“It means we need to make a decision. Together.”
“I can’t tell you what to do with your body.”
Yeah, that’s a copout and I know it, but it’s the only thing I can think to say.
Because this isn’t going to end well. For either of us.
“It’s your baby too.” She hesitates. “Do you want me to get a paternity test? I guess there’s a non-invasive blood test they can do that’s accurate. But I can’t afford it.”
“Oh. Uh, how much do you need?” Why do I feel like such a jerk?
“I don’t know,” she whispers. “I didn’t get all the information yet because I wasn’t sure what…you might want me to do.”
“Get the test,” I say abruptly. “Okay? Text me what you need from me, like if I have to go to a lab or something, and send me the information on where to send payment. Once we do that, let’s talk again.”
“But what do you want to do?” she says a little more firmly. “Do you want me to…get rid of it?”
“I don’t know!” I snap, my voice rising a little.
Fuck.
Yelling at her isn’t going to make the situation better.
“Don’t you think that would be best?” I ask instead. “You’re not in a place to take care of a kid, and I definitely am not. I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t want to do, but this is a disaster, Summer.”
“Believe me, I know.”
“So why didn’t you just take care of it?”
God, I’m a fucking asshole.
“I wish I knew. I just…couldn’t go in.”
Great.
This means she wants to keep it.
A baby.
I’m twenty-six years old, about to go on an international tour, and a woman who isn’t even my girlfriend is trying to tie me down.
I can’t do it.
I don’t want to do it.
“Well, now what?” I demand in a surly tone.
“I just thought…you should know. That maybe you could…help me decide what to do.”
“We both know what the smart decision would be.”
“An abortion.”
“Like I said, I don’t want to force you to do or not do anything you’re not comfortable with, but I’m not going to be great dad material so all of this is going to fall on you. I can send money, but beyond that, what do you want from me?”
There’s a long, uncomfortable silence.
I know I’m being an ass, but this is—I can’t even wrap my head around this new development.
