Page 60 of Gather the Storm

Okay, I didn’tknowall of them, but I knewofthem, and I was pretty sure they knew of me. If I didn’t find anything in the Beasts’ rooms, I’d need to start talking to the people who’d known them when Blake was murdered, try to figure out what had been going on the night of the party.

Because something had definitely been going on. The fight at school and the fact that Blake was alone by the river instead of banging one of his groupies in an upstairs bedroom all spoke to something being off.

I hadn’t seen it that night. I’d been too young, too oblivious, but the vibe had been off. Looking back, Blake had seemed tense even on the way to the party, and not just because of the argument we’d had about him taking me.

I pulled myself back to the present just in time to see Otis say something to Wolf.

Wolf nodded and Otis disappeared into the crowd.

“How’s the house coming?” Willa said over the music. “Oscar told me you’re fixing it up.”

“It’s good,” I said. “We’re just getting started, but I think it’s going to be amazing once it’s finished.”

“It’s a great old house,” Willa said. “I’ll always be grateful you let us stay there.”

I smiled. “It was my pleasure. It was sitting empty for so long. I was happy someone could make use of it.”

“Are you going to sell it when it’s done?” Willa asked.

I shook my head. “It belonged to my mom’s family. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it yet, but I’ll definitely keep it.” I had ideas about what to do with the house — some more radical than others — but I wasn’t ready to talk about them yet. “What about you? Are you still at the Kings’ house?”

I thought the Kings were finished at Aventine University, but I’d always had the feeling the house they lived in belonged to them, not the college, even though it had been used as a frat house for the Kings before everything went to shit there.

Willa nodded. “We’re doing some work on it. I’m…” She blushed a little. “I’m pregnant actually.”

I was pretty sure my mouth dropped open. That wasnotwhat I’d expected her to say.

“What?!” I leaned over to hug her. “That’s amazing! Congratulations!”

I’m not going to lie, I was already trying to do the math on how it worked when you got pregnant and were sleeping with three guys who were all friends, not because I was judging but because I immediately put myself in her position: what would that be like?

What would I do?

I shut it down fast, first because I didnotneed to think about getting knocked up by one of Blake’s best friends and second because I hadn’t even fucked one of them yet so going down the pregnancy rabbit hole was next-level delusional.

“Thanks,” Willa said. “I haven’t told too many people.”

I could hear the hesitation in her voice, feel her uncertainty.

“Why?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Still getting over feeling like the star of my own reality show I guess. I’m so young.”

I shook my head. “So what? It’s not like you can’t take care of a baby.”

Regardless of which of the Kings was the baby’s father, it was obvious they all adored her. I’d seen it even back when they’d shown up at the house, looking exhausted and bedraggled, bruised and beat up from the car accident they’d been in when someone had tried to kill them, and it was even more obvious now, Drago and Rock looking like they’d take the head off of anyone who even looked at Willa sideways.

Plus they had tons of money. Taking care of a baby wasn’t going to be a problem.

“True,” she said. “I’m just getting used to the idea.”

“When are you due?” I asked.

“Right around Christmas,” she said. “I’m finally over the morning sickness. That was fun.”

I laughed. “I bet. I’m so excited for you!”

“Thanks,” she said. “I know you’re busy with the house, but let me know if you ever want to hang out. I can always use more girl time.”

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