I started wearing bigger hoodies even when it was hot and even when it made me sweat in the Texas sun but there was no hiding it, not even forever. The slight curve of my lower belly was starting to push against my clothes, just enough to make me self-conscious and sufficient to make people look twice.
The rumors didn’t take long to bloom.
First, it was a whisper behind me in the library.
“Grace Carter? Did you hear she dropped two classes last semester? She is probably pregnant.” Then it was laughter by the vending machines.
“Isn’t she the one always staring at Professor Bennett like she’s dying?”
By the third day, Bridget made it official.
I passed her and her little trio (Nicole and Tonia) outside the lecture hall. Her voice wasn’t even hushed.
“Guess academic desperation makes y
