The Way Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

not Otto. You didn’t sleep with him after you dumped him. Did you? Break-up sex is so overrated. I am so not a believer in break-up sex.”
    â€œNo. Not Otto.”
    â€œWas it that guy we met at the club?” Milo laughed. “The one with the nose?”
    He meant the guy who’d been grinding Colby’s ass on the dance floor. He was hot, and it was true that the guy and Colby had left together. But only as far as the bus stop, where Colby had been overcome by a wave of nausea. Which made sense now.
    Besides, Colby had already told Milo all of that.
    Milo knew she hadn’t slept with him.
    Either he was slow figuring it out, or he already had and didn’t want to say it. Then he did.
    â€œNot from that one time?”
    â€œYes. From that one time.”
    â€œNot me.”
    â€œYes, Milo. You.”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œYes way.”
    â€œNo way! Otto. It has to be Otto’s.”
    â€œIt’s not Otto’s. After I dumped him, I got my period. Then you and I messed around. And now I’m pregnant.”
    â€œBut I’m gay .”
    â€œAnd I’m pregnant .”
    â€œI can’t be a dad!”
    â€œHang on, Milo.” Colby stopped crying. She shifted from sad to mad in barely an instant. “No one’s asking you to be a dad .”
    â€œBut you’re pregnant. With a baby. And you’ve just told me that I’m the dad.”
    â€œConsider yourself a sperm donor, if that helps. Whatever! I’m not even keeping it.”
    â€œYou cannot—”
    â€œI can so!”
    â€œYou wouldn’t!”
    â€œI totally WOULD. I’ve got two more weeks to decide.”
    The way they were arguing back and forth reminded her of when they were kids. They’d fought all the time. Usually over Gigi. Or the remote control. Both she and Milo always cared deeply about the outcome, no matter what they were fighting about. That much hadn’t seemed to change.
    â€œCole?” Milo barely whispered. “I’m so, so, so, so sorry.”
    â€œFor what? For having sex with me?” Colby was only sorry that it hadn’t made Milo straight.
    â€œWe shouldn’t have had sex. I know how you feel about me—”
    â€œShut up, Milo.” Colby dropped her head into her hands. “I’m not in love with you. Not anymore.”
    â€œBut you are,” Milo said quietly. “And that’s okay. I love you, Colby. Just not romantically.”
    Someone knocked on the door. When Colby didn’t answer, they knocked louder, and then they started banging on the door.
    â€œGet out! I’ve got it booked!” It was Jordan. Who hadn’t gotten any nicer as she got more sober.
    And she was not pregnant.
    Or a mom.
    But her mother had pulled some strings and got her in anyway.
    Since barfing on her in the van, Colby had learned that Jordan was a drunk and a cutter.
    â€œHurry up!” Jordan bellowed. “GET OUT.”
    â€œI have to go,” Colby whispered.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” Milo asked.
    â€œI don’t know.” There was a long pause, during which Colby could practically hear everything that Milo was not saying out loud.
    Jordan banged harder on the door. “I know it’s you in there, Barfy McBarfyson. Get the hell out.”
    â€œGive me a minute, all right?” Colby kicked the door. “Milo?”
    â€œOkay, Cole.” Milo sighed. “You decide. Of course it’s up to you. It’s your body. But let me know. Okay?”
    His kind words made Colby cry even harder. She wanted him to scream at her. She wanted him to lecture her on how wrong abortion was. She wanted him to be an asshole and demand a paternity test. She wanted him to make her decision easier. Instead, he was making it harder. Just by being nice.
    â€œI will.” Colby blew her nose. “I have to go.”
    â€œCall me later?”
    More banging on the door.
    â€œI