Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(100)
They started walking again and he looked over at her. “So why were you going to see Connor this morning?” he asked quietly.
She sighed. “I was going to tell him about the baby,” she admitted. “He doesn’t know. I guess it isn’t going to matter now, though, if he’s marrying Miss Hot Pants.”
Reggie frowned. “I don’t know, Cat. It’s different for most guys when they find out they are having a kid. I think you ought to make sure he knows, just so he can have a chance to make up his own mind about what he wants to do and who knows, maybe he will man-up and help you. After all, that kid is half his responsibility.”
She sighed. “I know, I thought about that, too, but my dad wants me to get an abortion. He told me I have to either get an abortion or get out of his house, and I have nowhere to go, Reg.” She sighed again and shook her head. “You know, he made a lot of really good points; I have no way to care for a baby, no job, no money, I’m not graduated yet, I have no job waiting for me when I do graduate, and if something goes wrong during the pregnancy, I won’t be able to graduate, so there’s a lot to think about.”
He walked a short distance before he responded to her. “You really don’t strike me as the kind of girl who would be okay with getting an abortion. Are you? Could you do that? Could you get an abortion?”
She shook her head. “You’re right. I’m not the kind who could get an abortion. I told my father that I was thinking of adoption, but he blew a gasket about that, so as far as he is concerned, I can get an abortion or get out.” She hesitated a moment and then looked up at Reggie while they were walking.
“I’m really scared, Reg. I’m scared and confused and I have no idea what to do or what will happen. I have no idea what the right thing to do would be.” She stared ahead sadly, not seeing what was in front of her, but looking ahead into oblivion, instead.
He reached over and took her hand gently in his. “Well, the good thing is that no matter what, you aren’t alone,” he told her with a smile. “That’s a promise.”
She looked back up at him then and she knew without a doubt that she finally had her friend back, and it brought her a ray of light and happiness into and otherwise dismal heart.
“Thanks Reg. I’m really glad we are friends again.”
“Me too.”
The Final Chapter
Snowflakes were falling around the campus as Reggie walked, the frosted grass crunching beneath his feet with each step that he took. A cloud of steam billowed out from his lips as he stopped in his tracks for a moment, looking at the corridor before him, wishing that he had never been walking down that corridor the day that he had seen Connor kissing Catalina. So many problems had stemmed from that day, and there he was, back in the corridor, looking down the length of it at a door that was closed to the winter day.
He walked toward the door, telling himself that he was doing the right thing, for once, he was doing what would make all of his mistakes right again. When he reached the door, he pursed his lips for moment and then took a deep breath and raised his hand to the frosted glass, knocking on it carefully.
“Come in!” called a voice.
Reggie pushed the door open and stepped in from the cold, closing it behind him. His eyes moved around the office he found himself in and despite what he felt, he had to admit that he liked the office.
“Can I help you?” the voice asked, and he looked over at the handsome man sitting at the desk in the corner by the window.
Reggie drew another breath and sighed, pulling his gloves off of his hands. “Yeah, Mr. James?” he asked. “I’d like to talk with you, if you have a moment,” he said politely. He knew Connor James from seeing him in the doorway with Catalina, but Connor had never met him and didn’t know who he was.
Connor looked up at the tall solidly built young man before him and indicated the chairs before his desk. “Have a seat, please.”
Reggie walked over to the front of the desk and extended his hand to Connor. “I’m Reginald James, but everyone calls me Reggie,” he said, introducing himself and shaking Connor’s hand.
Connor nodded and something rang a bell of familiarity in the back of his mind, but the connection was not made. Reggie saw the disconnect in Connor’s eyes.
“I’m friends with Catalina,” he added, and the moment he said it, Connor’s eyes grew large for a moment, and then he leaned back in his chair and covered his mouth with his forefinger, staring at Reggie.
Reggie knew he would have some explaining to do before he got to the real reason why he was there. He was also aware that he owed Connor a big apology.
“Sir, I wanted to come see you today for several reasons, but before I get to the heart of it, I wanted to tell you that I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I caused. I never meant for all of the fallout to happen after I told Harold about you and Cat.” He hesitated. “Harold is her father,” Reggie began, and Connor watched him quietly.
“Anyway, I know I caused a lot of problems, and that wasn’t what I was trying to do at all, but it just kind of worked out that way, and I wanted you to know how sorry I am about that, and that I’m here to try to help fix it, kind of,” he offered, his dark brown eyes looking earnestly at Connor’s.
Connor nodded. “Thank you for the apology. What is it that brings you here today?” he asked hesitantly. He hadn’t expected to ever meet Reggie, let alone to hear him apologize for anything that had happened, and a lot had happened. He wasn’t sure yet that he wanted to forgive Reggie for all of the damage that the young man had caused, but he was willing to listen to him, and that was a start.