Page 12 of Orlando

I was scared, sixteen, and pregnant. I had sex for the first time and it resulted in a teen pregnancy. Not once did I consider any other option than keeping my baby though. I guess therewas a selfish part of me that didn’t want Orlando to know, because then he couldn’t tell me not to keep our son. I took that choice away from him.

Orlando uses his free hand to pull a chair out for me. “Thanks,” I say quietly as I lower myself down, doing my best not to squirm under the weight of Dante’s glare.

“Hey. How are you?” Josie asks me. She’s literally the only friendly face I’ve encountered over the past two days. I’m not counting the odd kindness Orlando is showing me right now, because I know it’s not going to last.

“I’m good. You?” I respond.

“Honestly? I can’t wait to be done with this place. I’m so ready to move on to the college thing,” Josie says.

“What schools are you applying to?” I ask her.

“I’m going to NYU. What about you?” Josie says.

“I’m not sure yet.” I’m not sure I will even go to college. My dad wants me to go. I just don’t know how I’m going to juggle college and Sebastian. I can’t let my dad support us forever. Even though he would.

I have a trust that I’ll have access to after I turn twenty-one. Until then, I either have to get a job or keep letting my dad take on our expenses. Not that he’s ever said anything about it. I just feel guilty that I can’t take care of my son on my own. I made him. I should be able to care for him, provide for him. It’s just hard to work an after-school job and parent at the same time. I honestly tip my hat to moms who figure it all out on their own, because I haven’t yet. Dad says it’s still early days, and I’ll get there. He tells me I’m doing a great job. I don’t really have anything to compare myself to, though, because I’ve never had a mother.

“What schools have you applied to?” Josie asks.

“Ah, I haven’t yet. I’m not sure college is for me,” I say while averting my gaze.

Orlando’s head snaps around, his eyes inspecting my face. He doesn’t say anything, which I’m grateful for. “You going to the game tonight?” he asks Dante.

“Yeah, Alessandro and Enzo are meeting us there. You coming?”

“Probably.” Orlando shrugs before turning to me. “You wanna come to the hockey game tonight?”

“Um… I can’t,” I tell him.

“Why not?”

“Because I have things to do. Sorry. I… ah… I have to go.” I stand and bolt from the table before anyone can stop or question me further.

What the hell was I thinking? I can’t sit at a lunch table with him and pretend that everything is normal. It’s not normal. I just need to tell him. I need to come clean. Rip the Band-Aid off, so to speak.

First, I need to make sure Sebastian and I can disappear. Because if Orlando tries to take him away from me, I will run and never look back. I’m not losing my son.

Chapter Eight

“What was that about?” Dante asks with a raised brow.

“Fuck if I know.” I shrug. I’m tempted to run after her. I want to know what the hell is wrong with her. I don’t, though. I stay planted in my seat, moving my food around on my plate.

“You had a thing with her, right? When she was here before?” Josie asks me.

“A thing?” I repeat.

“You were dating each other. What happened?”

“She ghosted his ass after giving up her?—”

“Dante, shut it,” I growl while pushing up from my chair. I have no doubt he’ll tell Josie everything the moment I’m gone, but the whole fucking school doesn’t need to know my business.

I storm out of the cafeteria. I didn’t plan on chasing after Aleeka, but when I see her leave through the front door of the building, I follow her.

“Aleeka, wait up,” I call out when she’s halfway through the parking lot.

She spins around and straightens her shoulders. My lips tip up at the corners. I’ve seen her do this so often. It’s herdon’t fuck with mepose. HerI am woman, hear me roarstance. She does it whenever she’s nervous. We only dated for three weeks, but we were friends for years before that. Well, friends is probably a stretch. But we knew of each other.

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