Catch Twenty-Two (Westover Prep 2)

“We have a lot we need to talk about.”

“I know.”

“Your dad made me leave when I showed up after school yesterday. Did you tell him? He seemed more agitated than usual.”

I shake my head, running shaky fingers under my eyes. I’m not wearing makeup, but the dark circles under my eyes make it look like smeared eyeliner is marking my face.

“Did you talk to Zeke?”

“Not really,” I mutter.

“But he knows?”

I nod, not having the energy to go through a blow-by-blow of him finding the test before I could read them myself. I don’t know what he did with them, but they were gone when I went to use the bathroom after I heard him storm out of the house.

“What did he say?”

“I didn’t give him the chance to say anything. I made him leave me alone. He left and then Dad showed up.”

“You have to talk to him.”

I sigh again. It seems to be my reaction to everything these days. “I know, but we can’t even talk without arguing, and this isn’t a conversation I need to have while one of my parents is home.”

“So you didn’t see him this morning?”

“I left before he got up.”

Piper frowns. “You can’t avoid this forever.”

I glare at her reflection in the mirror.

“What are you going to do?” she asks.

“Have a baby.”

“Obviously.” She sighs herself, placing a calm hand on my back. “And when do you plan to tell your mom and dad?”

“Never?” I give her a weak smile, and she returns it. “I may not have to tell them ever. They pay so little attention to me, the kid could be in kindergarten and they wouldn’t even notice.”

“True,” Piper agrees. “But I’m sure they’ll notice the OBGYN bills. You know your dad goes over expenses with a fine-tooth comb.”

“I think it’s his way of checking on Mom to make sure she isn’t cheating on him.”

Piper winces, and I feel like a fool for putting my family business out there like that.

“Things bad at home with them?”

I shake my head. “Everything is just as it’s always been. Dad will be gone by this evening and Mom isn’t expected to be home until Tuesday.”

“So you’ll have plenty of time to talk to Zeke and figure out what you’re going to do.”

“Which reminds me,” I begin with a grin, “can I stay the weekend at your house?”

“You can’t avoid talking to him forever, but of course you’re welcome at my house anytime.”

“Think your dad would be able to handle his disappointment when I make the baby’s first pediatric appointment?” I ask as Piper holds the door open for me.

“Probably not,” she says with a laugh.

I’m grinning, too, when we exit the restroom, but it doesn’t last long.

I may have been able to avoid Zeke at home this morning, but I knew deep down, I’d have to face him at school today, and there he is, posted up against his locker with Bronwyn standing right in front of him.

He isn’t touching her, and he isn’t smiling, but that doesn’t keep Bronwyn from gripping his shirt with one hand while the fingers of her other hand curl into the belt loop of his jeans. Her head is tilted back and a wide smile is on her face as she tells him something with a little too much enthusiasm.

Seeing them together has hurt me every single time from the first time when he wrapped his arm over her shoulder the first day of school, but after knowing what we created together, seeing him with her right now slams into me with the force of a nuclear bomb.

As if sensing me somehow, Zeke looks up, finding me staring at him and his girlfriend. On instinct, my hand goes to my stomach, not because I feel the need to protect myself but because the sight of them together is enough to make me sick again.

His eyes lock on my hand, but when he tries to step around Bronwyn, she prevents him from leaving with a tug on his belt loop. He must not want to come to me very badly because he breaks eye contact and looks down at her again.

“You don’t need him,” Piper whispers in my ear as she tugs on my arm.

I’m thankful she begins to steer me away from the hall because I know without interruption I’d stand there all day and stare at him, willing him to choose me even though he’s toxic.

This baby is going to need him, eventually. I just hope that he grows up before he’s partially responsible for raising a child of his own.

I don’t know where Zeke goes, but he doesn’t show up for first period. The only thing that keeps my mind from racing is seeing Bronwyn prance in like she owns the place without him. If neither of them showed up, I’d probably end up running out of school and demand that Dad kick Zeke out of the house and homeschool myself the rest of the year.