Page 75 of Unbidden

I stand up and walk a couple of steps away from the others. Reed follows.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I whisper.

“I’m not supposed to say.” He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me back into him.

“I’ve proven I can keep a secret. Tell me.Please,” I plead.

He sighs. “The girls don’t know how they’re chosen, but I do. The recruits who pass their test get to each choose a girl to join. As a junior, Keaton didn’t have to choose since he won’t be a full-fledged member until he’s a senior. Same with Finley. Sterling and I had to choose. He chose Victoria, and I chose you.”

His admission shocks me. “Why? Why me?”

He turns my face toward him. “You’re smart, resilient, feisty, loyal, and protective. If I was fighting for my life, there is no one else I would rather have by my side.”

I stop breathing at his words. “So, not because I’m a Covington?”

“Not because you’re a Covington. Because you’reyou.”

Chapter Seventeen

“Ugh, why are periods so brutal? Why can’t we just get an email that’s like ‘Hey, you. You’re not pregnant. Congrats!’ and that’s it. Why do we have to have cramps and everything else?” V rants while lying on her stomach across Tinsley’s bed.

Life has been a little weird since the Samhain party. Reed and I were extremely physical that night, but things have cooled down since. We still hang out, and he still has a habit of holding my hand and sitting close to me, but nothing more.

Oh, and he still insists I wear his jerseys on game day.

Victoria moans again.

I try to hold in my laugh but fail as soon as Tinsley starts giggling.

“Real funny, you two. You know you agree with me,” V mumbles.

“I may have some pain reliever under my bathroom counter if you want,” Tinsley sweetly offers.

“Dear baby Jesus, yes,” V pleads.

“I’ll grab it for you, drama queen,” I tease.

Every time I step into Tinsley’s bathroom, I can’t help but be a little envious. It’s every woman’s dream bathroom. All white and grey with double sinks, a huge glass shower in the middle with a giant soaking tub sitting right in front of it.

I bend down in front of the sink closest to the toilet and inspect what all Tinsley has. I find the pain reliever, then take a little further look and realize all she has is pads. Wings, no wings, liners, heavy-duty ones—everything. But no tampons whatsoever. It makes me curious. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t prefer tampons. Thinking back to what I’ve observed so far, I wonder if anyone ever taught her about them.

I go back into her bedroom and hand V two pain relievers. “Here you go, princess.”

“Is this what having a sister is like?” she jokes back.

“I wish I had a sister,” Tinsley says on a sigh.

“Speaking of girl things. Tins, I noticed you only have pads under your sink. Do you not use tampons?”

Her face turns slightly red, and I kick myself for embarrassing her.

“No.” Her small voice breaks my heart.

“Hey, no judgement. I was only curious. I’m sorry if I upset you.”

She gives me a small smile. “I know. I was never taught. It scares me to use one without knowing how it works.”

“Who taught you about your menstrual cycle?” I ask.

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