Page 35 of Lovers Like Us
Luna falls flat to her feet and tugs at the sleeves of her baggy star-printed sweater. “Sex. Last day of school before winter break. In the back of his car. Because I was digging him.” Her amber eyes ping from me to her older brother. “I’m only a few weeks late, and I know I screwed up already because of school. Mom and Dad can’t know about this. Not until I figure out if it’sreal.”
Before Maximoff even knew, I heard from the security team that Dalton Academy said Luna has to be homeschooled for the remainder of the school year—or else she won’t graduate ontime.
Luna places her hands on her head. “Maybe I can go on tour withyou.”
“Me too.” Kinneystands.
Maximoff pushes Kinney back down until she sits. “No, and no.” His muscles contract, and he gestures to Luna. “Did he not wear acondom?”
“I didn’t think about it.” She twists a piece of light brown hair around her finger. “It was my first time, and I thought the probability waslow.”
I rub my temple, almostcringing.
“Jesus Christ,” Maximoff mutters. “Our mom is asexaddict, Luna. You should knowbetter.”
She looks to me for an out, but she forgets that I’m a hardasstoo.
“You should’ve listened in sexed.”
“Lay off her, you turds,” Kinneysays.
“Stop, Kinney,” Maximoff saysharshly.
Luna swings her head to Xander. “I told you I should’ve asked Tom and Eliot forhelp.”
Xander stands. “They may be your best friends, but they would’ve told all the Cobalts, Luna. Moffy and Farrow are going to fix this. Right?” In unison, all three of them rotate and set their gazes on me andMaximoff.
I’m still casually leaning on the sink. Maximoff stands like he’s currently supporting the world on hisshoulders.
And I already understand why they called me here in the first place. I tell Maximoff, “Luna needs a pregnancytest.”
Kinney steps forward. “Farrow is taking us to the conveniencestore.”
“No, I’m going alone,” Isay.
“I’m coming with you,” Maximoffrebuts.
Always stubborn.“You’re staying in the car.” If someone catches him buying a pregnancy test, he’ll stoke the rumor he’s trying toextinguish.
“We’ll talk about it on the waythere.”
I roll my eyes, but this isn’t an argument I need to win right now. Especially in front of his three siblings. “Let’s go, wolfscout.”
7
FARROW KEENE
Bear Claw One-Stop Shopis the nearest convenience store, a fifty-two mile drive on windy and icy roads. We chained the tires of Omega’s Range Rover before leaving the lake house, and we safely reached Bear Claw. Only a Jeep in the parking lot. Most likely thestoreowner.
I make a quick choice and agree to let Maximoff join me inside. The tiny, outdated store has no security cameras, and half the shelves are bare. We’ll be lucky if they even have a pregnancy test. We both notice the old gray-haired man sleeping at the cashregister.
While we peruse the aisles, Maximoff’s shoulders stay tense and neck stiff. Always a knight prepared for a loomingwar.
He checks a bottom shelf, finding jugs of water. “Bet you didn’t think you’d be doing thistoday.”
“Technically, I never thought I’d be doing this any day.” I grab a pair of aviator sunglasses off a rack and slip them on, price tag hanging off therim.
Maximoff glances back at me, and he almost lets himself check me out,almost.His gaze stops at my chest, and then he unzips his Patagonia jacket, hot, and rounds the corner withme.
