the back. “What’s going on?”

She pulls away from me and stares deeply into my eyes. “Matt, I—I think I might be pregnant.”

“Oh.” On my way here, I thought about a thousand things that Kimmie might want to say to me, but this was not one of them. I’m speechless for the longest time, as different images flash before my eyes—Kimmie with a big, round belly. Kimmie holding a baby. Darryl standing next to her, looking scared.

“You—you might be?” is the first thing that comes out of my mouth. “So you’re not sure yet?”