Free Abandon by Cassia Leo Page B

it. “I’m pregnant.”
    Claire is frozen, stunned, for a moment before she looks back and forth between Senia and me. “How? You and Eddie have been broken up for three months.”
    Ugh. I can’t stand that guy’s name. Sounds like a fucking sleazy truck driver.
    Senia’s shoulders slump as she shrinks in her seat. “It’s not Eddie’s.”
    Claire is confused until Senia nods toward me. “When? What the hell’s going on?”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you because of everything going on with Abigail,” Senia continues. “It was just a one-night thing a few weeks ago and, we were careful, but I didn’t get my period last week.”
    She just lied to Claire and said we used protection. I try not to laugh out loud at this.
    “Wait a minute. A few weeks ago?” Claire replies. “Thanksgiving was two weeks ago. I thought you were going to tell him to stop texting you.”
    “We ran into each other at Yogurtland and it just sort of happened. I didn’t give him my number. I mean, I’m not stupid .”
    “Hey!” I interject. “How about a little gratitude for the guy whose seed is sprouting inside of you?”
    “Ew,” Senia replies without looking at me. “That’s why I was wondering how he got my number and texted me on Thanksgiving. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it, but I was ashamed of myself for giving in. I was feeling so shitty because Eddie kept texting and calling. I just wanted to do something to take my mind off of him.”
    I suppress my feelings about hearing his trashy name as I softly lay my hand on the back of her neck. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, sweetheart.”
    As expected, she pushes my hand off. “Stop it.”
    I smile as I lean back, but the look on Chris’s face quickly wipes the smile off mine. He looks like he did the day he ran into Claire at The Pour House in Downtown Raleigh; the day he found out that Claire had been keeping the worst kind of secret a person can keep from him. He shoots up from the table and heads for the exit.
    I stand up to go after him, but Claire puts her hand out to stop me. “Not now.”
    Watching her chase after Chris, I try not to get upset when I realize that Chris needs her more than he needs his best friend. He always has.
    I take a seat in the booth and Senia is looking at me with an expression on her face that looks slightly like admiration. “What?”
    She smiles and sighs softly. “You’re a good friend.”
    I roll my eyes because this topic makes me feel uncomfortable. No one – not even Chris – knows that he basically saved me from a life of crime and drugs when he asked me if I wanted to start a band.
    “No, don’t do that. Don’t belittle it. You’re a good friend,” she insists, then she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before she continues. “And you’ll make a great father.”
    I stare at the table for a moment, lost in thoughts of what it will be like to hold a human being that I made in my hands. I can write a song and I can play it until my fingers bleed, but I can’t carry music in my hands. I can’t touch it or smell it. I can’t give it my heart.
    I look up and her gaze meets mine. “Move in with me. Let me take care of you.”
    Her mouth hangs open at the sound of my words. I reach forward and lift her chin with my finger to close her mouth. She pulls my hand away from her chin and I smile as her mouth drops open again.
    “I … I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “Why? I’m not far from campus and you won’t have to worry about telling your parents about the baby until you’re ready.”
    “Not far from campus? You’re at least thirty minutes from UNC. Besides, living with you is not something I would consider a smart decision.”
    “I’m not asking you to move in so we can have worry-free sex all day long. I’m asking because you need someone to take care of you now that Claire is moving out.”
    “Can you ever be serious? Is that really your best attempt at convincing