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I shrug in response and it’s not enough for her, I can tell. But it’s not really up to her, so I don’t bother trying to explain.
My mom pinches her forehead in frustration. Meanwhile, I climb off the bed and walk toward the door. “Come on. Let’s eat dinner. You don’t need to stress about this for me. I can do this.”
She looks up and stares into my eyes, not appearing to have any faith in me.
“Fine,” she mutters under her breath.
Peeling open the door, I walk out into the hallway. The first person I look for when I reach the living room is Luke. But as I turn the corner and see him standing near the kitchen with my brother right in front of him, I freeze.
“I work at the university,” Luke says as he signs every word. “I can put in a good word at admissions.”
My lips part as blood rushes to my cheeks. I watch Luke from across the room and it feels as if I’m seeing him for the first time. It’s like watching my heart split open.
He’s signing with my brother. And the words he doesn’t seem to know, he spells effortlessly. He’s signing.
“Thank you,” Jonah replies before clapping Luke on the shoulder.
Luke’s eyes find mine and I’m suddenly barreled over with emotion. And I swear he can tell.
My brother turns toward me, an expression of excitement washing over his features.
“Sadie,” he signs, putting his arms out for me. “There you are.”
I swallow down the needles poking in my throat as I rush toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist and breathing in his familiarity.
When I pull away from his hug, he says, “I like your boyfriend.”
“He’s just my friend,” I reply for the twelfth time tonight, but this time, the words hurt, so they come out weak and broken.
Jonah gestures to our parents, who are sneaking out of the hallway together, looking stressed and despondent. “What’s wrong with them?”
“Umm…” I say, scratching the back of my neck. “I just told them my news.”
The needles turn painful as I fight the urge to cry. Why is this so hard? Jonah won’t be upset or mad to hear he’ll be an uncle, but for some reason, breaking this news to him feels like I’m breaking some sort of bond.
“What news?” he asks.
Luke’s eyes are on me, and I try to draw courage from them. I wish I could ask him to tell me I’m good. I’m doing the right thing. Tell me how strong and brave I am. Tell me anything.
I touch my stomach. “I’m pregnant.”
Jonah’s eyes widen, then shoot to Luke and back to me.
“It’s not his,” I sign.
Jonah’s face splits into a smile as he stares at my stomach. He doesn’t ask whose baby it is or what my plans are. He doesn’t give me a disappointed glare.
“I’m going to be a cool uncle,” he says in that overconfident teenage boy way, and it brings tears to my eyes.
“Yeah, you are.”
I glance up at Luke again, and to my relief, he looks proud. It’s enough to get me through the rest of dinner.
“Thank you again for having me,” Luke says to my parents as we walk together down the drive toward his car.
They wave from the door, caught somewhere between smiles and hesitation.
As soon as we get in the car, I look at him. “What the hell?” I bark.
