Bracing the Blue Line Read Online Free Page B

does she mean by that?
    Audra turns around to face me. “That's why I came here, Neil.”
    “For me to tell you what to do?”
    “No, the only reason I'm here is because I thought you deserved the chance to make a choice. You've made it.” With that, she turns and walks out the door.
    That's it? It was that easy? When I look at Bo, he's pissed. What for? Problem solved. I'm out of the equation. He gets up and bolts out the door. Where the fuck is he going? I take a deep breath of relief at the bullet I dodged. That could have ruined my life in so many ways, but now, it's all over and done with. I don't have to worry about it anymore.
    “What the fuck was that?” Bo asks angrily as he walks back into the room. “Neil, that could very well be your kid she's carrying and the best you could do was freak out and tell her to put it up for adoption? You have a responsibility!”
    His words stir me to stand up and begin to pace again. “She said she was considering it anyway, Bo. I don't need that responsibility. I have enough as it is.”
    “Then you should have kept your dick in your pants!” he explodes.
    I ignore that. “What did you do when you went outside?” I ask.
    “I apologized for your dumb ass.” His voice turns eerily calm as he continues. “You can't do this, Neil. You know better from the first time.”
    “Don't even go there, Bo! I will beat the shit out of you without a second thought.” He will not bring that up. Not now and especially not when that girl doesn't mean anything to me. There is no comparison.
    “Then do it,” he challenges. “You know, I'm glad you knocked her up because I'm sick of you fucking everything with tits, which has only put you back in the very situation you were-”
    “Stop!” I yell. My pulse can be felt everywhere, throbbing in my fingertips, my neck, and my forehead. My hands are clenched in fists by my side. Bo is walking in dangerous territory, and he damn well knows it. “I'm warning you. Open your mouth one more time, and I'll rip you to pieces.”
    He stares at me, waiting for me to break, and it makes me want to punch him that much more. I've never wanted to hit him as badly as I do right now. He's my best friend, but at this very second, I don't give a flying fuck. I turn and walk out the front door, slamming it hard enough that the windows rattle. Then I get in my car, and I leave.
    Fuck him.
    I drive around aimlessly, eyeing the gas needle before finally deciding to stop and fill up. I can't believe Bo would bring that up. It's not something we talk about and the only time we acknowledge it is on Sundays.
    “Fuck,” I mutter, kicking my tire halfheartedly. This isn't what I want to think about. Not at all. Thinking about it means bringing back memories I don't want to have and an awful pain reminding me that it was all real. Regardless of what Bo says, I like my life the way it is. If I want to sleep with three different girls in one weekend, then that's my decision. If I want to party and have fun, then so be it. If I want to put myself first and foremost to keep history from repeating itself, then who is he to tell me I can't?
    History has already started to repeat itself though. I've made the choice. I'm not going to change my mind either. I do not need nor want a kid or a baby momma. Sighing, I eventually go back to the house to grab my things for practice. We've got a game tonight, and I need to focus on that and nothing else. Being the captain of the Salem University hockey team requires me to be at my best because when I'm off my game, it travels to my teammates.
    But being on the ice doesn't bring me comfort today. Not in the least. I'm making snide comments to everyone, almost hoping to piss them off too. I'm being selfish and a terrible leader, but all I can think about is the way Audra looked when she said she had to gather the courage to come find me. Winston was smiling earlier in the locker room, and it's pissed me off. If I'm not happy,