Chapter 22

KNOX

“I can’t standin this hallway anymore,” Willow announces. “I’m get stuffy and uncomfortable.”

Her voice commands us all.

Best part is that all she has to do is touch her stomach… a reminder that she’s pregnant and she’s in charge.

She walks down the hallway and I point at everyone to follow.

She’s the boss…

She’s also the one carrying my baby.

It feels very intense to think that.

I tell myself not to pass out again. Not in front of everyone. Bad enough I passed out in front of Willow.

Once we’re outside, Willow turns and starts pointing fingers.

“Someone said something,” she says. “This is supposed to be my time. I’m supposed to decide how to handle this. And someone took that from me. This is very personal. Between myself and Knox.”

“Oh, it was personal for sure,” Jax says with a grin. “Can’t believe you two hooked up. I’m not sure if I should be mad or jealous.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Mila asks.

“I mean… you know… Willow…” Jax is scrambling now.

“I thought we were close like brother and sister?” Willow asks.

“Man, that’s a little weird,” Gabriel says.

“Enough!” Willow yells. “I’m being serious about this.” She looks at Mac. “Dude. Tell the truth.”

“Me?” Mac asks. “Whoa. Don’t start with that shit at me.”

“Willow, if he says he didn’t say anything,” Violet says.

“Sticking up for your man,” Willow says.

“I just slapped him because he didn’t tell me!”

“She’s got a point,” Ruby says. “Willow, you need to chill.”

Willow’s eyes go really wide.

Bigger than I’ve ever seen someone’s go ever.

“Chill?” Willow asks. “Who the hell do you think you are, Ruby? You think you’re better than everyone. The way you act and talk to us. You’re a snobby bitch!”

“Hey,” Gabriel says.

“Don’t even think about it,” I say to Gabriel.

“Oh, you’re jumping in now?” Gabriel asks. “I better keep my distance. Your daddy will show up and put me in jail.”

“At least my father can freely drive here,” I throw at Gabriel.

“Fucker,” Gabriel growls.

He lunges toward me.

Villi jumps in and pushes Gabriel away.

“You two are assholes,” Mac says. “Want to keep talking about fathers?”

We all fall silent again.

Mac’s jaw tightens.

Willow takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I caused all that. Sometimes I just feel a little bit insane. I think it’s the pregnancy.”

“I can explain why,” Mila says. “If you want.”

Willow looks at her. “I’ll have plenty of medical questions for you, I’m sure. But right now I need the truth. I need to know how you all know. Just tell me who told you.”

They all look at each other.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I ask. “You can’t just spit it out.”

“We all just kind of found out at the same time,” Villi says. “I was with Vera and Jax texted me.”

“I heard something from Mila.”

“I heard from Ruby,” Mila says.

“We all knew by then,” Mila says. “I heard someone say something when I was walking. I texted Violet.”

“I texted Ruby,” Violet says.

“I was the only one who really knew and I kept my mouth shut,” Mac says.

Willow shakes her head. “Wait… someone on campus said something…”

“Just in passing,” Mila says. “I didn’t mean to start any issues. I thought for a second it was funny. But then it just grew from there…”

“How did you get here?” I ask. “To this place. This location.”

Everyone is quiet again.

Then Mila slowly lifts her hand.

“What?” I ask.

“Willow,” Mila says. “Remember when you were going out on that date a long time ago… and your brother was paranoid…”

“Oh,” Willow says. “You tracked me.”

“You tracked her?” I growl.

Willow reaches out and touches my hand. “Still doesn’t explain who said something. Or how they know. Like… was someone following me or something?”

I barely have time to take a breath before it hits me.

Like taking a hockey puck to the throat.

I step back and quickly look around.

“What is it?” Willow asks me.

I rub my jaw.

“I think I know who told everyone.”