Page 1 of Lore
PROLOGUE
Atiana
Seven Years Ago
Leaning back against the bench in the bathroom of the club I work in, I stare down at the pregnancy test, my fingers trembling. Hunter and I are having a baby—a baby we did not plan for and most definitely can’t afford. It looks like his pull-out method in the heat of the moment has finally caught up with us.
I don’t know how he’s going to take it.
No, that’s a lie.
I do know.
He’s going to hate it.
He’s never wanted kids, at least not now.
The timing isn’t great, but I know deep in my soul that I want this baby. And if he wants nothing to do with us, then I guess I’m going to have to do it alone.
The thought of being without Hunter has tears pooling in my eyes.
Yeah, he’s wild.
But I love him.
He’s my first boyfriend, and the one I lost my virginity to.
I was his first as well.
We’ve grown together, and slowly we’re going to build the life we’ve dreamed of. Hunter wants to join the military, and I want to become an art teacher.
We can do both of those with a baby, right?
We will make it work.
We always make it work.
I know that we’re young, but Hunter and I will last forever. He’s my person. I’ve been in love with him since the moment I laid eyes on him at school, and can’t see myself with anyone else.
He’s my soulmate.
And everything is going to be okay.
After telling my boss I need to head home early because I’m not feeling well, I park my car in front of our little two-bedroom, one-bathroom house and unlock the front door. Music plays from the living room, and I follow the sound.
He’s going to get a surprise, and it’s not that I’m home early.
“Hunter—”
His head snaps to me, and he pushes my cousin, Gina, off his lap.
She’s only wearing a bra and a short skirt.
Hunter is bare-chested, in nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants—the ones I always joke about being too slutty for him to wear in public.
The test in my pocket turns to lead, burning a hole straight through.
“Atiana, this isn’t what it looks like,” he says, taking a step closer to me. His brows are furrowed, and his beautiful violet eyes flicker with panic.
