Someone Like Us | Completed ✓

Chapter Two: Baby Daddy

Week 1: April 8

Ace stood in the middle of his living room with his foster family and his biological brother, Kyle. Joan and her parents were sitting on the couch next to Ace's family.

Ace was painfully aware of the paper bag that Joan was holding very tightly and the way she was clutching her stomach. He looked from person to person. "What's going on?" he asked. He looked at his foster mother, Emily. She shrugged. "It's not my news to share," she whispered. "I'm sorry, honey." 

Ace looked at his girlfriend, whom he'd been dating since they were thirteen. Currently, they were sixteen. "What's the matter?" he asked. "This is freaking me out, Jo. Out with it."

Joan started crying again and covered her mouth. Concerned Ace started to go forward to comfort her, but she held up a hand to stop him and shook her head. She uncovered her mouth. "I'm pregnant," she burst.

Ace's jaw dropped. He stumbled backward like he was going to faint, and his foster dad Ellis jumped forward and eased him into a chair.

Ace covered his mouth with his hands. His eyes were wide. "No," he choked out. 

Jo nodded. "Yes."

"I thought you said—"

"Birth control isn't always foolproof, hon," Emily said gently. "You know about this?" Ace cried. Emily, Ellis, Nick (Emily and Ellis's son), and Kyle nodded. "I'm the last one to know?!" Ace yelled.

"I wanted to tell my dad first. And then we came here, and mom and dad told your family next," Joan said. "I'm sorry, I really am! I would have called you first thing, but I don't want to do this all by myself. I would mess everything up."

Ace didn't say a word. He squeezed his eyes shut as he struggled not to cry. Nick and Kyle got up to hug him. "Ace?" Jo said anxiously. Ace shook his head. "I... I don't even know," he croaked. "I don't even know. I don't. I... I'm not ready." He took a deep breath and took Nick's hand. Nick squeezed and hugged Ace tight.

Ace looked at Joan. His eyes were glassy with tears. "Do we even know for sure?" he said. Joan handed him the paper bag. Ace took his hands away from his mouth and reached inside the bag. He pulled out the three positive pregnancy tests, double-checked all of them, and started to sob. He covered his mouth again for a second, then dropped them on the floor and covered his whole face.

"Ace?" Joan peeped. Ace looked up at her. "A-are you going to leave me like all those other guys do?" Joan whispered. Ace gasped. "Gosh, Jo! Heck no!" He shot out of his chair, knelt on the floor in front of her, and hugged her as tight as he could. "Heck no," he repeated. He kissed her stomach.

Then he stopped and looked up. "But at-home tests can be wrong, right?" he said, almost hopefully, which made Joan a bit sad. He looked at his mom. Emily bit her lip. "Well, yes..." she said slowly. She looked at Lilly.

"Right after this, I'm scheduling a doctor's appointment," said Lilly. "We'll tell you the second the news comes in."