Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
He grins at me, one corner of his mouth quirking unexpectedly.
“Really? How do you know I’m virile?” he teases.
My cheeks flame scarlet.
“I just know,” I stammer. “I can feel it in my bones.”
He grins at me again and I rush on.
“So I wanted to bring you to the Student Health Center here on campus because they have all sorts of free contraceptives. There are condoms, diaphragms, dental dams, and even some new stuff that I don’t know about. They also have counselors, so we can book a free ten minute counseling session about protection and pregnancy control if you’re interested. Everything’s confidential, and it’s all free too.”
Blake throws his head back and laughs uproariously, and I quickly look around the walkway, alarmed. Can anyone hear us? Fortunately, they decided to locate the Student Health Center in a discreet corner off the Quad, so no one’s around at this moment.
“Sweetheart, did you think that I can’t afford birth control? I’ll remind you that condoms are about five bucks for a pack of three.”
I color hotly.
“No, of course not. I just wanted to talk about options, that’s all, and to have an open and serious discussion about contraceptives because … well, that can’t happen again.”
“What?” he asks, that knowing smile on his face again.
“Well, I mean, last time, we did it bareback and you came in me. We can’t do that again because I’ll get pregnant,” I whisper.
His look turns serious then.
“Would that be so bad?”
I’m astonished and stare at him with disbelieving eyes. Is he crazy?
“Yes!” I hiss, still looking around to make sure we’re alone. “I’m a senior in college, and I can’t get pregnant. A baby will get in the way of all my plans.”
He raises one black eyebrow as if in question.
“Did you have concrete career plans, honey? I agree with you – having a child throws a wrench into any adult’s life, but at the same time, getting pregnant and giving birth are two things that women do every day. Children are a blessing, if you ask me.”
I stare at him.
“Yes, of course babies are a blessing,” I stammer, totally thrown off balance. Where is this coming from? Are we really having this conversation? “I’m just saying that I’m not ready to have kids because of my plans.”
He grins again.
“Care to share those plans with me?”
My mouth opens and closes a few times, but I finally manage to get out a couple words.
“Well, after graduation, I was thinking about moving to New York City.”
He shrugs with that cocky grin again.
“Perfect. That’s where I live, so if you get pregnant, we can raise the baby together in Manhattan. I’d say our plans dovetail like two pieces of a puzzle, don’t you think?”
I stare at him again, my heart racing.
“No, I don’t. I need to get myself to New York using my own bootstraps, and you’re right. I don’t have a concrete idea of how I’m going to make the move happen, but trust me, it’s going to happen. Maybe I show up in the city with twenty bucks in my pocket and scrape by as a waitress at first. Maybe I stay at the YMCA hostel for the first few months while looking for a cheap rental. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I want to get myself to the city because that’s where the opportunities are.”
Blake shoots me a calm look.
“That sounds great, Cindy. When I started out, it was on a wing and a prayer as well. I mean, I was filming myself playing video games, so it was the most ridiculous enterprise ever. But when you have nothing to lose, why not? Might as well give it a try. But tell me, pretty girl. What are you thinking of doing once you’re in NYC?”
I take a deep breath.
“Don’t laugh okay?”
He looks me straight in the eye.
“I would never laugh at you, honey.”
I smile with relief.
“That’s good because I’m hoping to be an actress. I know every halfway decent looking girl from the boonies wants to be an actress, but it’s something that speaks to me. I love performing and when I get up on stage, there’s an energy that sweeps through my body. I love having the audience’s eyes on me, and being part of the drama crowd has always been my thing.”
Blake nods, looking thoughtful.
“Well, having a baby would definitely get in the way of that, unless you were planning on trying out for pregnant woman parts. But tell me,” he adds. “Have you thought about moving to LA instead of New York? That’s where the movie business is based, and the weather is definitely a hell of a lot better.”
I nod.
“I have thought about Los Angeles, but it’s not really my type of city. For one, I don’t want to get breast implants, and it seems like every other starlet out there has them.”