Free Baby (Laundromat Chonicles Book 3) by Angie Merriam Page A

for you,” I replied when our kiss broke apart. “Come on, there’s more surprises ahead.” Without giving her a chance to respond the limo driver opens the door and I help her out.
    I waited until just before dessert to give her the tiny box that held the ring I’d bought for her.
    “What’s this, Hap? You’ve already done so much.” She picks the box up from the table, never looking away from me.
    “Just open it.” I encourage.
    “I am, I am…” Slowly, her fingers gently tear the paper away before lifting the box open. Her eyes widen with shock before they mist over with tears. “You got me a ring?”
    “A promise ring. I promise to love you as long as you’ll let me and until we’re old enough for that to be a wedding ring.” My arm stretches across the table to hold hers.
    “Thank you, Hap. I love it and I love you so much.”
    “I love you too. Ready to get out of this place?” I really wanted to kiss her, so badly. She shook her head, quickly gathering her things.
    The one thing I forgot that night was a fucking rubber. After dinner we asked the driver to drive around town while we made out in the back seat. When kissing and touching wasn’t enough, I reached into my wallet for a condom and felt my heart and dick fall when I realized I hadn’t replaced the last one we’d used.
    “I don’t have protection, babe. I’m so sorry.” Sitting back against the seat I took a second to catch my breath. What kind of idiot plans this extravagant of a night and forgets that kind of detail?
    “It’s okay. I just had my period, we’re safe,” she whispered in my ear. It took me a second to comprehend what she was saying.
    “You sure?”
    “Yeah. We’ve only ever been with each other so there is no worry of an STD, and I’m pretty sure we’re safe on the baby thing. Maybe just pull out before you get to that point?” She was biting her bottom lip, a move that never failed to turn me on. Without another word, our mouths crashed into one another and we did it.
    “Hap, babe. Are you okay?” Lena’s voice pulls me from the not so distant past and back into our fucked up future. The best night of my life just shattered. The shock slowly rolls off my body giving way to a full blown panic.
    “No, holy fuck, Lena! Are you sure? I thought you said you couldn’t get pregnant!” The words come out a little more forceful than I intend. I never talk to her like that. I have no control of myself though. The emotions rippling through my system are taking over any bit of rationality I have.
    “I thought we were safe. I’m sorry. I should have never suggested we have sex without a condom. It was just so perfect. I just wanted…” She pauses, her eyes focused on her feet or the ground or something, but definitely not on me.
    I can see she feels horrible and I’m just making it worse. Words start spilling out of my mouth without a thought about her feelings. “Wanted what? To have a baby? What are we going to do? I’m supposed to go to college on a football scholarship, Lena! You’re supposed to go to art school! What the fuck are we supposed to do now?”
    “I don’t know, Hap. No, I didn’t want a baby. I don’t want a baby. I really thought we would be safe. I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.” She finally lifts her face to look at me. Tears begin to fall from her soft blue eyes. My entire body is shaking uncontrollably. I want to hit something. I need to hit something. I need to get this out.
    “FUCK!” I scream before swinging for the tree. My fist crashes into the tree with more force than I anticipated. The moment I pull it away, I see blood dripping down my hand. The pain radiating from my hand to my elbow is a welcome intruder amongst the turmoil wreaking havoc on my mind. My heart.
    “What the hell?” Lena shrieks at me, her face now full of fear. Fear of me. Fear of us. Fear of the situation. Fear of a baby. My same fears. Why am I yelling at her? The one person in the entire world to