whatever

Kyle hated to tell Ellie that he thought something had happened with her and Elliot. For one thing, her bra was missing. A detail he decided not to mention in fear of Amanda and even Ellie thinking he was just staring for one reason.

Perhaps she'd remember. Maybe she wouldn't. He guessed she'd be OK. Wasn't so sure Eric would be.

"You think you'll break up with Eric?" He shrugged as she was eating her hash-browns.

Ellie sat there staring at the potatoes on her fork. She gave him a frown but then she ate.

"Don't ask her stuff like that right now," Amanda gave him the elbow.

"So have you told your Mom yet?" Ellie shot right back after she swallowed.

"Uh, not yet." Kyle nodded. He had some ideas, but he didn't know if Amanda would like them. First she had to get used to this whole baby thing. Maybe it would change his mind, but he thought he just might soften the blow if he told his Mom that maybe somebody in the family could keep the baby. But there were a lot of things to factor in. They needed to get through the first trimester. That might be the deciding factor. "I think it would be best if Amanda was there, you know, when I tell them."

"You never said anything to me about that," Amanda looked at him startled. "I might lose the baby right then and there if I have to be with you."

"Don't talk like that." Kyle winced. "Do you even want the baby?" It was the first time he actually said it.

"Of course, I want the baby I'm not having an abortion." Now she was getting cross, and he knew they'd had plenty of time to say this out loud before now, and perhaps IHOP at two in the morning wasn't the best place to divulge this.

"I know that." He shook his head. "I'm just saying, maybe we need to think about our options here. You know, I could ask my sister or somebody if they are interested in adoption. You might have an Aunt or someone-"

"No." Amanda pulled a face. "This is our baby."

Kyle looked around then wondering who might be listening. It wasn't exactly something he wanted going around at school about him. He knew it would sooner or later. Just not the first day back.

"OK." He drew in a breath. "Its just an option we might want to think about. I think it would be a good thing to mention to my Mom because-"

"I'm not giving it up." She sounded so certain about that. "And if you - you sound like you don't want to-"

"I'm not saying that. I'm saying-" He gave up. "Whatever you want to do. All right. Whatever you want to do." He blew out a breath then. What could he do?