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I shake my head before straightening, taking a deep breath. “You can’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you. I want to tell my dad first. Okay?”
He rolls his eyes. “Are you going to tell me you’re pregnant?”
When he laughs, I wince, unable to meet his gaze. “Yes.”
He stops laughing, grabbing my arms. “What? Are you serious? Does CJ know? What did he say? Are you keeping it?”
“Woah, woah, woah, woah. Calm down with the questions. Yes, I’m serious, yes CJ knows, and we’re both happy about it now. We’re keeping him or her. And don’t call my baby an it.”
“Well I couldn’t say they or them, it didn’t bloody sound right.” He removes his glasses, running a hand across his face, looking deep in thought. He turns, pacing, before stopping in front of me, putting his glasses back on. “Wow. Didn’t see this coming. Are you sure this is what you want? CJ hasn’t pressured you into this? You’re really young, Allie. This is a long-term commitment.”
Although I knew people would have doubts, it hurts hearing it. I wasn’t expecting congratulations and a party, but a little faith wouldn’t have hurt.
“We’ve spoken about it thoroughly. We know this isn’t going to be easy, but we’re happy.”
“You’re really going to have a baby?” he asks, just as a face appears around the end of the shelves we’re standing by.
I shrink back when Mr. Flint grins, a sparkle in his eye I don’t like. “Well, well, well. Pregnant. Didn’t think you were the type,” he sneers, eyeing me up and down, making me feel guilty. “You do realise you won’t be able to finish school with a new baby, Miss Davis.”
I go solid at his words and the sneer in his voice. “Mr. Flint, this was a private conversation.”
He looks around the shelves of books, smiling. “Not very private in a public library.”
Alex glances between us, a frown marring his face. “Come on, Allie, let’s get those books finished.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Miss Davis.”
I glance over my shoulder and shudder when I find him leaning against the shelves, his finger tapping his chin like he’s mulling over something. I don’t like it. Not one single bit.
When we’re out of hearing range, Alex leans in and whispers. “That guy really needs to get his arse fired. He shouldn’t speak to you like that. And I’ll get the books. You sit down and start adding them into the computer. I’ll tell Tina I’ll finish returns tomorrow morning when I come in.”
I nod, still feeling a sense of foreboding. “Thank you, Alex. And please, don’t tell anyone what I told you.”
“I won’t. I promise. Is this why you asked us to meet up tomorrow after your dad leaves?”
“Yes. We only want to tell close friends and our parents.”
He rubs my arm. “Well, I promise to act surprised tomorrow,” he tells me, before heading to the back room.
I sit down at the computer, and it’s only when my phone beeps with a message that I realise Alex didn’t congratulate me.
Is this how my other friends will react?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I’m so nervous, I’m sweating profusely. I’ve got five minutes left of class before I have to go home and get ready to meet my father and CJ’s mum. CJ and I have gone over what we’re going to say, and how we’re going to say it, but I still can’t help but keep going over it. We didn’t factor in nerves. We didn’t factor in one or both of our parents cancelling or unloading something on us. It’s not like we can give them the news if something else is going on.
Right?
I glance up from my work and lock eyes with Mr. Flint, who keeps his expression blank, like he has done most of the lesson. He’s kept his distance the entire two hours I’ve been here, and I don’t know whether to be happy about it or not. Because if I’m honest, it’s making me kind of uncomfortable. I feel like he’s up to something, but I can’t figure out what.
I grab my bottle of water, unable to look away from him, and take a swig. He smirks just as I take a swig, and I begin to choke.
Please no, not now.
The water drops from my hands, falling to the floor and spilling everywhere. My stomach rolls and I begin to heave from the water going down the wrong hole.
A hand lightly taps me on the back, causing me to jump. When I peer up at him through watery eyes, I find Mr. Flint standing next to me, holding a new bottle of water.
