I straighten my back, draw in a deep breath, and tell myself to focus. I’ll get to see Nate’s face later on our video call, and if he gets his way, I’m going to see a lot more of him than what’s above the shoulders.
I look around, making sure I’m still alone. I know people can’t read my dirty mind when I’m thinking of him, but it doesn’t make the embarrassment any less. I got caught last week, and the other paraprofessional was in the room halfway through her reheated lunch before I realized I wasn’t by myself.
I continue to work, pausing when the phone rings.
“Teacher’s lounge,” I say after putting the receiver to my ear.
“April?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I recognize the principal’s voice immediately.
“You have a visitor up front. Is it your lunch break?”
I look over at the massive clock hanging on the wall. “In three minutes.”
“It’s fine. Go ahead and come up.”
I’m light on my feet, nearly dancing down the hall toward the front office, thinking Nate’s trip got canceled. I skid to a halt when I step inside. Nate isn’t in here. Cory Clark is standing in the middle of the room with a scowl on his face.
That look of disgust only strengthens when his eyes drop to my belly. I place both of my hands over my stomach, a protective action. Before, I wouldn’t think Cory would physically hurt me, but I also never imagined him breaking my heart and turning into a monster right before my eyes either. I’ve learned to not trust him at all.
Papers shuffle to the right making me realize we aren’t the only two in the office. A quick glance tells me there are no less than four others in the room, and I can tell they’re eager to know what’s going on. The tension is rolling off Cory, and I know I shouldn’t ask him to speak privately, but this is my place of employment. The last thing I want is my personal drama becoming the talk of the teachers and staff.
“Let’s speak outside.”
Cory shoves open the office door, uncaring that it swings back and nearly hits me. He does the same with the front entrance of the school, and I guess I should be thankful that the windows to the front office are on the opposite side of the building, meaning those inside won’t bear witness to whatever is about to happen.
“Why are you here?” I snap, the second the front door closes behind us.
The air out here is smothering, but being near him again makes it ten times worse.
“I need you to have an abortion.” He glares at my stomach again. “I was hoping you already had, but apparently you haven’t.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. I checked New Mexico state laws and there’s not even a wait time. Come on. I’ll drive you. The nearest one is three hours away in Albuquerque.”
“I’m not getting an abortion, Cory. Just go home and leave me alone. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“I can’t do that,” he seethes. “Because you were running your mouth, my parents found out that you were pregnant. I’ve been looking for you for months. I had to pay the PI all the money I’ve been saving for years to get your information first. I have three fucking days before he hands that shit over to my parents. I need it gone before then.”
I cringe away from his use of the word in such a derogatory way, as if he’s speaking of some sort of disease I caught.
“They want me to keep it?”
He laughs, a malicious, horrible sound. “They don’t want you to keep it, April. They want the baby.”
My hands wrap around my middle as I take a step back. “They can’t have my baby.”
“They can and they will, and since it’s the last thing either of us want, let’s just go take care of it.” He reaches for my arm, and I move even further away, my back nearly plastered against the glass of the front entrance.
“Don’t touch me,” I hiss.
“Oh, believe me, bitch, I wish I never had. They’re not going to let me go to college because of this shit. You ruined my fucking life, and your dead-fish pussy isn’t worth it.”
My mouth falls open. I have no idea who this man is. Even the confrontation the day I found out I was pregnant wasn’t this bad.
“Sign over your rights if you don’t want responsibility. I’m not having an abortion, and your parents aren’t getting my baby.”
He inches closer, his breath hotter than the sun beating down on me. “Are you not listening? If that baby still exists when they find you, my life is ruined. Get an abortion and then get knocked up by that biker you’ve been fucking for the last month.”
“You mean my husband?” I snap, my anger growing by the second.