She looks at me incredulously. “Then, Jace, how do you know?”
“I could see it in her eyes. She was convinced this was the only option.”
“And that was the time for you to tell her otherwise. What happened to being honest?”
“I froze,” I admit as her hands come up to wipe my face.
“Jace, you don’t freeze.”
My mouth quirks as I laugh with no humor at all. “On the ice, no. But this, this froze me. I was so overloaded with emotion, and she was so sure. I didn’t know how to tell her I didn’t agree.”
“You have to.”
I pause, biting my lip before glancing over at her. “But what if she still wants to go along with it?”
She looks deep into my eyes and shrugs. “Then I really don’t think y’all will come back from this.”
And that’s what I need. I want honesty and my sister doesn’t play.
“You won’t look at her the same if she does this. You’ll love her, but you’ll forever regret it, and one day you’ll blame her. Be honest, Jace. Reassure her that you guys have got this because I really don’t think she wants to do this. I think she wanted you to step up, tell her you wanted the baby, that you would do this with her, and you didn’t do that. She’s probably scared out of her mind.”
“She is.”
“Then talk to her.”
When my phone sounds, I pull it out of my pocket to see it’s her.
“Speak of the devil,” she mutters, shaking her head.
Avery: Where did you go?
Me: Had to run out to my mom’s house to drop some money off to her.
Avery: At six in the morning?
Me: Yeah, I forgot to tell you last night and I didn’t want to wake you.
“That’s a dumb lie. I don’t know why you’re lying at all. She knows you’re close to us and will tell us,” Lucy says with a yawn.
“Yeah, but I want to talk to her in person.”
“Oh, true.”
“And you can’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t, psycho,” she bites out as my phone goes off again.
Avery: Oh. Well. My appointment is in an hour. Are you gonna be back in time?
“Fuck.”
Lucy shakes her head. “Man, this is a mess.”
“You can say that again,” I say as I text Avery back real quick and I stand up.
Me: I’m so sorry, I’m leaving now. I’ll meet you there. Text me the address.
Avery: Okay.