Two Blue Lines (Crossing The Line #1) Read Free Page A

friend.
    I gulped a few breaths of air with my head in my hands.
    “Reed?”
    I glanced up at Melissa’s soft voice. “Mel.”
    “Hey.” She walked in and sat beside me, gripping my hand with her icy cold fingers.
    I didn’t look her in the face. I couldn’t. I was a coward. I stared down at our joined hands as she rubbed her thumb along my knuckles; back and forth like she was trying to soothe me. Finally, I swallowed. “They know.” It wasn’t a question.
    I felt her nod. “I had to tell my mom when she found me puking this morning.” I heard the embarrassment in her voice. “Same as every other morning for the past week.”
    I finally met her gaze. Red-rimmed, tear-swollen eyes met mine. “How’d it go? When you told her, I mean.”
    She shrugged one shoulder. “About like you’d expect. She freaked.” It about killed me when she hung her head in shame. “But don’t worry. They haven’t said anything to your parents yet. I know we said we’d do that together.” Man, now I felt like an even bigger coward.
    Something deep inside me—so deep I don’t know where it came from—bubbled up to the surface. I may not like this thing, and I definitely wasn’t sure about it, but it was time to man up. Or at least fake the shit out of it.
    I studied her sweet, troubled face. The face I loved, and had for the past three years. I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips, swallowing her surprised gasp. “Okay.” I stood, tugging her hand. “Let’s go.”

    My little sister, Izzie, was dismissed to her room—thank God—so I didn’t have to listen to any of her stupid questions about how the baby was made or if she was going to get to hold it.
    But, as we sat there with our parents’ eyes trained on us, the news heavy in the air, the thunderous silence reigned supreme for several moments and I wished my sister had been allowed to stay. Heck, I even kinda wished Mel’s brother was there . . . anything to take the edge off.
    Melissa’s parents alternated between looks of disappointment, anger, and general disgust, even though they already knew. It must have been crushing to hear it spelled out again . . . no denying it. Plus, I’m sure it killed them that Mel refused to sit by them. Instead, she clung to my side, her hand gripping mine like a lifeline, her eyes glued to the carpet as though denying anyone eye contact would somehow change the seriousness of the situation.
    My mom just stared at me with tears streaking down her cheeks. I’d expected her crying and disappointment. She’d been on me about getting a summer job and was nagging me constantly about keeping my grades up so I’d get into a good college.
    I knew Melissa’s parents would hate me. Especially her father.
    But it was my dad . . . oh, God . . . I found the most recrimination from him and it cut me to the quick. His steely gaze tore through my newfound manhood as I tried to hold Melissa up and show that I intended to make this right. Whatever the hell that meant.
    Still, I couldn’t help but wonder, where was my Lego fort buddy? The guy who’d taught me to change oil, to shave, the love of comic book collecting? Who I’d emulated since I was three. I thought our bond was unshakable. Guess I was wrong.
    There’d been one hundred and one questions . . .
    Are you kids planning on keeping this baby?
    Surely you don’t expect us to raise it while you get to run around having a normal life?
    You do plan on getting a job, don’t you?
    What about school?
    God, Reed, we thought you were smarter than this! What were you thinking?
    Aren’t you at least considering adoption?
    What about . . . abortion?
    On that whispered question—from her own mother’s mouth—Melissa jumped up and faced down all four parents. “Enough! No, I’m not having an abortion. And, no, I’m not putting this baby up for adoption.” She sucked in a wobbly breath as tears began to course down her cheeks. She swiped them away angrily. “You—” She pointed