“We used condoms, but obviously they didn’t work. And I can’t even say which guy is the father. Doesn’t that sound terrible?” I sniffed, conscious that I’d just ruined the shoulder of whatever Kelly was wearing. “We’re only eighteen.”
“I know,” she said, and the sound of her voice was a comfort. “It will be okay,” she lied, but I was happy to hear it even though we both knew it wasn’t true.
I sobbed and sniffed some more, and she quietly comforted me for a little longer. “Grace, shall we go to your room or something, because if anyone comes home, perhaps you don’t want them to walk in on you like this.”
She was right, and I pulled myself off her and stood on my own two feet.
“Come on, I’ll show you my room.”
“Good. And tell me what you’re going to do.”
If only I had an answer.
I already loved the little infant growing inside me, but beyond that I had no clue how I’d manage as a single teenage mom caring for a baby in the real world.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
NOAH JONES
I have no idea what I’m going to say to Grace, but I’m gonna charge in anyway.
I’d been a regular guest in Mr. Baker’s home and had often been over to watching games with Sam, but it really did feel kinda odd going there knowing the twins were out.
She’d never actually confirmed that she was expecting a baby—not in so many words. But now, through me, the guys close to her all believed she carried a child.
Had I made a mistake?
Was I about to make another?
Stuff got confusing fast, and I understood why people might act in irrational ways.
As I approached the door, it opened, and Kelly Williams let herself out. I didn’t know her too well, just that she was a close friend of Grace’s. She’d pulled the door shut behind herself before she noticed me approaching.
“Hey,” I called out as I approached. “Is Grace home?”
“Oh? Um. Yes. You’re Noah, right?”
I nodded.
“Grace has told me all about you. You are the new BFF? You dropping by now to have a talk with her?”
“The new BFF, huh?” I smiled. “Good to have an official title. Makes me feel important.”
“Yeah, yeah. You men and your egos. Just go easy on her. She’s delicate.”
“I know. And you don’t need to worry. I’m here to ease her burden, not add to it.”
“Oh, babe, I can see why she likes you. Shame we didn’t get to know each other better at school. Are you dating?”
“Um.” I looked at the closed front door that stood between me and my GILT...
“There’s a girl, um, I like...”
“Oh, shame. Well, if she breaks your heart, then Grace has my number when you want it.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“You won’t.” She grinned and stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Noah, I think Grace is confused by all the things happening to her right now, and she needs good friends, so you be that, or I’ll have to hunt you down and hurt you.”
“Okaaay.” I smiled, pleased that Grace had friends who cared for her. “I’ll remember that.”
She grinned wider. How much about all of this did she know? Did Grace just give her the whole story? With the little I knew about girls talking to one another, it was highly likely Kelly knew everything.
“See ya.” She marched off, and I approached the door and rang the doorbell.
It took a few blasts on the ringer before I heard the shuffling of feet inside.
She couldn’t fake not being there when I’d caught Kelly walking away from the house.
“Noah?” she said meekly. The door opened wider, revealing the rest of her. She had changed into a nightgown and looked a bit rough. Had she been crying?
She was still absolutely beautiful. This girl just had some sort of natural, uh... grace? She captivated me, even when she wasn’t even trying to be a knockout.
It was some sort of sorcery she had over me, something that made me want her above all, even if it meant having to share her with three other men.
And that was the precise moment when I had an epiphany and stood on a doorstep. I didn’t know whether it would be possible, but it might just be worth a try.
“Hi there, Grace.” I grinned, scratching my head.
I didn’t want to see her struggle with everything, and I didn’t want to lose her.
“What... what did you want?”
Of course, she went right to not acting like she didn’t just ditch all four of us.
“Well, I wanted to just check you are okay. Make sure you got my apology. And talk to you about us.”
She grimaced. She didn’t want to talk about us.
My thoughts went back to Kelly’s words. About how Grace just needed someone.
Seeing Grace now, it was pretty clear she was on the verge of tears, maybe even an outright mental breakdown. And I couldn’t judge what it might be like to walk in her shoes.