Page 72 of The Pact

As expected, Shep points toward the pool house. “You can go in the main house in Ash’s room but if it’s urgent, the pool house has two bathrooms. Most of the crowd hasn’t even arrived yet, so they should be clean.”

I barely hear his last words. “I’ll be back,” I say and in real Terminator style, I march into the pool house.

I probably shouldn’t be surprised by the scene that greets me as I step into the big living room-style open space.

Holden is slumped on the huge sectional in the middle of the room and Mc is straddling him. She puts her lips on his and at first I think they’re kissing but the little bit of smoke that escapes from them, tells me that he’s smoking and he’s shotgunning her.

My eyes meet Mc’s dilated gaze and I resist the urge to grab her by her hair and pull her into the bathroom just because I know that would cause a scene.

“I’ll be right back, H.” I hear her say, knowing that she’s right behind me.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I attack her as soon as she locks the bathroom door behind her.

Her lips quirk into a slow, lazy smirk. “Nice to see you too ... sis.”

I can’t believe her! “You’re already high. And drunk!”

Her reaction is just a half shrug. “I started pre-gaming earlier. We came from Holden’s place. And before you say anything, I got Mrs. Andrews to watch Skye until tomorrow morning.”

I feel relieved that my niece is in safe hands but that was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the reasons why I want to punch my sister in the face right now. “Wow, that should fucking get you a ‘Mother Of The Year’ award! I’m fucking ecstatic that my niece is safe while you party but I hope your date didn’t drive under the fucking influence!”

Mc shakes her head, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. “He hasn’t had anything until just two seconds ago, Ausra. He isn’t an idiot. And we’re gonna crash here tonight, so—”

“The fuck you are!” I seethe.

“Whatever the fuck is up your ass, sis, I’d chill if I were you. We can totally pretend to be strangers. The only one you have to worry about giving away your little secret is Bode. So just mess around with your guys all you want. I’m just having a night off and letting a little loose for once. And how I do it and with whom, should be none of your fucking business!”

I inhale slowly, trying to calm down. “What the fuck are you doing with that guy? Holden.”

She doesn’t look concerned. “We just—”

“Fuck, no!” I seethe. “Don’t you even fucking try to feed me one more lie, Mc. You didn’t just meet him on Tinder or whatever app you say you’re on. Shep just told me how you and Holden have been an item since your senior year. Since you got knocked up, Mc!”

She finally flinches. “Ausra, I—”

“So does Holden know that he could be Skye’s father?”

“Lower your fucking voice!” she hisses. “If you want to keep your little secret, I suggest you be quieter. I wouldn’t want one of your boyfriends to walk in here to check on you.”

Yeah, if she thinks she can distract me, she’s so wrong that it isn’t even funny. “Mc, does he know?”

“You’re so killing my buzz right now!” she whines. “No, he doesn’t know. And I’d rather he not hear it from you yelling at me. Please.”

I don’t relent. “Mc, are you going to tell him?”

She sighs. “I wasn’t going to. But Johnny came into the Stowaway last night. He insists that he wants to see Skye and he wants to help. I can’t let him unless I know for sure that she’s his.”

I seriously don’t get my sister sometimes. “So what the fuck are you waiting for? And also, forgive me for stating the obvious but Holden must be about twenty-five. He must’ve heard about your pregnancy at school. If he was with you then, how can he not think—”

“Because I told him she was Johnny’s.”

I can’t stifle an eye roll at that statement. “Right. But if you two were together—”

She sighs, exasperated. “He was away for a few weeks for a windsurfing tour with his main sponsor during winter break. We hooked up just once or twice and then I didn’t see him again until later. Until I knew I’d have Skye. So there’s a smaller chance that Skye is his daughter. And the timeline is such that he believed me when I said she wasn’t.”

I don’t understand my sister sometimes, I swear. “But why did you say that? If you knew that he could be—”

“I told you, Ausra! He’s the type of man you make love with by a bonfire. The kind you party with. He isn’t the boyfriend type and he sure as hell isn’t the father type.”

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