Page 61 of Breaking News

“Sure, as long as you promise not to eat seafood in front of me.”

“I was thinking Subway. Do you want your usual turkey and provolone?”

Olivia froze and then slowly looked up at him like he’d just made the most offensive, idiotic suggestion she’d ever heard. “No. I want a veggie sub instead,” she said, glancing down at her feet as she added, “please.”

Graham let a short laugh slip out before he asked, “A veggie sub? Since when do you like those?”

She dropped her fingers from her hair and frowned up at him “If you’re going to laugh at me, never mind.” She started to turn away, but Graham grabbed her arm.

“Wait, Livvy, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve just never seen you order one before. I saw you picking the tomatoes off your salad the other day. What do you think they put on a veggie sub, sweetie?”

She wriggled from his grasp. “That’s so condescending. I’ll take care of my own lunch,” she muttered before disappearing around the corner toward my cubicle again.

My stomach turned, and Graham’s mouth fell agape. “Was I an asshole just now?”

“No,” I answered, shaking my head as I pushed backward in my stool. “But it might be smart to give her some space. I think I’m going to go talk to her.”

I touched his arm as I stood up, and we locked eyes. “Please,” he said, pausing to swallow. “Let me know how it goes.”

My heart tugged at the notion of him trusting me to handle this. Maybe it was just because I was a woman who might be able to relate to her better, or maybe it was because he knew Olivia actually liked me. Either way, I knew I’d have to approach it gently.

I found Olivia sitting in her usual chair in my cubicle, the Concerned Citizens of Woodvale group open on her laptop. She didn’t look up when I sat down, turning in my chair to face her.“If you’re trying to improve your mood, that group is a terrible place to start.”

“Actually, a bunch of Karens are crying about the splash pad being too loud, and it’s kind of making my day,” Olivia deadpanned.

I folded my hands over the knee of my white linen pants. “Is it just me, or was your dad being just a little judgy about your veggie sub?”

I knew I had to be on her level first before she’d open up to me. And just like I hoped she would, Olivia spun her chair around to face me. “Oh my God. Right?” She let out an exasperated grunt. “He still treats me like I’m a five-year-old, and I’m sick of it. I’m not his little girl anymore.”

I nodded slowly, knowing that to Graham, she’d always be his little girl. But I couldn’t say that to her right now. At least, not in those words. “It seems like he’s having trouble grappling with the fact that you’re this professional young woman now. That means he has to admit to himself that you’re all grown up. Maybe he’s just not ready.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, he needs to get ready,” she mumbled, barely opening her mouth.

I studied her for a minute, getting the impression she might be on the verge of sharing something personal. It would just take the slightest amount of coaxing. “Has something… changed recently?” I asked, keeping my voice low just in case someone else was lurking around.

Olivia looked up, crossing her arms against her chest. Before she even said the words, I was putting the puzzle pieces together. What would force a teenage girl to grow up even faster than she wanted to?

She licked her lips. “If I tell you what’s going on, do you promise not to tell my dad?”

My heart sped up and my skin felt hot all over. This girl was about to drop something major, and no matter what it was, I wouldnottell Graham. “I won’t say a word,” I said, planting both feet flat on the floor and rolling chair close enough that I could lightly touch her knee with my fingertips. I met her gaze with all the sincerity I could offer “You can trust me, Olivia.”

And without even a beat of hesitation, she whispered, “I’m pregnant.”

I held my breath, finally hearing the words I’d expected were coming. That didn’t make them any less heavy. There was real fear in her voice and her eyes right now, and she looked so young all of a sudden.

“Oh, honey,” I said, giving her knee a pat. “Thank you for trusting me with that secret. How far along are you?”

“Seven weeks.” She adjusted her folded arms. “I went to Planned Parenthood last week—that’s why I left early that one day.”

“Oh, wow. Going there was definitely the right move. Does your boyfriend know?”

She nodded, staring down at her fingernails. “Yeah. He kind of freaked when I first told him, but he’s all in now. Like, he even drove to Barnes and Noble and bought this baby book for dads.”

She looked up with a little smile, and I chuckled. “Um, hello, adorable,” I said, making her laugh, too. “He gets major points for that.”

Olivia nodded, but her smile faltered a little. “Nobody knows besides him and my friend, Sasha. And now… you.”

“You haven’t told your mom, either?”

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