Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 11299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 38(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 38(@300wpm)
“But we always use condoms, and you said you take a pill.”
I take in a shaky breath, my heart pounding as I watch her profile. I can tell she is freaking the fuck out. “I know, but I guess when I was on antibiotics for that sinus infection, it affected the birth control.”
I’m completely stunned, but I remember when she was sick. We watched Netflix and ate a lot of soup. And had sex, obviously. “Well, fuck,” I blurt out, and instantly, I feel awful. “Sorry, I’m sure that’s not the reaction you want.”
“I felt the same way.”
I swallow hard as I look out at the ice. It’s almost as if I have tunnel vision, and slowly the ice is disappearing, along with my career. Or maybe I’m overthinking it. I can have a kid and still play, but her career… She has one of the highest scholarships for her gymnastics, and now that’s ruined.
Nothing will change for me, but everything will change for her.
I just sit there, unsure what to say. Or even what to think. I can see the fear on her face and feel it. “How long have you known?”
“Two days.”
“Oh, wow. Okay.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Understandable.”
“I knew I had to before you went home.”
“Yeah,” I say, swallowing hard. My parents are going to freak, and Elli is going to smack me. This is not how my life is supposed to play out. I’m supposed to get to the NHL before I knock anyone up. Nonetheless, I know what I need to do. “Cameron, I’m here for you. I’ll support you and the baby.”
She bites her lip, closing her eyes. “I know. It never crossed my mind that you wouldn’t, Benny.”
I reach out, taking her hand in mine. “We’re going to be fine.”
She releases my hand, and Cameron drops her head in her hands as a sob rips through her. I reach over, pulling her into me, rubbing her back. “Do you want to get married?”
She lets out a loud laugh, and it echoes through the rink. “God, no. We’re babies.”
“Babies having babies,” I say, not taking offense to her saying no. I don’t really want to get married anyway. I would if she wanted, and I’d put her first. She’s a cool-ass chick, and we have fun together. I don’t know how we’ll work it out, but we will. I’m not going to leave her hanging. “Have you told your parents?”
“Yeah,” she says softly. “They’re upset.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah,” she says with a sigh. “I’ve been going back and forth for the last two days, and I have too much to lose by keeping it.”
As another sob tears through her, I go over what she just said, unsure what she means. I may be getting more fluent in English, but I truly don’t understand her wording. Before I can ask her what she means, she meets my gaze, and my heart breaks in my chest. She is so scared, and I hate that she feels that way. Aren’t babies supposed to be exciting?
“I can’t lose my scholarship or my career that I’ve worked so hard for.” She struggles with her words, crying and hiccupping. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to me. I don’t want this to force us to be something, when we both have so much life ahead of us.”
I slowly nod. “I understand that, but I’m a part of this. I made the baby too.”
She swallows hard. “I know, and I’m so sorry.”
“Cameron. Don’t apologize. It happened. We’ll deal.”
She meets my gaze. “I’m getting an abortion on Monday.”
Once more, air is knocked out of me as I stop my hand on her back, mid-rub. “Oh.”
Cameron looks away. “I was going to do it and not tell you, but I didn’t think that was right. I guess I just…” She pauses as she wipes her face. “My parents aren’t being very supportive, and I knew you’d understand.”
I look away, back at the ice again. I take a deep breath, unable to speak.
“Please don’t hate me,” I hear her whisper. “I honestly don’t know how I am going to walk into that clinic and do this, but I have to. I can’t bring a kid into the world right now. I’m not ready to be a mom, and I sure as hell don’t want to hate the kid for existing. It didn’t ask to be born, this was our doing, but I want to be able to give my kid a good life. I don’t think we can right now.”
She’s right, but I’ve always been taught that abortion is wrong. I honestly never understood it. The way I think, everyone has the choice to do what they want with their body.
“I know you’re probably thinking I’m selfish, but even if I were to keep it and give it up for adoption, I would lose my scholarship and my spot in the program. It’s not about the tuition money. It’s about the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am.”