Catch Twenty-Two (Westover Prep 2)

“Our baby is a giant, running out of room,” I counter as we make our way to the door leading to the hall.

“I’m a big guy,” he says with pride, and I swear he puffs his chest out a little with the words. “I can’t help it you’re as small as a little fairy.”

I huff.

“And tight,” he says as he leans down and whispers in my ears. My cheeks flush. “So very tight. Every time is like the first time. I can’t wait to get you home. I’m gonna bend you over the—”

I squeak in embarrassment when I see Piper and Dalton standing outside of the door waiting for us. Family planning class is no longer first thing in the morning. Too many of the girls were missing due to morning sickness, so this semester it’s been switched to right before lunch. So instead of queasy girls, Mrs. Hampshire has to deal with hungry little devils.

“Sounds like you guys have the same plans we have this weekend,” Dalton says as he wraps his arms around Piper.

Her cheeks are just as flushed as mine are, and I know they heard the filthy things Zeke was saying to me.

“I’m sleeping all weekend,” I mutter.

“We’ll see,” Zeke says, lifting his hand to fist bump Dalton’s.

Piper rolls her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing. I used to hate how close Dalton and Zeke got, but it was inevitable I guess. We spend almost as much time with them as we spend with each other.

My phone rings, but I hit the ignore button when I see my mom’s number pop up on the screen.

“She’s still calling?” Zeke asks.

“Yeah,” I mumble.

“You’re going to have to talk to them eventually,” Piper says as I shove my phone back into my pocket.

“Well it isn’t going to be today.”

I’ve had one simple conversation with my parents since the day Zeke and I went to go tell them about the baby. It was the day I showed up a week after that to pack up all of my things. They weren’t exactly surprised to see me, but they both stood to the side in shock when Zeke helped me load my things into his truck. They didn’t ask me to stay or try to throw their parental weight around, but when I didn’t bother to call or show up at their house for Christmas, the calls started. They know where we live, but it must be too much work to drive across town to see their daughter because they’ve never darkened the door of Eden’s little house on the outskirts of town.

Thankfully, they haven’t canceled my health insurance, but that’s about all I have to be grateful for these days where they’re concerned.

“It’s a long weekend. I say we all get out of town,” Dalton suggests as we begin to make our way to the cafeteria for lunch.

“Denver would be nice,” Piper adds. “Frankie, you wanted to go to that specialty shop there, right?”

“The baby store?” Zeke says with a wide grin. Both he and his mom have been chomping at the bit to buy things for the baby. I’ve done my best to rein them in, but the further along I get, the harder that’s been. “Yeah, let’s go.”

“Same plan as always?” I ask when I look up at my smiling best friend.

“Of course.”

Piper doesn’t get much alone time with Dalton, and they hardly ever get overnight visits together, but every once in a while we lie to her parents about where she’s staying and they get to slink off for a night or two. Her parents know I’m pregnant and although they worry about my future, they’ve been nothing but supportive. It’s crazy how they can support me, but they’re still holding a grudge against Dalton. They’re both eighteen now, so I don’t know why they don’t just give both their families the finger and walk away.

I frown with the thought. I know why they don’t do it. Both of them love their parents and are hoping that things will smooth over, eventually. They don’t walk away from their families because it wouldn’t be as easy as me walking away from mine.

“Plus this is the last holiday before spring break,” Piper says as she opens the door to the cafeteria. “Aren’t you guys going back to see your nan for spring break?”

“We are,” I answer. “We’re hoping that she won’t—”

“Get your fucking hands off of her!”

My words come to a screeching halt when the anger-filled voice rages inside the cafeteria.

Zeke wraps a protective arm around me, the same Dalton does to Piper even though Linc is clear across the room. He’s charging in the direction of Drea. Her eyes widen, and even though Ryan has his arm around her shoulder, she tries to take a step away from him anyway.