Page 2 of Chasing Honor

I still couldn’t speak, so once again I nodded.

“Goddamn it, Ethan,” Dad growled. “Follow me.” The three of us walked inside, and my dad pointed to the couch. “Sit.”

For the first time in my life I defied my father’s wishes. “I think I’d rather stand if you don’t mind.”

“How did this happen?” Mom asked.

Dad looked at her with his eyebrow raised. “Seriously, Lily?”

“You know what I mean. We’ve taught you to be safe.”

“We were. The condom broke.” Shit it was embarrassing talking about my sex life with my parents. They knew I was sexually active. They’d always been open and honest with both Carter and me. Mom always stocked the bathroom with condoms, and Dad had talked to us a million times about how to treat girls. But talking about it in the abstract was far different than talking about Chrissy and me doing it.

“What are you going to do?” Dad asked.

I sucked in a breath and stood tall, trying to convey to them something I wasn’t—confident.

“I’m keeping the baby.”

“You are?” Confusion laced my mom’s question. “What about Chrissy?”

“She and her parents talked it over and they’ve decided to put the baby up for adoption. I’ve thought about it and I won’t sign the paperwork. She can give it up, and I’ll take the baby. I’ll raise my child without her.”

“Son,” Dad started. “You’re sixteen. I think we need to sit down and weigh the options before you make a life changing decision based on emotion rather than logic.”

“Would you have given away either of your children?”

“Fuck no,” he answered.

“Then how could you ask me to give away mine?”

“We weren’t sixteen, Ethan. We were adults when your mom got pregnant with Carter.”

“But if it’d happened when she was sixteen, would you have then?”

My dad’s face turned red, and I knew I had him. He didn’t need to answer, I knew he would’ve never entertained the idea of his child being given up for adoption.

“Ethan,” Mom whispered, the tears I’d dreaded brimming in her eyes. “Your dad and I want what’s best for you. Taking care of a baby is hard work. Being a parent is forever. I don’t think you understand how hard it will be to do it alone.”

I looked at the two people I loved most in the world, shock, disappointment, and anger shone in their eyes. My stomach twisted knowing I’d done that to them.

“I know you’re both worried for me. I know you’re disappointed and pissed. I hope one day you’ll both forgive me, because I know I can’t do this alone—I’ll need both of you. I may only be sixteen, but dad has shown me every day what it is to be a good dad, a good man. This is my child. Mine. I will not give up on it before he or she is even born. You’ve both taught me better than that. I’m taking responsibility. Chrissy and her parents have made their choice, and I’ve made mine. This baby is a Lenox and will be raised as one.”

“You’re finishing school,” my mom instructed. “When Carter leaves in a few months for the Naval Academy, we’ll move you into his room in the basement. There’s enough space down there for you and the baby. I’ll get together with your aunts and we’ll get it baby proofed and ready.”

“Thank you,” I choked out.

“Lily, give me a minute alone with Ethan.”

My mom closed the short distance between us and pulled me into a hug, rolling up on her toes she kissed my cheek.

“I love you, Ethan.”

“I love you, Mama.”

My dad waited for my mom to leave the room, and I braced for his ire. He’d kept himself in check in front of my mom, but I saw the blast coming.

“Fucking hell, Ethan.”