••• TWENTY-TWO •••
Sophie

    "And there's the heartbeat." My OB smiled at me and I looked down at my stomach and then up at the monitor. She pointed to the tiny little blob on the screen and tears started to well in my eyes. I looked to my left expecting to see Ashton there, but then remembered that he wasn't. I was all alone because I hadn't told him that I was pregnant. Tears cascaded down my cheeks and I took in a ragged breath as I looked back at the monitor.

  "I'm sorry." I chuckled as I wiped away my tears, but she gave me a small smile as she started to wipe the ultrasound gel off my stomach.

  "Don't apologize, Sophie. The first ultrasound can be overwhelming." She assured me and I gave her a grateful smile as I sat up.

  "Thank you." She nodded as she printed out my ultrasound pictures.

  "So, your baby looks healthy for being nine weeks pregnant. The heartbeat was very strong and your baby is growing perfectly." She handed me the pictures and I let out a shaky breath as I stared at my baby. I was growing this tiny little human in my body and I loved it so much already.

  "Thank you, doctor." I grinned at her through my tears and she placed her hand over mine gently.

  "Congratulations, mama." She squeezed my hand and then handed me my prenatal vitamins.

    After I finished scheduling my next ultrasound appointment, I headed straight towards the ice rink to meet up with Christina and hopefully finally talk to Ashton and tell him that he's going to be a Dad. "Hey lovely, how are you feeling?" Christina asked as I sat down next to her and gave her a quick hug.

  "I'm doing okay! I just had my first ultrasound," I whispered and she gasped as a huge smile appeared on her face. "The baby is perfect and I'm nine weeks along. I'm planning on telling Ashton after practice." I looked down at the ice and noticed Ashton skating by himself.

  "Are you sure you want to just spring it on him that you're pregnant? I mean you guys haven't spoken in over a month." Christina reminded me gently and I shrugged.

  "I know and I don't plan on getting back together with him, but he deserves to know about the baby." Christina raised an eyebrow at me as she folded her arms against her chest.

  "You're not going to get back together with the father of your child?" She asked and I shook my head.

  "Just because he's the father of my baby doesn't mean we have to be together. He really hurt me, Chrissy. He went behind my back and told Patrick when I specially asked him not to and Patrick has barely started talking to me again." I sighed.

  "I know, but you still love him, Soph. I see you watch him during practice and I know you miss him." I looked down at the ice again only to frown when I watched him continue to practice alone. I felt bad that he was practicing by himself, but I pushed my feelings aside and took a deep breath.

  "How are you and Patrick?" I asked, trying to change the subject and thankfully, it worked. Christina let out a sigh as she looked down at the ice to watch Patrick.

  "Good. I mean, after he apologized for getting upset with me I reminded him that he had no right to be upset with you or Ashton. He kind of understands that he can't control who either of you fall in love with, but he's so stubborn and he doesn't want to admit that he did something wrong." She waved down at Patrick and I felt bad that I was causing a strain in their relationship.

    I wondered how I could help fix their relationship when I looked over at Ashton and to my surprise he was already staring at me. This was the first time we had made eye contact in over a month and I hated how with one glance, he stole the breath out of my lungs and caused my heart to beat frantically against my chest. I quickly looked away and turned my attention towards Christina who was smirking at me as my cheeks burned from getting caught.

  "So, are you still going to sit there and tell me that you don't want to get back together with him?" She teased and I shook my head, prepared to argue when she looked down at the ice again and her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

    I followed her gaze and realized what she was looking at. Justin was talking to Ashton, and from here it didn't look like a nice conversation. "What's going on?" I asked and Christina shrugged.

  "I have no idea, but I have a bad feeling my brother is going to do something totally moronic." She huffed and shook her head at her brother in disappointment.

    I watched them and wondered what he was saying as Keith tried to pull Ashton away, but whatever Justin had said caused Ashton to throw his gloves on the ground and punch Justin square in the face. Christina and I gasped as we jumped up from our seats in complete shock. Then my brother came out of nowhere before Justin could fight back and body slammed him into the ground. "What is happening!" Christina exclaimed and I shook my head, unable to say anything because I had no idea either.

    Their Coach broke up the fight and Ashton took off toward the locker room with my brother trailing behind him. "I'm going to go check on Patrick and maybe you should check on Ashton." Christina suggested a few minutes later after the shock had worn off and I slowly nodded as I grabbed my purse.

  "Yeah... I'll be outside. Let me know how it goes with my brother." I said and hugged her quickly.

  "And you let me know what happens with Ashton." I nodded as we took off towards the stairs and I headed straight for the parking lot.

    I stood outside by his car and paced back and forth as my mind raced with questions. What had Justin said that caused Ashton and Patrick to get violent with him? Were Ashton and Patrick talking again? Should I wait to tell him about the baby? I suddenly felt incredibly nauseous as I continued to walk back and forth and couldn't believe what a mess I was in.

    Just then the door burst open and Ashton appeared carrying his skates and still wearing his uniform as he stalked towards his car. He was staring at the ground as he walked towards his car, but froze the second he looked up and noticed me standing in front of it. "Hi." I breathed out and he blinked a couple of times as he stared at me in disbelief. "Are you okay?" I asked worriedly and he suddenly let out a humorless chuckle.

  "Are you seriously asking if I'm okay?" He asked and I nodded hesitantly, a little nervous by how he was acting. "Oh sure, Soph! I'm doing just fine. Except for the fact that my best friend won't talk to me and the girl I love more than anything in this world just left me like I meant absolutely nothing to her." It felt like I had been punched in the stomach by his words and I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find my voice.

  "I can't do this anymore. This whole month has been shit and I can't keep living here when no one wants me here. I love you, Sophie, and I always will, but I'm leaving after this season." He informed me and I felt tears start to fill my eyes as I shook my head, about to beg him not to leave but he raised his hand to stop me. "Who knew little Sophie-Lophie would break my heart into a million tiny pieces, but yeah. I'm okay, Sophia. Thanks for asking." He shook his head as he walked towards the driver's side door and was about to open it when I quickly walked up to him and closed the door.

  "You really hurt me, Ashton." I finally whispered and he looked up at me with tear-filled eyes.

  "I know, Sophie, and I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have told Patrick without you, but I can't be here anymore when it's very clear neither of you wants me around." He said and tried to open the door again, but I wouldn't let him.

  "Of course, I want you here-"

  "Please, stop," Ashton begged cutting me off just as a tear escaped his eye. "This month has been complete torture, Sophie. I wanted nothing more than to talk to you, to apologize for that night, but you just ignored me! How am I supposed to stay here and keep living like this when you guys abandoned me? Without you guys, there's nothing here for me besides painful reminders of the past." He croaked out and I shook my head.

  "I can't let you leave, Ashton." I breathed out as a tear escaped down my cheek.

  "Why not, Sophia? It's not like you forgive me for what happened. So, do you just want to keep torturing me with the reminder that I hurt you-"

  "I can't let you leave because I'm pregnant!" I blurted out suddenly and Ashton's whole body froze as he stared down at me in complete shock.

  "What did you just say?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper, and my lip quivered as I bit back a sob. I opened my purse and pulled out my sonogram photo.

  "I said I can't let you leave because I'm pregnant, Ashton." He shakily took the photo from my hands and stared down at the photo in complete disbelief.

    Maybe Christina was right. Maybe telling him right away wasn't the best idea, I thought to myself as I watched Ashton carefully as he studied the photo like it was about to disappear from his hands any second now. He slowly raised his eyes to meet mine and my heart beat frantically against my chest as I waited anxiously for him to say something.