Free My Forever by Jolene Perry Page B

have to get back to work, but I’ll be home for dinner.”
     
    “Thank you,” I say. It just doesn’t seem to cover it.
     
    She leaves, and i t’s so quiet . I sit on the couch with very little idea of what to do with myself. Why am I not tired anymore? I suddenly need a shower. After spending the night in a Denny’s, anyone would need a shower.
     
    It feels strange, helping myself to a bathroom I’ve never been in before. I rub my hands over the small bump of my stomach . It’s growing so fast. I wonder if I’ll be able to finish the school year without obviously being the pregnant girl.
     
    Standing in their bathroom makes me realize how little I have. I have nothing. I’m using their shampoo. I’ll have to borrow Tracy’s deodorant. I do a quick wipe with my hand both before and after I put the stuff on my armpits. I’m not sure what time it is or when Michael will be home so I wrap the towel around me tightly as I go my new room.
     
    The contents of the pack that Daniel brought to me are better than I expect ed . My cheeks heat up when I realize he emptied my underwear drawer—or maybe Hannah did . There’s also a pair of pajamas and some socks. Not a lot , but more than I thought I’d have this morning. I slide on my pajama pants and the Mr s. Pac-Man shirt . Thoughtful of him. My sweatshirt has been my constant companion since I found out I was pregnant. I slide it back on.
     
    I brush through my long dark hair and sit on the pale couch . Even after using the bathroom and putting my things in my room, I’m afraid to touch anything. I lie back against the cushions and fall asleep in the quiet . I startle awake when the door opens.
     
    Michael walks in from school, but Tracy isn’t with him. “Tracy’s at school for a student government thing. M om’s going to pick her up on her way home. Is it okay that it’s just us here?”
h
e a sks as he stands close to the front door.
     
    Like what would we do about it if it wasn’t ?
     
    I laugh. Wow, I’ll be living with Michael. Another thing to go on my list of things I never thought I’d do.
     
    “So, it’s okay?”
h
e asks again.
     
    “Yeah, it’s fine. I do have brothers. I can handle boys.”
     
    “I see.” He cocks a brow before sitting down on the love seat across from me. “I’m sorry. I feel partially responsible for getting you kicked out of your house.” He’s leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees , and looking through his thick lashes at me. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to his deep eyes that see so much more than he lets on— because I’m sure they do.
     
    “No.” I shake my head. “I haven’t done anything that I didn’t either ask for or choose myself.”
     
    “Well, I disagree. No one deserves to be kicked out of their parents’ home.” His eyes don’t leave mine.
     
    I don’t respond. How am I supposed to when he’s looking at me like this? Then I notice that his left eye is swollen up and bruising quickly.
     
    “What happened to you?” I stand up and step toward him.
     
    “It’s nothing.” He shakes his head, and heads for the kitchen.
     
    “It’s not nothing .” I follow.
     
    “Promise you won’t feel bad if I tell you? And that you won’t tell my mom?” He looks over his shoulder.
     
    Oh no . I stop. Sinking, sinking in my chest and my stomach, this is not good. “Daniel?” I ask. Why do I ask, I know I just really, really don’t want it to be Daniel.
     
    He nods once. I want to cry again, only I don’t want to cry again because I never want to cry again. I bite my lip instead.
     
    He reaches over and touches the side of my face. “It’s okay, Dani.” His eyes look soft and keep me breathless for a moment. He looks at me the way I want him to look at m e. His hand is still on my face, slowly melting me. It’s warm and smells like him.
     
    I close my eyes and enjoy the butterflies in my stomach.
     
    He suddenly turns around , dropping his hand and pulling