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Honestly, I’m used to Rose being in complete battle mode. She’s basically the Joan of Arc of the core six.
“No one fucking hit on you, did they?” Ryke asks Daisy. The sudden question slices my chest, and my focus zones in on Willow for a split-second.
She’s sliding closer to me, and when she gives me a look like I’m okay, I return my gaze back to the computer screen and try to relax. Willow doesn’t love attention drawn to her. Us being together and showing any kind of PDA is like a spotlight bearing down telling her brothers look here!
I’m trying my best to make sure that light isn’t so bright.
So I pretend that I’m so fucking interested in code that I don’t really notice her. But I slide my hand down her arm, her skin silky smooth, and my fingers lace firmly with hers.
I squeeze her hand, and I’m close enough to hear her breath shallow. Fuck that causes mine to shorten.
“I’m pregnant,” Daisy reminds Ryke in a tone that basically says, I couldn’t possibly be hit on.
“Yeah?” Ryke says. “Your sister thinks it wouldn’t fucking matter if you were pregnant or not.”
Willow clears her throat. “We were approached…Daisy handled it really fast though.”
My head whips towards Willow. “What?” My stomach tosses, and it feels like the floor caves underneath me.
Ryke’s jaw hardens. “What do you mean approached?”
Willow makes a soured face like she’s grossed out. Please tell me they didn’t…
Fuck. I can’t even think it, but I know I have to ask it.
“Did someone touch you?” I ask under my breath, hopefully soft enough that not a lot of them hear. Preferably no one but Willow.
“No, no, like I said, Daisy handled it really fast. It was just…weird, I guess. He was old.”
“Fucking fantastic,” Ryke mutters.
I’d like to say I’m relieved, but I’m not. I hate that Willow had to go through anything that made her uncomfortable. I hate I wasn’t there to at least call the guy a fucking creep or push him away.
“It does seem like there are more guys here than girls,” Lily says, munching on Cheez-Its. I did notice that, but it’s a statistic that I really don’t care to be reminded of.
Lo nods to Willow. “You want to leave now?”
She shakes her head vigorously. “No. It wasn’t that bad, honestly.”
I don’t know if she’s just trying to be nice and not ruin the night. Worry mounts, and I kiss her on the cheek. Hand to the back of her soft neck, my lips move to her ear, and I whisper, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. Tell me everything that happened later?”
She nods and I pull her against my side, tucking her to my body.
“How many steps are left?” Connor asks me.
I shake my head, not following, and then I remember he’s been watching me on my computer all night. I lick my lips and type one last line. “That’s it,” I say.
“That’s it?” Daisy says eagerly, edging closer. She glances at the screen, full of computer code. Her brows scrunch together.
“Whoever they had hacking into your accounts will be met with porn spam when they try again. I also increased all your security passwords, and I’ve written them down for you.” I dig into my pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a crumpled piece of paper. I hand the paper to Daisy. “I had to add a defense to all of your accounts, by the way. No one should be able to find your phone numbers unless you personally give it out.”
Daisy releases a giant breath in relief.
I motion to Lily. “And your passcodes took me thirty-seconds to hack.”
Lo gives her a look.
“Whaaa…” She crinkles her nose. “It’s not anything familiar to anyone, I promise.”
“It is though,” I say. “Your favorite movie is X-Men: First Class. You said it in an interview, which is public knowledge. You can’t use 2011xmen as your password—”
“Shhh!” she hushes me with bugged eyes and waves her hands like she’s swatting flies. “Someone’s going to overhear and get into my work email.”
Besides the eight of us, there’s no one in the kitchen.
“If you want, I’ll help you change it tonight.”
She nods repeatedly.
Connor closes his lightsaber and gestures from me to the laptop. “You taught yourself code?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” Connor asks like he’s actually interested. But he can’t be. I’m me.
“I like it.” I shrug. “Code makes sense to me. Does there need to be another reason?”
Connor smiles. “There could be, but the reason you gave me is the best one.”
37
garrison abbey
I collapse on Willow’s bed, reeling from one weird-ass Halloween.
Willow places her halo headband on her dresser. “I still can’t believe what happened,” she breathes. “It’s almost out of the movies.”
Ryke and Lily disappeared from the group for a little bit, and when they came back, they were covered in white powder. Flour laced with cocaine. Apparently, a group of guys dressed as zombies flour-cocaine bombed them as they were leaving the bathroom.
