Page 61 of Beneath the Hood

Once I reach them, I snatch the magazine out of Blakely’s hand. Her head snaps to me, amber eyes wide.

There’s a photo of her on the cover walking into Donahue Motors, a close-up shot where they’ve zoomed in and circled her stomach.

Is Blakely Donahue pregnant?

I can’t stop the chuckle that bubbles out of my throat, the laughter loud as it jumps through the air, clashing with the silence that surrounds me.

“What’s so funny?” Sierra snarks.

I look toward Blakely, my heart stalling when I see her fists clenching in threes, and her face a mask of stone.

Sighing, I run my hand over my hair. “Because it’s ridiculous.” My eyes lock on Blakely. “You’re really upset about this?”

Blakely bites her bottom lip, her eyes bouncing from one inanimate object to the next.

“Seriously, Blake. It’s insane,” I continue.

“Is it? Even gossip has the ghost of truth,” Sierra interjects. She backs up a pace, cataloging Blakely with her gaze. “When’s the last time you took your measurements?”

Blakely’s shoulders stiffen. “I measure every night, Sierra.”

“And?”

She pauses. “They caught me in an off moment. They’ve never been at Dad’s company before, so I was unprepared is all. I’m clearly slouching in the picture.”

Sierra’s hand waves in Blakely’s direction. “You do look a little…puffy, though.”

My head snaps to Sierra so fast my neck twinges, disgust coloring my insides and marring my features. “What?”

She shrugs. “I’m just saying. Probably just water weight. Whatever the case, we need to do damage control. There’s good ways to keep your name in the headlines, and then there’s bad ways, and a nineteen-year-old girl knocked up by a mechanic...” She side-eyes me. “Is not agoodway.”

Blakely curls in on herself, and irritation burns in my gut as I watch the strong woman I’ve been inspired by disappearing. My jaw tightens as I try to keep my temper in check.

“The headline doesn’t even mention me,” I say through gritted teeth.

“They didn’t have to,” Sierra snaps. Her gaze jumps back to Blakely. “I’m gonna go talk to the photographer, make sure we’re getting the right angles. We can nip this in the bud, but we’ll need to make sure there’snoroom for debate the next few months.”

Blakely nods, a flash of pain bolting across her eyes as she watches Sierra walk away.

I walk closer, reaching to cup her face. “Blake, don’t listen to that bullshit.”

Her arm comes up, batting my hand away as she backs up, sucking in a gasp. “What are you doing? Don’ttouchme while they’re here.”

My heart falters, twisting until it stings.

Blakely’s gaze darts behind me, no doubt searching to make sure no one saw my mistake.

My jaw clenches. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

She clears her throat, tossing her hair behind her shoulders and straightening her spine. “I’m fine, Jackson.” She smiles. “Honestly, this isnormal. And she’s not wrong. I’ve been spending so much time with you lately that I’ve let other things go. It’s my own fault.”

Her words have jagged edges and they prick at my skin.

I open my mouth to respond, but she walks away before I can, joining Sierra and the photographer on the other side of the pool as they lean over his computer.

I’m left with a bitter taste in my mouth and a sour feeling in my gut. If I don’t give myself some space, I’ll say something I regret.

So, I leave.

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