Page 60 of Our Final Encore

“Don’t answer it, it’s probably some fucker trying to sell me something.”

I shake my head as I pour the smoothie into a glass, then I set it on the table next to him before walking to the door.

“What did I just say, son? Don’t answer it unless you’re going to tell them to leave.”

I ignore him as I peek through the peephole, and my heart slams against my chest when I see Opal on the other side. Iscramble to open the door as quickly as possible, afraid that if I hesitate she might leave.

Her arms are crossed tightly over her body, and she has a nervous look on her face. She’s wearing a pair of tiny athletic shorts and an old Fleetwood Mac t-shirt, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. She’s so fucking gorgeous I can’t breathe.

“Hey?” For some reason it comes out sounding like a question. Her eyes meet mine, and instantly I know something is wrong.

“Are you okay?” My eyes bounce back and forth between hers. She opens her mouth but nothing comes out, her chest is heaving, it almost looks like she’s having a panic attack. I’m tempted to reach out and touch her, try to comfort her in some way, but I refrain.

Something must have happened. Maybe her grandma is hurt. Shit, I hope not. “Opal, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“Um,” she shuts her eyes. “Can you talk for a minute?” Her voice is small and shaky.

“Of course,” I shut the door behind me, but not before I hear my dad yelling, asking where I’m going. I ignore him, knowing he’s way too lazy to get up and see for himself anyway.

Her lips press together tightly, and she stares down at my bare feet. “I’m pregnant.”

My stomach dips, and I swear the world around me starts to spin.What did she say?“What?” She flicks her eyes up to meet mine again. “You’re…pregnant?”

She nods.

“Is it-is it mine?”

Her eyes narrow on me slightly. “Yes, Alex. That’s why I’m telling you.”

Obviously.Holy fucking shit.This is not how I expected my day to go.

“What about your boyfriend?”

She shakes her head. “Ian? He wasn’t technically…well, it doesn’t matter.” She rolls her eyes. “I ended things with him right after…well, after you and I,” her voice fades as if she’s embarrassed to elaborate.

I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse. This whole time I assumed she had chosen him over me.

“What-” I rake my hand through my hair, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “What are you going to do?”

She shakes her head and shifts her gaze down to our feet. “I don’t know yet.”

“What do you need from me?” I ask.

She flicks her eyes up to meet mine. “Nothing, if that’s what you’re offering.”

“I’m asking you what you need, I want to be here for you.”

“I don’t know if I’m going to keep it.” Her voice is full of pain, her blue eyes misty. Those words feel like knives in my chest, but I try not to let it show how much they affect me.

I swallow down my emotions, knowing that this is more about her than it is me. It’s her body in question, and it’s not my place to try and influence her choice in the matter. “If you choose to keep it I’ll be there every step of the way.”

A tear streams down her cheek and she quickly wipes it away. “I don’t know if I can bring a child into the world this way. A baby deserves two parents that love her,” she glances at me for a second before looking away again, “that love each other.”

“I know that.” We stare at each other for a moment and the eye contact feels somewhat intimate, like we’re sharing a silent conversation. “Marry me.” The words seem to leave my mouth before my brain tells them to.

“What?” she shakes her head, her mouth hanging slightly ajar.

“Marry me, Opal.” I reach out my hand, brushing my fingers against her waist.

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