Page 68 of Misadventures With My Fake Fiancé

“You can't take me.” I shook my head as I said it.

Laurel cocked an eyebrow as if to say 'really?' “And why is that?”

“Because...because...um...I'm having a baby.”

“It's true, she is,” Goldie said, nodding her head vehemently. “So don't get up in her grill like that.”

“You wouldn't want to harm a baby, would you?” Veronica asked.

“No, ma'am. But then your man will run a little faster if he knows his womanandhis baby are in jeopardy.” He looked down at my belly.

“Then how do you know we're not messing with you? Maybe she's really the one who was in Alaska, not me.” I pointed at Veronica, stalling.

My sister looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. “It's true. It could have been me. How can you tell? Mike's a hot guy. Maybe we'll both have him. We could switch back and forth and he'd never know.”

Okay, that was a little gross.

“Jesus, you guys are nuts,” Laurel said, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked between us as if trying to figure out who was really who.

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“It's true,” Mrs. O added. “They fooled me when they were kids.”

As if. She could tell the difference between us at twenty paces, even when my sister took my place in her class.

“Who cares which one I get? Someone will want you.”

His words cut surprisingly deep. He was actually wrong. No one wanted me. Todd in college wanted nothing to do with me. Since Mike hadn't called or appeared in the past few days, he wanted medicine more than me.

Veronica had Jack. He'd come for her. Hell, he'd kill Laurel with his bare hands if she even lost an eyelash over this whole exchange.

Laurel started to approach, arm out as if to grab me.

I backed up. “I know karate!”

He just grinned at me. “Yeah, right. Like I can believe anything any of you guys say.”

I held up my cell. “I called the police. Just now. Instead of Mike.”

He cupped his hand by his ear. “I don't hear any sirens. But if you did, we have to move. Let's go.”

Mrs. O inched closer to stand right behind Laurel. Why was she getting closer to the crazy man? She should try to get away! She clearly didn't have mental telepathy because she piped up. “She doesn't know karate.”

Laurel paused, looked over his shoulder at her.

I looked at Mrs. O, astonished. And mad. Okay, so I hadn't paid any attention in her class, but I'd been eleven. “You're right, I don't. Veronica went to class for me when we were kids. I only went a few times.”

“Because—” Mrs. O started.

“What the hell is this? Confession time?” Laurel shouted, his gun veering off me erratically.

I sighed. The conversation with her was almost as scary as a murdering Laurel. There was no way I was leaving the building with him. If I were going to stall him, to try to stay alive, then coming clean with Mrs. O would do the trick. I didn't realize I'd have to be held at gunpoint to do it, however. “Because you scared the crap out of me. And my mom made me go. I wanted to do synchronized swimming lessons at the indoor pool instead.”

Mrs. O lifted one arched brow in surprise. “Synchronized swimming?”

I shrugged. “It was on the Olympics and they were so pretty.”

“I liked your classes, Mrs. O,” Veronica told her.

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