Choices Read Online Free

lip, contemplating my next move.
    “Nick?” My mom asks, startling me. I meet her gaze and just shake my head. She gives me an encouraging smile. I plop down on my bed, phone in hand, silently asking for guidance from whoever might be listening.
    If Nick left me, I don’t know what I’d do. I don’t know if I could raise a baby on my own with no money or a place to live. I’m not strong enough. I feel a tear slide down my cheek.
    Son of a bitch, I’m getting so emotional. I need to get them under control before I fall apart. It can’t be good for the fetus. Wow, I just said fetus as if it’s the most normal occurrence in one’s life. My mother slides on the bed next to me. She grabs my shoulders and squeezes. I look to her, hoping she has good advice.
    “You gonna tell him tonight?”
    “Should I? I’m so scared mom. What if this news leaves me alone to face the biggest change of my life? I can’t raise a baby on my own.” She closes her eyes, grabs my hand and silently prays. Well, that’s what it looks like she’s doing.
    When she opens her eyes, she smiles, a real pretty motherly smile. Okay mom, what the Hell you up to?
    “You should tell him tonight. He needs to know. If he leaves you, then he’s an asshole and not worth a damn. But at least he’ll know and it will be one less thing to stress about.” Great, what useful advice. Thanks mom!
    I hit the reply button on my phone and text back. “We need to talk.” My fingers are shaking and hover over the buttons. I close my eyes and hit send.
     

Chapter 4
    Nick picks me up about a half hour later. His black car is a little dirty, clothes and school stuff strewn all over the back seat. He gives me a kiss as I get in.
                  “You look beautiful baby. Sorry I’ve been so busy lately. I’ve got some great news to share.” I’ve got news too, not sure if it qualifies as great though. My stomach is in all kinds of knots and I almost ask him to pull over so I can vomit. I can’t tell if it’s due to the pregnancy or if it’s because my nerves are shot to hell. But I’m betting it could be both. He grabs my hand and massages my knuckles with his thumb. Oh yes, keep doing that. It’s totally relaxing me. I watch out the window as the cars and trees fly by.
                  “Where are we going?” I ask still looking out the window.
                  “I thought I’d take you to the baseball fields. It’s our place of peace. We love it there. Is that okay?” He asks. I glance at him and smile.
                  “Yeah, sounds great. Can I have a drink first? I’m a little thirsty.”
                  “How about we stop and get some food and take it to the fields.” I nod and grin. I could use some food, except I’m not sure that’s a good idea depending on how this goes down. I wonder what kind of good news he’s talking about. Maybe he found a love for something other than football so when I tell him my news he’ll be ecstatic for us to be a family and start our life together after graduation. Then we can move to Florida or California and get a beach house or something. Oh that would really make me happy. Even if we lived in an apartment or smaller house, I wouldn’t care. As long as I had him by my side, nothing else would matter.
                  “Gracie.” I mechanically move my head in his direction, unsure what he said.
                  “Huh?” I say.
                  “What do you want to eat?” I look out his window and see he had pulled up to a Jack in the Box to get food. Ick that is not what I had in mind. Nothing.
                  “I’ll just have a chicken Panini and a coke.” I tell him. There is one thing that’s for sure, when I was a little girl I played dress up all the time and pretended to be a princess and was rescued by the most fascinatingly charming man in all the land. Sure, it was make