The In Between

18. Ace

A humbling experience

The sound of rain knocking against the building window brought me peace. But the rain was keeping customers away.

Work was chill today, so I was thinking about closing early. I hadn't had a customer in about three hours. I was giving it another hour, if no one walked in I was leaving.

I texted Amelia.

Me 3:53 PM: wyd baby

Things between us were good, except the fact she was still with Rome lame ass. She was probably scared that we wouldn't work and he was her safe option, but I was 100% sure we would.

I didn't rush her though, I knew she'd come around eventually.

Ding. The door opened to the building making me put my phone away. "Welcome to A-" I stopped mid sentence when I realized who it was.

"What's up?" I asked dryly. Jade walked towards the counter, "Hey to you too." She stated rolling her eyes.

I sighed, "What you up here for?"

She started to dig in her purse, "This." She pulled out white stick making me look at her crazy, "I'm pregnant Ace." Those words made my heart drop.

"What are you going to do?" I asked. "I'm keeping it, that's why I came here today." She frowned.

I was lost for words, I wasn't ready for a kid—not with her. "Why?" The words slipped before I could think. "What do you mean? I'm not about to shed innocent blood because we weren't careful." She frowned.

"So you rather raise a baby in a broken home?"

"Look, I didn't come here to argue. I just wanted to let you know, so either you'll be in the baby's life or not. But I'm keeping it regardless." She said. "So what are you going to do?" She asked with a hand on her hip.

"Obviously I'm going to be there for the baby since you not getting a abortion."

" Well next week I'll have my first official appointment, I'll send you the address." She said before turning and leaving.

The silence was loud as I thought about everything.

I started to knock everything off the counter. "Fuck!" I screamed as I thought about having to break the news to Amelia. I was pissed— just as things started to fall together they started to fall apart just as fast.

I hadn't cried since Amelia left me, now I was crying again in frustration. I wanted things to work out with Amelia so bad, but I knew she wouldn't stay for this.

I'd made it to the apartment building, and was currently at Amelia's door. I knocked waiting for her to open it, "Hey boo, you okay? You look like you seen a ghost." She asked in concern.

I walked in, "I got something to tell you." I held my head down. I couldn't look her in the eyes while saying it.

"What is it Ace, you're scaring me." She gave a nervous chuckle.

My heart was pounding, I didn't want to drop this bomb on her. She was the one who got away and now I had her back, I didn't want to let go. But every good thing always came to an end, why did I think this time would be different.

"Jade is pregnant." I looked up.

She put her hand over her chest. The look of disbelief flooded her face making me look away. "I-I don't know what to say. Is she keeping it?" She asked. I nodded.

She broke down. "So I guess this is it for us." She managed to say. I stood, "It don't have to be." I said, she shook her head. "It has to be. Im not about to be playing step mom for another bitch baby. They'll always come before me and I'm not settling for that."

"Nobody comes before you."

"You're saying that now, but everything will change when the baby is here." She wiped her eyes.

"So that's it? You giving up on us?" I asked.

"Yes." She walked to the door and opened it.

One week later...

"That's the baby right now." The doctor pointed at the monitor. "But right now we can't tell what the gender is, when you come back in two weeks you'll be able to find out." She moved the instrument around on her belly, which wasn't showing yet.

"This is so weird." Jade smiled looking at the monitor.

We spent a few more minutes there while she was asking questions and getting pictures of the ultrasound. "Well that's it for now, I'll see you guys in two weeks." The doctor wiped the jel off her stomach.

She pulled her shirt down and got off the bed. "Thank you so much." She was all smiles as we exit the office.

"Here's your pictures." She handed me some pics of the ultrasound. I didn't show any emotions.

We finally made it out the building and she turned to me. "So are you going to be like this the whole time? Showing no emotions, acting like it's a burden? Cause if you are, it's best that I do it alone." Her eyes watered.

"I didn't ask you to keep the baby, you made that decision alone. Now you're mad that I'm not happy? Just be glad I'm here." I said.

"That's fucked up, I didn't make this baby alone!" She cried. "If you didn't want a baby you shouldn't have fucked me raw." She argued.

"It happened one time, and if I knew this would happen I wouldn't have."

"I hate you." She stormed off to her car.

I wasn't moved by this interaction. I wanted nothing to do with her, but now she about to be apart of my life for another miserable 18 years.

Life had a way of humbling you in the worst ways.