I didn’t know that. But Morgan nodded like she did. ‘You can go across the state line to Delaware. There’s a place in Wilmington, about thirty minutes away.’
Ava turned to her with a questioning look.
Morgan glanced at me, then shrugged. ‘Screw it. I had an abortion last December, when Luke and I were still together.’
Ava swatted her arm. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone with you for support.’
‘It was Luke’s fault; the least he could do was sit there and watch daytime TV in the waiting room and drive me home after. That being said, if you want me to come with you – if you have to go – I’m in.’
Ava looked over at me. I frowned. ‘What, you thinkI’mjust in here because I like listening to you pee before I serve old people food for three hours? Yes, I’m going with you.’
We waited in silence for another minute; three down, two to go. Ava and Morgan weren’t looking at the test, but I kept sneaking glances. Trying to stop a second purple line from appearing by sheer force of will.
‘How did you feel after?’ Ava asked. And that seemed like my cue to leave.
‘I’ll give you guys a minute.’
But Morgan stopped me. ‘You don’t have to leave; it’s fine. I know you’re not going to go blabbing around school that I had an abortion – Ava would kick your ass if you did.’
Ava cracked her knuckles like she was getting ready to fight me. She wouldn’t actually beat me up, but she would stop being my friend. And she knew plenty more of my secrets than I knew of Morgan’s.
‘Cramping the first day, but after that, nothing of note.’
Ava rubbed at her own stomach like she was feeling sympathy cramps. ‘No, I mean … like, how did youfeel?’
‘Oh.’ Morgan shrugged. ‘Honestly … relieved. I don’t know how else to say it. I didn’t have to worry about what I was going to do anymore.’
The timer on my phone went off, and I suddenly didn’t want to look at the test on the bathroom counter. The bathroom door popped open, and the second Emma, Emma C., walked in, tying up her blonde hair into a ponytail. She saw me and stopped in the doorway. I stepped in front of the pregnancy test, blocking her view.
‘Occupied,’ Morgan said.
‘What are you doing in here?’ Emma C. asked.
‘Playing hockey,’ I said.
Without saying another word, Emma C. turned and left. Ava laughed, and I turned to see tears in her eyes. She was shaking her head. ‘Whydidwe do this in here?’
‘I think you just like the drama,’ Morgan said.
‘Absolutely,’ Ava and I said at the same time. Ava wiped the tears from her eyes and let out a sigh.
Morgan nodded to the test. ‘You going to look at it?’
‘Okay,’ Ava said. ‘Full disclosure, I’ve been having cramps, and when I woke up this morning my boobs were sore, so I think I’m getting my period. I probably don’t need to look, right?’
‘Are you kidding?’ I asked. It was absolutely a joke she would take this moment to tell, butwasshe kidding? After all this? But I also wasn’t ready to look at it, either, so maybe it really was just her nerves getting to her.
‘Sore boobs arealsoa sign of pregnancy, you know,’ Morgan said.
Ava turned to Morgan. ‘Hey, maybe you can be nice when you’re seating my section tonight?’
Morgan reached behind me and picked up the test. ‘If you were pregnant, maybe I would have, but since you’re not …’ She shrugged and handed the test to me. It was in fact missing the second purple line. Thank fucking God! It felt like a weight off my chest, so I could only imagine how much of a relief it was for Ava.
But as I watched her focus on the test in my hand, it looked like she was still concerned about something. Before I could ask her what was wrong, Morgan spoke up.
‘Now get out of the girls’ room, Tommy.’ She pushed me out the door, pregnancy test still in hand.
And right into Gabe arriving for his shift.
