Page 84 of Broken

“Please?”

“I can’t when you keep ignoring everything he does. He’s not safe. In a different way than my cousins. He’s calculated, messed up, and we should’ve done something about it a long time ago.”

“What am I supposed to do? It’s way too late to report what happened back in June, and even if I did, where’s the proof now? It’s he said she said between the three of us that night.”

“Maybe, but you can still tell someone about it. Annie and Jet filled me in on what Ms. Lane said today. So, if you don’t want me to get into it with him, then you have to tell her about what’s been going on. At least, that way, the school knows something’s up.” I raised an eyebrow when she didn’t respond. “If you don’t, Izzy, then I will. I got called in today, too.”

“I figured. Dinah and Casey said they saw you in the office at lunch. It just sucks. I love Ms. Lane. She was great to talk to when it was about Daddy, but I got this feeling today that Mom already had her on her side.”

I frowned, taking a minute to process before kissing her brow. “I know it sucks, but you’re getting off track, princess. We need to tell someone about Zane. I’ll do it if you won’t, but–”

“ButI’mthe one he won’t leave alone.” Izzy sighed. “Okay, I’ll talk to Ms. Lane.”

Relieved that she’d agreed, I relaxed again, my hand going back to its task with her hair. Izzy sighed, her body melting against mine with the caress as she settled back into her thoughts, and I pulled her into me, tucking her close with my nose in her hair. Time like this, with her, was perfect. I couldn’tbelieve how long I’d fought my feelings for her. Well, more like I’d been in denial, really. But that we were here now, like this…this girl was perfect. One hundred percent meant for me.

She shifted, laying one of her arms across her middle so her hand rested on her stomach, the gesture making me frown. “I wonder how everyone found out,” I mused aloud.

“Lisa.”

My head jerked up because I wasnotexpecting that answer. If one at all. “How the hell was it Lisa?”

“She saw Jet and I talking in the parking lot before school this morning.”

“What did y’all say? We never talk about it in public.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Izzy popped up, desperation in her voice. “It just surprised me. When I felt her move, I was just so shocked. I couldn’t help it. I pressed my hand against my stomach, and I’m sure that’s how she saw. I must’ve scared poor Jet half to death. I’ve never seen him move so fast. He even offered to take me to the hospital. He thought I was in pain or something.”

She paused only to suck in a breath, her words rushing out. “Then, Annie and I overheard Lisa telling people about it in the hall, and she was just so smug and nasty about it. She had a whole crowd wrapped around her story. Except it was the truth.” Her voice fell at the end, and she laid back against my arm. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

I looked down at her, my thoughts too busy spiraling through the first part of what she said to process the next.

“Tucker?” She glanced up, meeting my gaze.

“You felt her move?” I finally whispered.

Her face lit up as she nodded. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I forgot to tell you. I was going to at lunch, but then you weren’t there, and then with all the drama today between the rumors and Lisa and Zane… Anyway, it was soamazing. I felt ourbaby move. Like little bubbles or popcorn tapping me from the inside.”

I watched her hand move lovingly to the slight swell at her middle, and a surge of anger and jealousy charged through my body. What was wrong with me? How was I so messed up that I couldn’t feel that? I feltnothingfor the baby. I was a fucking fraud.

“Tucker? What’s the matter?”

I scrubbed a hand over my face, hating that I’d let my frustration show.Should I tell her?Hiding it had only made us fight when I’d first realized, and I’d chickened out telling her then. But how much longer could I hide this from her, anyway? She was so excited.

Except today was already shit. Do I want to drag her through this, too?

No, but the niggling in my conscience told me I had to.

“Izzy, I need to tell you something.”

Those emerald eyes studied me for a few moments, and she propped herself up on an elbow, smoothing out the creases of stress in my brow with her fingertips. “What is it?”

I closed my eyes for a second, cringing at the comfort, knowing I didn’t deserve it with what I was about to admit. I took her hand in mine and held it against my chest. “You’re going to want to hate me for this.”

“That ridiculous, whiskey.” She gave me a smile. “I could never hate you.”

“That’s why I said you were going towantto hate me for this.”

“Tucker, what is it?” she pressed, concern starting to coat her voice.

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