Page 23 of Risks

He flinches and grabs at the door asif needing support. “She’s…eighteen?”

I swallow hard. “Why are you so surprised?”

His hand trembles as he rubs hisforehead. “Lisa told me she…”

The truth dawns on me the more Ipiece everything together, causing me to stagger back in shock. “Oh my god. Lisamade you think she had an abortion and had Toya without your knowledge.”

Blatant anger twists his features,and he steps out on the porch, making me back up. “Where is she? Where’s mydaughter?”

“In California,” I grate out, damnnear voiceless from the revelation. “She’s at college.”

Jesiah curses and drags his handsdown his face. He seems at a total loss.

“Um, do you mind telling me whathappened back then?” I ask.

He huffs. “Come inside. I’ll tellyou all the lies Lisa told me.”

This is going to hurt Toya deeply. Itmight shatter her to learn her mom has been lying to her for eighteen years.

12

I release a sigh of relief at theend of reading my short piece. The compliments that follow are a welcomedelight that settles my nerves and puts a smile on my face.

Once the last two members read theirwork, Courtney announces the writing prompt for the next meeting, and weconclude the evening session.

Before I head out, she hands me theform to apply for the internship in New York.

“Thanks again,” I tell her.

“No problem. It’s a benefit for everyclub member. Catch you next time.”

As I exit the student center, theguy who was absent last time hurries up to me. “Hey, Latoya, that was reallygreat.”

“Thank you. So was yours.” I squintwhile trying to remember his name. “Jasper, right?”

“Yeah. Missed you last time. Welcometo the club.”

I smile in return. “Thanks.”

He brushes over a few golden-brownstrands. “So, Courtney mentioned you’re a freshman. What do you think of UCLA andthe creative writing course?”

“Both are great. I’m a littlehomesick since I’m so far from Baltimore, but I like the experience.”

A half-smile forms as he motionsdown the path. “I’m about to grab dinner at this cool spot. Want to come?”

I can almost feel Varen’s ringburning my finger, making me rush to say, “I have a boyfriend.”

Jasper smirks. “It’s not like that.Other students will be there. I’m friendly, especially to fellow writingmajors.” He follows that by wiggling his brows, and it pulls a giggle out ofme.

So consumed with Varen, I never takea second glance at other guys. But even I can admit that Jasper is attractive. Tall,athletic, warm dark gray eyes, and beachy hair. He’s not bad, in astereotypical west coast surfer type of way.

I blink out of it before I give offany ideas. “Thanks for the invite, but I have to finish a chapter in this challengingfiction book for my literature class.”

“Ah.” He creases his forehead andsticks his hands in his jeans pockets. “I’m guessing you mean my least favoritenovel about the friends who fall apart due to a misunderstanding?”

“Yep. That’s the one.”

He sniffs. “The author could havecut back and made the story shorter.”

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