Page 93 of Perfect Sin
Once again they are rendered mute. “Well, this was productive. I’m out of patience, and I don’t think Ford really cares enough to keep me from beating you right here.”
“I really don’t,” he agrees. “But I don’t want to be late for class.”
We shove past them and continue toward the building our first classes are held in. Once we are out of earshot, Ford exhales. “This is going to be a shitty day, isn’t it?”
I smirk, holding on to the images from this morning.
Ford shakes his head. “Don’t tell me about whatever just crossed your mind. My memory is still fresh enough to fill in the blanks. The rate you two are going she’s going to be knocked up before the end of the term.”
I freeze, and he turns around after a few steps. “No,” he begs.
“I didn’t say anything.” I’m thinking it, but that doesn’t make it a reality. Raven hasn’t mentioned it, so I’m probably just being paranoid.
“She just turned nineteen. Please tell me she isn’t already pregnant.”
I swallow. “It’s just a suspicion. It’s probably nothing, but she’s been acting differently the last couple of weeks.”
“How?” he pushes.
“Mood swings, not sleeping well or sleeping a lot. She’s been nauseous the last few days.”
“Fuck!” He breathes roughly for a few minutes, and any doubt I had about him feeling like her best friend vanishes. He’s not jealous, just worried about her.
He forces himself to settle down. “Maybe it’s something else. It’s been a shitty few weeks.”
I nod, hoping he’s right. “Help me keep an eye on her.” I take a deep breath. “If she is—”
“Then the stakes are even higher. A baby can’t defend itself, and your world is too dangerous for someone so vulnerable.”
“You forget, it’s your world too. You’re the one who keeps wanting to insert yourself in it.”
“Well, my old man always told me I was a dumbass, maybe he was right.”
He shoves his hand in his hair. “Do you think Jesse is really back? Could he be that stupid?”
“Only one way to find out,” I say and head off for my first class.
News of Jesse’s return spreads through the school and is being discussed in my first class as I walk in. The second the professor ends class I’m out of my seat and hurrying to meet Lucien and Raven. He can handle Jesse, but Raven is my responsibility, not his.
I find them before they enter the building, grab her arm, and pull her around the side of the building. Lucien follows behind us.
“Jesse is back,” I warn her.
She looks past me at Lucien. “We’ve heard.”
“We should take you home,” I say.
Raven shakes her head. “I’ve missed out on enough, not to mention how many classes I’ve missed. I’m not letting some preppy asshole scare me away.”
“Why is he back now?” Lucien asks.
“Let’s find out,” Raven says and moves toward the building.
I step back in front of her. “I don’t want you at risk.”
“I’m at risk every day. For once I’d like to know what’s coming.”
“She’s got a point. Let’s find out what this pencil dick wants,” Lucien says.