Page 12 of Happenstance
“Does the reason you’re out here,” his face took on a more serious expression as he shifted his gaze to my belly, “Have anything to do with that?”
Shifting in my seat, I quickly yanked my sweater down. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Don’t worry,” his lips tipped in a frown, “I won’t tell anyone.”
“Thanks, but I can’t hide it forever.”
“No. You can’t. But you can fight them.”
I stared back at him, not sure what to say. It wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility for Mason to tell people Parker was the father. The guy did announce to the world that I liked butt stuff. A claim that was so far from reality, it wasn’t even funny. There were only two guys I’d been with, and only one of those was by choice.
“Don’t let the stuffy snobs that run this place win.”
Easy for him to say.
“Isn’t that kind of like fighting city hall?”
Carrie Simone had fought against the gender biased uniforms. Organized a rally and everything. She didn’t go to this school anymore.
“Maybe.” He pushed off the bleachers and brushed his hands on his jeans, “But someone had to fight them. Otherwise, women wouldn’t have the right to vote.”
I watched him walk away, wondering why he’d bother to try and help. Shelby seemed to trust him, but as I learned recently, trust wasn’t necessarily a solid foundation to build things on. One action was all it took to snap that bond. If I couldn’t have faith in the one man I should, why should I trust anything Luke Lannister said?
Shaking away the memories threatening to surface, I stood up. It was ridiculous to think anyone would help me. Let alone Mr. Lannister. He worked at Ashworth. No one was going to stick up for me. It was better if I was on my own, and much safer for everyone involved.
I trudged my way down the bleachers, dreading the looks I’d get once I was inside. Since the day I took that test, I’d been avoiding facing the reality of my situation. It was easier to pretend everything was normal. The illusion started to shatter when Logan announced to the entire room I was pregnant.
There was a baby growing inside me! An actual living, breathing, human being that would rely on me for everything. It was too much. How was a seventeen year old supposed to handle that? There were options, that I knew. I couldn’t picture myself ‘getting rid of it’ or handing my child over to strangers.
If it washis,would I be able to move past that horrific night? Could I love a child that was conceived in such a violent way? Or would I seehisface every time I looked in my baby’s eyes? I could find out easily enough. One trip to the doctors, and I’d know the conception date. My night with Parker, and the assault, were weeks apart. Problem was, I was utterly terrified I wouldn’t get the result I wanted.
I rounded the corner to the back of the bleachers and stopped dead in my tracks. A pair of sparkling green eyes were glaring down at me.
“Hey Lana banana. I’ve been looking for you.”
“Get out of my way, Mason.” So not in the mood for this, I attempted to shoulder past him. But he grabbed my arm and yanked me into the dark space under the metal benches.
Dark and alone, with a man…
My pulse started to pick up, as a wave of panic threatened to wrack my body.
“We need to talk,” Micha said, stepping out of the shadows to join us.
Not again! Get away! Get away now!
I yanked my arm out of Mason’s grip and took a step back. It gave me some relief to have his hands off me, but that didn’t mean I was going to take my eyes off either one. I’d learned that lesson.
“Wehave nothing to talk about,” I snarled in Micha’s direction.
Mason’s gaze narrowed in on me. “We’re just here to give you a friendly warning.”
Yeah, sure. Friendly, my ass!
“Give me your warning then,” I crossed my arms, using the only thing I had as a shield, “So I can leave.”
Micha stepped forward. “You’re going to talk to Parker by the end of tomorrow.”
“Am I now?” Micha and his goon squad couldn’t make me do shit. At least, that’s what I told myself, while my pulse thundered in my ears.
