Page 78 of Broken

“Okay, yeah. Well, fill me in at lunch?”

I squeezed his hand. “Of course.”

I found Ms. Lane waiting for me when I reached the office, a serious expression on her face.

“Come in.” She waved me over and headed into her office, leaving me to follow. I settled into the padded chair I’d gotten so used to last year as she took a seat at her desk, but the vibe in the room was totally different. Serious. I knew she knew.

Ms. Lane steepled her fingers under her chin, resting her elbows at her desk. As if she was trying to decide the best way to start. Eventually, she sighed.

“The nurse got a call from your mom today, and she asked that I see you. I must say, this was not a situation I ever thought I’d have to pull you in here for.”

I ducked my head, my eyes tearing. It somehow felt like I’d let her down.

I’d let myself down, too.

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, I’m glad you understand this is serious. The nurse told me how far along you are, and I was surprised. You’re not even showing.”

“I just started. My clothes still hide it well.”

“But they won’t forever. Do you want to tell me how you’re feeling? Or maybe what some of your plans are?”

My guard instantly went up. If she was pulling me in becauseMomhad asked her to…

Ms. Lane sighed. “I was hoping this might go easier since we have some history together. I’m honestly just an extra ear if you need to talk. You know how this goes. It stays between us. I won’t tell your mom unless I need to. This is a safe space. Sometimes it helps to talk to someoneoutsideof the situation.”

My shoulders dropped at that. Because I so needed it. Someone I could talk to that wasn’t going to scream at me if I didn’t want to choose adoption. “I’m feeling…” I took a deep breath and ran my fingers back through my hair, pulling it away from my eyes. “Stressed. Pressured. Mom has very strong opinions about what I should do, and so do Tucker’s parents.”

“Tucker’s?” Ms. Lane perked up, but I heard the alarm. “Pierce?”

“Yes.” I sighed. “We’ve been dating since the end of summer. The baby’s his.”

She sucked in a breath, and a stab of hurt hit my gut. Because of course everyone at school was going to hate hearing that the star basketball player with tons of scholarship offers was being dragged down by a baby. By me.

I suddenly felt sick.

“If you don’t mind, Ms. Lane, I think I’d like to go.”

She gave me a sympathetic smile, but sympathy wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t know what I wanted.

“Sure. We can keep this first visit brief.”

“First visit?” I paused before getting up.

“Yes. This will be a lot, no matter what you decide to do, and I’d hate to see you start to struggle again after all the progress you made last year.”

I nodded, the motion robotic. “Can I go now?”

“Yes. But may I at least ask what you plan to do? Your mom mentioned–”

“Adoption.” I cut her off with her hopeful tone. “Right. Of course she did. But no. Tucker and I are keeping it. Sorry to disappoint you, too.”

I rushed out before she could say anything else, my stomach turning. I knew Ms. Lane hadn’t meant to, but Ifelther judgment and how she’d already sided with Mom. That safe space felt gone. Not to mention that now that the school knew, I’d have to start sitting out of dance. The rumors would start soon, looks of pity and judging glares I wasn’t ready for…

I’d known it was coming, but it felt so real now. Right around the corner.

Choking back a sob, I hurried out into the empty hall. The lockers blurred as my tears began to spill, my heeled boots making loud clacking sounds on the tiled floors as I ran. Desperate to get out of sight before the halls flooded with the bell, I burst through the door to one of the girls’ restrooms and collapsed into a tight ball in the back corner, my bag and purse flung against an adjacent wall.

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