Page 28 of Broken

Izzy frowned. “You haven’t pulled out withme.”

I stared into her eyes, needing her to see everything I meant. “Because no other girlwasyou.”

She flushed, a small, crooked smile gracing her lips. “What are we going to do, Tucker?” She sighed, laying her head on her knees.

I ran my thumb along her temple, brushing some of the sweat soaked baby fine strands away from her eyes. “I’ll handle it.”

Chapter 9

TUCKER

“Hey, listen to this.” Annie held out one of her AirPods as we hung out under the oak in the courtyard the next morning. We’d both gotten here early after cross country, the two of us listening to music and chatting most days while people slowly trickled into the school.

I took one of my own out to slip hers in. “Solid beat.” I nodded, handing it back. “Who is that?”

“Brokenby Seether. How are you doing, by the way?” she asked, keeping her headphone in her lap. She watched me, those green eyes of hers studying me, reminding me so much of Izzy at that moment.

“I’m good. Izzy believes Lisa, but I don’t.”

“You can’t just not believe it and make it not true. But I’m with you. Lisa’s sketchy. You need proof.”

I nodded, popping my own AirPod back in. It took about five more minutes before I spotted Lisa strutting down the sidewalk towards me.

“Here we go.” I pulled my headphones back out.

“No shame in her at all, is there?” Annie muttered, and I smirked.

“You in a better mood today?” Lisa stopped in front of me, flipping her long strawberry waves over her shoulder before placing her hands on her hips. There was a haughty look on her expression, like she’d already thought she’d won.

“I want a DNA test,” I deadpanned.

“What?” she faltered.

“I want a sonogram. Hell, I’ll even come to your next appointment if I have to. I need proof. Starting with this.” I reached into my backpack and pulled out a pregnancy test.

Lisa’s mouth opened and closed a few times before she recovered. “Already took one of those. Need to see it?” She reached for her purse. “Here.”

My stomach sickened to see the two pink lines she stuck in front of my face. I swatted it away. “Nuh-uh. You’re going to pee on this one.” I held up the one I’d sucked up and bought. “We can do it right now, or you can come to my place after school. Your choice.”

Lisa rolled her eyes. “Don’t be stupid, Tucker.”

“I’m not. Appointment and DNA test, and you pee on this stick, or you’ve got nothing from me. I pulled out of your fucking cunt, and who knows whoelseyou slept with. You’re not dragging me down without proof.”

“You’re such an ass.”

“Thatyoubegged for. Twice.”

“Exactly. Twice. You never went back for seconds before me. So, color me shocked that you’re being such a dick when there might be consequences for it. Thought you might actually care.”

“About you? You thought wrong. I’m with Izzy, so a fake pregnancy isn’t going to change shit.”

“Argh, why are you being such a jerk?”

I shook the box. “Now or after school?”

“Since I don’t need to pee now, I guess after school.” She huffed, flicking her hair back before storming off.

I sat back, a ball in my stomach like lead. I dropped the pregnancy test back in my bag.