“I just don’t want you to regret your decision o-or to feel like you’re missin’ out on what you’ve worked so hard to get.” She could feel the backs of her eyes stinging with tears and she hated herself for it. How hadn’t she cried herself out completely by now? “I know… I know that, but I’m givin’ you an out since I know this ain’t the life you bargained for. A-and I know you’re sayin’ that now, but you never know how you’ll feel about it later. I can’t make you any promises about anythin’ ‘cept that you’re free to leave whenever you want, whether it be right now, next week or in four years. Just ‘cause this baby shares both of our DNA don’t mean you gotta put your life on hold.” She dropped her eyes to her stomach, her fingers splayed across her skin beneath her shirt. “He knows, but I don’t really got any idea how he’s takin’ it. Everythin’ ‘round here’s… real quiet. Every time I try to say somethin’ to him ‘bout it, he acts like he didn’t hear me and changes the subject, so I stopped tryin’. I think he’s just unsure of his role right now, bless his heart.”
“Georgia Brianna May Young, I want you to stop beating yourself up over this. There’s nothing to be done about it now except move forward and do the right thing.” Grant paused and sighed. She was right about one thing for sure, this was not the life he bargained for. They were both still so young, how had this even happened -- he knew how but he didn’t know how. And he couldn’t put his life on hold, but he wouldn’t really be doing that, he thought. Still, he was about to embark on a world tour and he couldn’t drop out now. There was one thing nagging in the back of his mind, something that Duncan told him that he needed to know if it were true. “Yeah... this is probably hard for him, it’s hard for everyone. Um.. Bri? When we broke up, you said I was a bad person -- not those exact words, but close enough.” He half-joked. “But, um, I just...” Grant was stammering, he didn’t know how to get the words out. “Fuck, how do I --” He muttered under his breath. “I just want you to know, I’ve been working on all of that. I’m not a saint, but I’m trying to better myself piece by piece. And I know that doesn’t change things for us, but I really want to be there for our son or daughter. I also know that I still have a long way to go before I’m good, so, um, if you want Patch to raise the child with you, I’d understand.” Pang. The words hurt him as he said them, he wanted to father this child, his child, their child, but Patch was obviously a better fit for a dad, and if she wanted Patch to have a hand in raising the child like he were its father, Grant would have to be okay with that because he could understand her not wanting someone like him to take care of a child -- but he could hope that she would say no.