“You think this will work?” He asked, taking the cookies reflexively.
I shrugged, “Worked on Monster.” He thought about it for a second but decided not to ask.
Dad reached for the cookies as he said, “I’ll take them. Give you two some privacy.” The words sounded like they pained him and a smile ghosted my lips.
“No,” I answered, stopping him in his tracks. “We need to talk, Dad.”
“You’re not pregnant?” He asked, horrified, and my eyes crinkled even as Dom made for the door at a speed which revealed his true nature.
“No, Dad. I’m a virgin and definitely don’t qualify for Immaculate Conception,” I revealed as his cheeks reddened. “It’s about Mom.”
“I think that might be worse,” he managed to get out, his feet dragging as he went to the couch. “The whisky is in the….” He trailed off as I opened the drawer next to the sink and reached back for the small bottle. “Never mind, I see you have it.”
“You have few secrets from me,” I replied, lifting the bottle as I came over to him and plopped down next to him. “I’m kind of relieved to know that you consider anything I say about Mom to be worse than me being pregnant.”
“That wasn’t my intention,” he said around the bottle as he took a swig. “I’d rather you not get pregnant before graduating high school.”
A small laugh escaped me as I leaned my head back on the couch. It wasn’t actually funny since my diploma had arrived in the mail the day before, but laughing was better than crying.
“Technically, I did graduate,” I replied, rolling my head toward him. He lifted the bottle slightly as he contemplated my words and then tilted it to me in a wordless gesture.
“One sip. Make it count,” he answered as I took the bottle. I stared at it for a second, took a sniff and then brought it to my lips. Burning heat seared through my mouth and throat as I swallowed and I coughed automatically. Dad chuckled as he took the bottle back and downed another swallow.
“That is horrible,” I choked out. “Are you punishing me?”
“No,” he answered instantly, his gaze on me. “You are not at fault for them kicking you out of school a semester early.” He sighed ruefully as he admitted, “I know you and Dom acted appropriately at school. The principal is a short sighted little son of a bitch.”
A choked snort erupted from me at his words, and it took a minute before I could respond. “I don’t know if you need to insult his mother too,” I managed around my laughter and he pointed his finger at me as he raised the bottle again.
“I bet his dad is a stand-up guy,” he replied, his expression tired, and I swiped the bottle out of his hand. It took me a couple of tries before I got the top screwed back on and by then he’d turned serious.
“Why is she here?” He murmured quietly, his voice pitched so low I could barely make out the words. I wondered for a split second if being Dom’s mate also gave me super hearing and then shrugged off the thought.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. She hadn’t answered the question when I asked and then I’d gotten pissed at Dom’s revelation. “But I do know something else,” I added and he spared me a quick glance.
“Lay it on me,” he said, thumping his chest lightly.
“She’s a breeding female,” I told him bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat the truth. It didn’t take him long to come to the same conclusions I had.
“I really hate that bitch,” he sighed, the words lacking heat and coming out more in resignation.
“Me too,” I replied, my head dropping onto his shoulder as I offered him the bottle once again. He shook his head, and then rested it against mine.
“It’s a bad sign that she’s here, isn’t it?” I asked, flexing my hand as the memory of hitting her came back to me. I kind of wished she was in front of me so I could hit her again.
“Knowing your mother….yes,” Dad replied as he curled his hand around mine, stilling my fingers. “I guess I don’t need to ask who gave her the broken nose.”
“She –” I shook my head, unable to formulate thoughts into words.
“Yeah, I hear you,” Dad responded, understanding lacing his words. He patted my hand after a minute and added, “However, I’m really glad to know you’re a virgin.”
Chapter Two
Dom
I escaped the motel apartment with a relieved sigh. I’d rather face her mother than that conversation. Hell, I’d prefer to face a dozen angry Hanleys rather than the pregnancy question. My body tightened at the thought of Jess pregnant and I heard a crunch as the cookies in my hand turned to crumbs. I loosened my hold on the box of cookies before I ruined them all.