I was alone at home and bored. I’d been looking at college options—local ones—but there was only so long I could keep it up. At least, when I did it at Adele’s place, I could look up and see her sitting not too far away from me.She was the whole reason I was going through with this, after all. Having my motivation right there was usually enough to keep me going.Of course, I wasn’t doing it just for her. I was doing it for us, for our future. For the baby. I was still keeping it under wraps while trying to find the best time to tell Adele this good piece of news. That I might be going to the same college she would, so we wouldn’t have to be separated. At least, not for too long if she ended up waiting until after she had the baby to go. And then, we could raise him or her together.She’d been going to the doctors. Lately, I thought to myself. Is it still too early for an ultrasound? Then we could find out if the baby is a boy or a girl…I wasn’t sure that was something she’d want to

I don’t know how long we sat there, but it was done in companionable silence. I didn’t know what else to say, and Adele was nice enough to just sit there with me after what I’d done to her.I don’t deserve someone this wonderful, I thought to myself.“Liam?”I looked up, a little startled when Adele called my name out of nowhere. She was staring straight ahead with her lips pursed and this distracted expression on her face. She didn’t say anything for a long moment, but then she turned to me.“Are you serious about looking for the surrogate?” she asked.Her expression was completely serious, and I decided I wouldn’t take the question lightly. I thought about it, seriously.What good could come of knowing who it was? Probably nothing. They’d obviously moved on, if they hadn't tried to at least get to meet me. For all I knew, it could have happened at some point and Dad just hadn't mentioned that part, but that was probably just wishful thinking. I shouldn’t be raising my own hopes so c

I wasn’t sure how long we lay there, both of us silent. I’d gone completely soft, and we’d shifted around enough that I’d pulled out of her. But she was still lying in my arms, only with me on my back and her half on top of my chest. I held her to me, with one hand carding through her soft hair.“I’m sorry,” I said, once I couldn’t stand the silence anymore.She hummed, then shifted on my chest, folding her hands on top of me, then resting her chin on them as she smiled up at me.“You said that before,” she reminded me. “When we were getting on your bike.”I grimaced. “Yeah, but that was a pathetic attempt at an apology. It doesn’t really count. I just really need you to know how fucking sorry I am…”I didn’t get far, before she was stopping me with her fingers on my mouth. She moved so she was a bit above me, bracing her body with her elbow. Her smile went from teasing to sweet, and she pecked a quick kiss on my jaw before meeting my eyes again.“Liam, you really don’t need to explai

Hours later, everyone was assembled in the school auditorium for the graduation ceremony. The graduates were up on stage while the guests took up the rest of the room. It was mostly silent as the names were called out, then a short round of applause as the student got up to go and pick up their diploma.Since we were arranged alphabetically by surname, I wasn’t sitting with Liam or any of my friends. I only vaguely knew the people I sat with, but none of it mattered because very few of us even bothered with talking. We all had the same objective, after all; to get through graduation as quickly as possible. Even for those that hadn't exactly hated high school, we were all relieved to have it over with.Finally, it came to my name. I got up from my seat nervously and made my way to the stage and to the podium. It was a pretty short walk, but the whole room was quiet at that time, and I was the center of attention, so I worried.All sorts of things went through my mind, then. I could hav

Once again, it was Liam and me alone in a room, only this time, it was his. I’d called and told him I was coming over when Mom let me know that his dad would be coming over to our place. While I wasn’t about to interfere with my mom’s relationships, it was still so strange for me to have the two of them dating. So, I left the house the moment she told me he was coming over, and I carried an outfit with me.Even though it was more than a week later, we were finally going to have a graduation party. I didn’t know all the people who were throwing the party, but nearly everyone would be there. I didn’t bother letting Mom know, I just told her I’d be at some friends’ places. Besides, she was planning a romantic dinner or something. I wouldn’t be surprised if she took advantage of the fact that I was out to get a little fun.I pushed those thoughts out of my mind quickly as I shoved open Liam’s door.“Hey,” he said, looking up.He was seated at his desk, playing on his phone, but he put it