Adopting Jenny by Liz Botts Read Free Book Online Page A

he said, “Well, I guess it looks like I’ll be talking to Mom about keeping two dogs.”

 
About the Author
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    Liz Botts was born, raised, and still lives in northern Illinois with her husband and three small children (two boys and a baby girl). When not writing, she enjoys reading, sewing, trying new recipes, and homeschooling her kids. She is proud to pass her love of stories on to her children, and makes several trips to the library each week. After working with teenagers for several years, she decided to write stories about them instead.

 
Also from Liz Botts
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    Chapter One
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    â€œThe test was negative.”
    Josh dropped his basketball on the floor, flopped down on one of my oversized chairs, and ran a hand through his sweaty brown hair. He took a long swig of water before he frowned in confusion.
    â€œWhat test?”
    I pulled a throw pillow onto my lap. The fringe tickled my fingers as I wove the long strands around my hand. “The pregnancy test.”
    The water bottle crunched in Josh’s hand as he stilled. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him so I focused on the pillow. This must be what if felt like to drop a literal bomb on someone.
    â€œPregnancy test?” His voice was high and slightly strangled.
    My mouth went dry as hundreds of thoughts battered my mind at the same time. What was he thinking right now? I licked my lips before nodding slowly.
    Josh deposited the crushed water bottle on the coffee table. He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Han, look at me,” he said, his voice low and soft, but serious. Finally, I forced myself to look up. I wasn’t ready for the simultaneous looks of love and betrayal mixing in Josh’s eyes. A lump formed at the back of my throat. “Tell me exactly what you are talking about.”
    The words I wanted to speak were bottled up so I could only emit a terrified squeak. Shaking my head, I looked down at my hands again, clutching the pillow in desperation. A few tears trickled down my cheeks.
    How could I explain myself? Nothing I could possibly say would adequately describe the terror I had felt when I realized I was late or the embarrassment of buying the pregnancy test. I couldn’t explain that I should never have been in that position in the first place. That girl wasn’t me.
    The look of anguished hurt I’d glimpsed in Josh’s eyes told me that he didn’t comprehend how I could keep something like this from him. My addled brain didn’t really understand how I could keep something like this from him either.
    â€œHannah? Honey, please tell me what’s going on.” Josh moved from the chair and kneeled and front of me, taking my hands he stroked the backs with his thumbs. “When…did you think you were pregnant?”
    The floodgates opened and tears streamed down my face. My stomach clenched as all the stress that had been building over the last few weeks poured out. Josh pulled me into his arms while I cried my heart out. As I soaked Josh’s shoulder, he simply held me tightly against his chest. The familiar scent of him made me cry harder.
    Finally spent, I sagged back against the sofa and really looked at Josh for the first time all night. Worry was etched on his face, and I couldn’t take the tenderness shining in his eyes. Anger—hot and irrational—flared up in me.
    â€œYes. I thought I was pregnant,” I snapped. “But I’m not.”
    The concern changed to confusion, and Josh stood slowly. His eyebrows knit together as one corner of his mouth puckered into a lopsided frown. “How could you not tell me?”
    I sprang to my feet and started to pace the small living room. “And what would you have done if I had told you? What would we have done if I’d been pregnant?”
    Josh shrugged. “Gotten married.”
    My jaw dropped. I could feel it go slack. “Married? Are you