All I had to do to find out what Joseph wanted was to press my thumb down and open the text. Yet at the last moment, I stopped myself. Why should I care what he wanted? He’d made his feelings for me and our baby perfectly clear the last time we were together. Asher would be here to pick me up so
With Asher at my side, we were led into a private room where a friendly nurse began an ultrasound. I worried my bottom lip, nervous, but Asher placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. I gained strength from his touch, enough to watch the screen when the nurse discovered the embryo. It was tiny yet,
Can we talk again about our baby? Hand shaking, I tried and failed several times to compose a response. What did Joseph mean by this? Did he actually want to be a part of the baby’s life now, or was he trying again to get me to abort the baby? I wanted to believe in him. My baby deserved a carin
“Thank you,” I told her at the door. She smiled at me. “Friends stick together.” I blinked. Friends? I didn’t feel we really knew each other well enough for that, but the idea of it still made me happy. I returned her smile and nodded. Friday evening, I stood in the hockey arena. In my che
After the hockey game, I followed the other cheerleaders onto campus for a brief practice. After, I showered and changed into my day clothes in the locker room. The other cheerleaders were talking excitedly about going to the hockey team’s after party at the athletes’ dorm. Nicole sat beside me,
Watching her leave, I leaned against the wall. I’d planned on staying there, but a couple of cheerleaders spotted me and called me over to the drink table. I hesitated. I’d told Nicole I’d wait for her, but I’d already made so much trouble for my fellow cheerleaders. If they wanted to include me s
Later at the party, a group of caterers arranged a buffet. I dragged Nicole closer to get a better look. Arranged on a set of two tables were an assortment of meats, cheeses, pasta, salads, and dressings. A third table was entirely deserts, cakes and cookies and even ice cream, set in the base of
Nicole spotted me at once and motioned me toward the dance machine. She picked a song, and smiled at me. “Ready to impress?” she asked. Was I ever. Dancing was the perfect way to work off all the stress I’d gathered. Infuriating, overbearing Asher. The music started, and I lost myself to the
“Please.” That all sounded so good. I wanted it. I wanted everything. He stood to kick off the rest of his clothes. I watched, my mouth watering as he exposed his dick. He was so big, so hard just for me. Carefully, he moved me how he wanted me, stretching out my legs farther, and then slipped
Asher guided me back into the bedroom. As I stood near the bed, he walked behind me and slowly tugged down the zipper of my dress. His knuckles traced the newly-revealed skin inch by inch, following down the length of my spine. When the zipper had lowered as much as it could go. He spread his hand
I held my breath as Dylan threw the first punch. Asher dodged back and Dylan’s fist flew through the open air. Asher then stepped forward, ready to retaliate. Dylan backpedaled, placing a few feet between them again. In a flash, Dylan moved close again. His speed was lightning-quick. I barely even
“’Might?’” He squeezed me gently. “It will be fine. Trust me.” I did trust him, with my life and more. But… this was my brother. My brother and the love of my life were about to fight a challenge with yet unknown terms that would undoubtedly involve me and my baby. I couldn’t help but be a b
I opened my mouth to begin to explain, but the truth seemed worse than even Dylan’s worst assumptions. No, Asher isn’t the father of my baby. The father is actually a terrible person who is now in prison. But Dylan wasn’t waiting for me to figure out a softer way to explain, and Asher was no hel
On the evening of the Academy’s winter dance, I slipped into my shining purple gown and checked myself out in the bathroom mirror. Gone were the days when I could pass as not pregnant. Now, my bump was a distinctive round bulge, pressing out the front of my gown – which I had bought in the materni
“I… um…” I had no idea how to answer Dylan. Panic set in, sending my heart into overdrive. Should I admit to Asher being beside me? It was getting late at night. Surely Dylan would have follow-up questions. Like, why was Asher in my room after dark. “Oh, shit, I have to go,” Dylan said suddenly.
Asher’s words stole my breath away. For a long moment, I simply stared at him, desire coiling inside of me. He stared back, his blue eyes deep as the ocean. I swallowed thickly. I couldn’t wait to go home with him and see all of his promises in action. Nancy cleared her throat from the doorway.
The real Asher was safely behind the line of fake wolves. He glanced back at me in concern. I understood his worry. Holding this many projections was a strain. But I was done running. I was done standing back. Joseph would lose. And I would help bring him down. In the circle, Joseph started to