Growth (Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott fanfic)

Chapter 13

I adjust in my seat, examining myself in the camera to make sure my enlarged boobs and stomach aren't visible. I know my mom would immediately make a comment about my boobs and if they saw my stomach- oh god, they wouldn't even let me explain myself.

    My computer starts to ping with the sound of an incoming FaceTime call and I take a deep breath before accepting it. Come on, you can do this, RC. You're a grown woman, you don't need the approval of your parents anymore.

    "Hi mom, hi dad," I greet them as they appear on my screen.

    "Hello River Clementine," my dad responds. He's always refused to call me RC. I was named after my dad's father so I guess he took it as offensive when I told him that I want to be called RC. However, my mom is more relaxed in that aspect so she calls me RC.

    "How are you doing?" My mom inquires.

    "I'm good, how are you guys?"

    "We're good."

    "Um, where is Travis?" If I'm going to give them the news, I might as well give everyone the news at once.

    "Travis," my mom calls for my nineteen year old brother. He appears and we make small talk for a little bit while I work up the nerve to tell them why I called.

    "I have something to tell you guys," I start.

    "Uh oh," my dad jokes.

    "Is it serious?" My mom asks.

    "It's very serious. Now, before I tell you guys, just know that I have it all under control," I continue, feeling the anxiety rushing through my veins. I start to feel warm- something I always feel when I know something bad is going to happen. "So, I'm pregnant."

    My dad's face hardens, my mom looks surprised, and I can see Travis hold in his laughter as he looks between my mom and dad. So much for the sibling support, Travis.

    "Are you sure?" My mom is so quiet I can barely hear her question.

    "Yes," I nod, "I'm actually twenty two weeks along."

    "Twenty two weeks? You're almost in your third trimester and you're just telling us now?" My mom's voice is rising.

    "Who's the father? You don't even have a boyfriend," my dad snaps.

    I hold back the retort "like you would know", instead responding with, "It's complicated."

    I watch my father push back from the dining room chair harshly, standing up to storm out of the room and probably smash things. I know him too well by now.

    "How is the father of your child complicated?" Travis speaks up.

    "There are two potential fathers, and because I have placenta abruption we can't get a paternity test done."

    "How could you be so stupid?" My mom inquires.

    By now I feel like I've dealt with the backlash enough- they're acting as if I'm a sixteen year old kid who's still living at home with them. I don't need their permission to get pregnant. "I'm going to remind you that I'm a twenty four year old woman who lives over a thousand miles away from you. I just bought a house for me and the baby so I'm handling this situation to the best of my capability."

    By the time I finish my dad has already returned, hovering over the back of the chair that he was once sitting in.

    "You're really talking about buying a house right now? You clearly don't know how much this baby is going to cost and aren't ready to be a parent," my dad snarls.

    "The baby shower is going to be two months from now. Show up or don't show up, that's your decision. But this shower isn't for me, it's to celebrate this new life that's growing inside of me," I tell them, hanging up the FaceTime call before they can respond.

    I huff to myself, leaning back in the chair. I knew their response wasn't going to be good, but there's only so much criticism I can take, especially since they don't even know all of the information.

    Despite their reaction, I hope they can come to the baby shower. Although I might not have the best relationship with my family, I want my child to get to know their grandparents and their uncle because they deserve to have family that will love and support them.

    I wonder how Chase and Ryan's families reacted when they were told about this situation, or if the guys even told their families at all yet. I wouldn't blame them if they waited until after the baby was born to tell their families so they don't spend nine months going "I'm a dad" just to find out that they aren't a dad.

    But I also wouldn't be surprised if they already told their families. From what I've seen and heard, they're both close with their parents and their siblings and this is a personal and emotional circumstance, so they would probably want someone to talk to about this.

    I pick up my phone, noticing a new text from Chase and a new text from Ryan checking on me. They're both such doting fathers already, this baby will be lucky no matter who the dad is.

EDITED: YES