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Vomit.
It's honestly the thing about home I've missed least since being at college.
“Let's get out of here before the wolves descend and sink their claws in,” I tell him as I loop my arm with his and pull him down the hallway. “How did you even get past security?”
“With this smile?” He shows me to prove his point. “I can do anything.”
“You told him you're my brother and trying to surprise me?”
He chuckles like he's been busted. “Yep.”
I'M ON HIGH ALERT the entire time I show him around campus. It's like I'm just waiting for Easton to jump up with yet another grand gesture that makes me want to crawl into a cave and never come out. All I can hope is that he sees Ryker before he makes matters so much worse.
Him being here is a reminder that I should really tell my parents—something I've been avoiding since I found out about the pregnancy. Thankfully, the cold temperatures justify wearing a sweatshirt, so it's not hard to hide the small bump that has been forming.
We're on our way to the football field when excited screams of my name sound from behind me. I turn around to see Tye and Amelia jogging toward us, and my heart sinks.
Oh fuck.
I mentally pray to God that the pictures on my wall have been enough for these two to recognize my brother next to me, but I doubt it by the way they're squealing as soon as they get over to us.
“We've been looking everywhere for you!” Amelia tells me. “So, I was bored, and Tye had the brilliant idea to go downtown and go shopping. We tried to call you, but you must have been busy.”
She looks Ryker up and down like he's someone I'm hooking up with, and she's not happy about it. I mean, if the situation were reversed and it were my brother, I'd probably be the same way.
“Amelia, this is—”
Shaking her head, she cuts me off. “I don't need to know his name. He won't last. Let me finish my story.”
A groan echoes from the back of my throat, and I look over at Tye for help, but she's too busy finding this situation amusing to care.
“So, we found this little boutique near the movie theater,” she continues. “It's so cute and has the most adorable baby clothes.”
I cough to try to cover the slip of information but it's totally obvious to everyone but Amelia. Even Tye tries to nudge her, but her mouth keeps going—letting out everything I've been trying to keep in. And Ryker? He's focused on every single word that leaves her loose lips.
“You need to find out if this baby is a boy or a girl as soon as you can, because now I'm super excited to shop for my little niece or nephew.”
Ry turns to me with a fire in his eyes that threatens to strike me dead. “You're pregnant?”
I glare at Amelia and turn to my brother. “I was going to tell you.”
“He got you pregnant and then fucking ditched you?” He's all but yelling at this point. “I'm going to kill that son of a bitch.”
In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have told him that Easton and I broke up. Especially when everything is so unknown and up in the air. But he called me one night when I was upset and there was no lying to him about it. When you grow up with someone, they learn how to pick up on things—like when you're full of shit.
“Excuse me,” Amelia sasses. “That's my brother you're talking about.”
“Yeah?” he asks, completely unamused. “Well, let him know that Ryker Lehigh is out for fucking blood.”
“Lehigh?” Her mouth opens and closes. “You're...”
“My brother,” I answer for her, pressing a finger to my temple.
“Shit. I thought he was just another Alec, trying to get in your pants.”
“You slept with Alec?” Ry shouts.
I throw a hand over Amelia's mouth so she can't say anything else. “No, I haven't slept with Alec! Are you crazy? Now stop screaming before the whole campus thinks I am.”
