Read Online Under Your Skin by Shannyn Schroeder - Free Book Online

as she looked up at her brother. “She can’t give you what you’re looking for. She doesn’t know him. And I’m not going to have you running off to hunt him down. We did this together.”
    â€œI sure as fuck can blame him for not being here now.”
    â€œNope. That blame is on me.”
    â€œBut you didn’t tell him because you knew, didn’t you? Knew he’d be a useless piece of shit who wouldn’t man up. What kind of losers did Aunt Bridget let you date?”
    Norah leveraged herself off the step. “Really? I’m an O’Malley and in case you haven’t noticed, we tend to do whatever the hell we want. You guys might’ve shipped me off to Boston but you didn’t remove my DNA. Aunt Bridget couldn’t control who I dated any more than you can control what I do now.”
    â€œThis is bullshit.” He grabbed his laundry, gave her a dirty look, and stomped up the stairs and into the house.
    She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs as much as she could with a baby pressing on all of her vital organs. She wasn’t upset. Kevin irritated her, but she wasn’t stressed out and torn up like she’d been her first night at home when she felt like all of her brothers were ganging up on her. She handled it.
    Holding on to the rail, she lowered herself back to the step. A few minutes later, Jimmy pulled up. Part of her had been wishing he’d have Moira with him. His girlfriend was someone Norah considered an ally. She was kind of short on those these days.
    Jimmy walked up to her and held out a hand to help her up. Instead she flipped her thumb to the spot next to her. He sat, extending his legs out in front of him, the crease in his pants still visible after a day of work.
    â€œI think talking out here would be better. Kevin’s inside doing laundry and I pissed him off again.”
    â€œHe’ll get over it.” Jimmy looked at her clothes.
    She tugged at the maternity top. “Moira borrowed stuff from her sister-in-law. At least now I don’t feel like an overstuffed burrito.”
    â€œYou look good. Happier.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Not happy, but better.”
    â€œWhat do you want to talk about?”
    Her hand automatically went to her belly again. She’d always thought it weird when pregnant women did that, but now she understood. You couldn’t really control it. “I’ve done a lot of thinking. And I called Avery—” She stopped with the realization that she let his name slip. But not even Jimmy was good enough to track him down with only a first name.
    Another deep breath in and released. Jimmy had stiffened beside her. He was better at covering his anger than Kevin, or any of the O’Malley boys for that matter.
    â€œI think I want to give the baby up for adoption.”
    Jimmy ran a hand over his face and then stared out at the street. He said nothing for so long that Norah couldn’t predict his response.
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œNo.” She almost laughed. “But I talked with a counselor and discussed my options.”
    â€œYou want to give up your baby?”
    Both hands now rested on her bulging torso. “It’s not about what I want or don’t want. I have to think about the baby and what’s best for him or her. Let’s face it. I’m a mess. I’m not ready to be a mom, definitely not a single mother. I don’t have a job. Crap. I don’t even have a mother to teach me how to be a mom.” The last words caught in her throat.
    Jimmy reached out and put his hand on top of hers. “Sweetheart, I told you, you’re not alone. I meant it.”
    â€œI know you did. But this baby isn’t your responsibility any more than I am.”
    â€œYou are mine. Mom would’ve expected it.”
    â€œIt’s not fair to you.”
    â€œLife isn’t about fair. It’s not fair that we have a whole family full of