Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 11299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 38(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11299 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 45(@250wpm)___ 38(@300wpm)
I glance at my phone to see if he has texted, but he hasn’t. Not that I’m surprised.
Hurt? Yeah, for sure.
“Ready?” Molly asks me, and somehow, I nod.
She and Lana get out first, but before I can do the same, Callie takes hold of my hand. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Callie’s face is so kind and sweet, and she nods before she says, “Then, let’s go.”
We get out together, and I bring my ball cap lower on my forehead as I glance back at the car with the other girls. When I see Shantae get out, my eyes widen. She locks eyes with me and gives me a curt smile, and a knot forms in my chest.
She opens her umbrella, just as everyone else does, and comes up to me. “I don’t agree with what you’re doing, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be here for you. You are my sister.”
I feel a twitch in my lip, almost like a sob is fighting to come out, but I can’t allow it to escape. I start crying now, I’ll never stop.
I look to where I’ve been spotted by the anti-choice crows, and my heart kicks up in speed. I have fought past every fear I’ve ever had. Gymnastics is not easy, and it’s sure as hell scary, but I have never given up. I made this choice. My choice. And I have to own it. I force my shoulders back and my chest up, and then I’m surrounded by my teammates with bright rainbow golf umbrellas. A calmness falls over me as Callie and Molly come shoulder to shoulder with me, and then the rest of the team fills in around me.
I hear someone say, “We’ll walk on the outside of you guys,” just as we start the long walk up the clinic. I think the parking lot needs to be attached to this place, but I will never be back here. I’ll be surprised if I ever have sex again, to be honest. It’s not worth this pain, the tears, or even the mindfuck all this has caused. I hear people screaming and yelling, but then Callie starts to sing “I Am Woman” by Emmy Meli. Soon, everyone is singing with her, and that’s when the tears start to fall in rivers down my face. I have never felt so loved in my life by a group of girls. This sport is not always kind; it can be very toxic when it comes to the female relationships since everyone is fighting to be on top, but that’s not how it is in college. In college, you’re part of a team. A family. A sisterhood.
I am so thankful for them.
I sing along as best as I can, and when people move from in front of me, I find the door is open and a woman is standing there with a clipboard.
“Name?”
“Cameron White,” I say as loud as I can since everyone is still singing at the top of their lungs.
“Okay, Ms. White. Your ride is already inside, waiting.”
“Huh?” I ask, hooking a thumb to Callie. “She’s here.”
The nurse gives me a look and then says, “So, Benson Jeannot isn’t your ride?”
I look past her to see Benny leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He glances up just as I see him, and he pushes off the wall, looking all big and sexy and protective.
“Why didn’t you text me you were here?” he asks as he comes to take my hand.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” I say as he guides me in. I look behind me to find Callie grinning as she waves. She puts her hand to her ear and mouth as if to call her, and I nod as the doors shut.
“I said I would be here.”
“But you didn’t text me all weekend.”
“I wanted to give you space,” he says softly, and then the nurse is asking questions. She hands me an iPad for information, and together, Benny and I sit. His knee is bouncing out of control, almost matching the cadence of my heart. The room is empty and quiet. It’s not as ugly as movies sometimes portray abortion clinics to be. It’s actually really nice and welcoming. Flowers and even a fish tank fill the space where the couches and seats aren’t. I finish the questionnaire on the iPad, and Benny takes it from me to turn in. I watch as they say something to him, and I wipe my eyes when he comes back.
“What did they say?”
“They asked if I was the father.”
“That’s none of their business,” I mutter, and he nods.
“Yeah.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I was.”
We share a look, and something moves in my chest. Before I start crying or fall in love with him, I look away, nodding. We sit for only a second before he asks, “Are you sure?”