Page 38 of Say You Remember Me
“Oh?” I tried to sound casual. “Recent ex?”
“Yeah. Dated for a few years. Thought I was going to marry her, but she cheated, so…it’s been a mess.”
I winced. “That sucks.”
“Pretty pathetic, right?” he asked, glancing sideways at me.
“No,” I said quickly. “It’s not pathetic to get cheated on.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I appreciate that.”
There was a quiet moment between us before he nudged my arm with his elbow. “So, what’s your story? You looked pretty deep in thought when I came up to you. Any exes you’re avoiding?”
“No exes,” I bit my lip. “At least, not a serious ex. But well…” I hesitated. “I think I can top your sob story.”
“Oh, yeah?” He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “I doubt it.”
“No, really…it’s pretty bad.”
“What is it?” he asked, his eyes darting back and forth as they searched my face. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“Kind of. I mean, my dad is probably going to kill me when he finds out. But—” I took a deep breath, feeling a tightness in my chest. “I, uh…I took a pregnancy test a few days ago. And it came back positive.”
“Oh, sh—” He stared at me for a second, eyes wide. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, feeling the weight of the truth settle between us. “I wish I wasn’t, but…I’m pregnant.”
And I realized then that it was the first time I’d actually said those words aloud.
I was pregnant. A teen mom.
A statistic I never thought I’d be.
And with those words now out there in the universe, shared with a complete stranger no less, my throat tightened and my eyes burned as if the tears had been waiting for this moment to break free.
Don’t cry,I told myself, swallowing hard and trying to push them back. But it was like holding back a flood with a paper dam.
“Hey,” he said softly, noticing my sudden distress. “You wanna take a walk? Get closer to the ocean?”
“Yes.” I nodded quickly, grateful for the suggestion since I really didn’t need an audience to my breakdown. “Yes, please.”
So he took my hand and pulled me with him toward the water, the waves crashing softly in the distance. My hands shook, and my heart pounded, but it wasn’t from the cold. It was the fear that had been sitting in my chest ever since those two pink lines appeared. The future that felt like it was slipping further away with every step I took.
And as soon as the tide hit my toes, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. The tears spilled over, fast and hot, before I even realized what was happening. I covered my face with myhands, embarrassed and overwhelmed. Ugh, why did I have to break down in front of a stranger?
“I…I’m sorry,” I stammered between sobs, my voice cracking. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
I felt his hand hover near my shoulder before he gently placed it there. “You don’t have to apologize,” he said, his voice low and kind. “It’s okay.”
But I couldn’t stop the tears. They just kept coming, everything inside me unraveling. For the first time since I found out, I couldn’t hold it together. I couldn’t pretend to be fine.
Because in reality, I was…lost. So freaking lost. It felt like I was drowning and that I may never come up for air again.
The boy shifted beside me awkwardly, like he didn’t know what to do, then asked, “Would you, uh…want a hug?”
“Mm-huh.” I nodded, not trusting myself to say more. And before I knew it, he pulled me into his arms.
He held me close, his warmth radiating through me as I buried my face in his chest. And even though I didn’t know this guy from Adam, somehow, for the first time all week, I felt almost…safe.
