Page 104 of Conner's Luna

Bailey answers the call with exasperated wariness, "Conner. What does 'space' mean to you?" she says in way of greeting.

I hit the Facetime button and show her Thea's cuteness. "Say 'hi' to Bailey, Thea."

"Fuck it!" the little pup crows happily.

Bailey's laughter makes everything in my world right itself. "That's not fair at all, Conner." My wolf whines, leaning forward to sniff the air anxiously searching for his honeygirl after hearing her voice.

"I know," I say, bragging. I press Thea's chubby cheek to mine so that Bailey can see us both. "I'm desperate."

Her smile fades a little. "It's hard, Conner."

"I know, Babe, but if you leave how can I explain anything?"

"Space, Conner," she says softly.

I moan. I can't help it. It feels so good to hear her dulcet voice, even over the phone. But it hurts so bad to listen to her words.

"Fuck it!" Thea shouts. Her fingers make a grab for the phone.

"No, no, babygirl." I juggle her in my arms, making her squeal happily and clap.

I hear a soft, dreamy sigh from the phone and turn my face to hide my triumphant grin. Winking at my baby sister, I buss her chubby cheek with a kiss. Thea turns her face to mine and gives me a big, ole, smack on the mouth with her wet baby-lips, making me laugh and grimace as she leaves a trail of slobbery goo behind.

"She's so precious," Bailey murmurs, "and I saw that wink, Conner Grim."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say innocently. I wink at Thea again, this time making sure Bailey can see it clearly.

"Hi, Bayee!" Thea says suddenly.

"Hi, Thea-bit," Bailey coos back.

"Fuck it?" Thea says, then points right to my face.

Bailey turns bright red. I can see it, even though the phone's small screen. Then she starts laughing helplessly and I feel a warmth spread through my wolf right into my own body.

"Alittlespace," I compromise. "It's still unsafe on campus."

Bailey frowns sadly, looking exhausted all of the sudden. "Alright, Conner. See you later," she says after a small pause.

"See yousoon, babe."

"Bye, bye, bye," Thea sings as I force myself to end the call.

I bounce Thea into my arms again, "she's my girlfriend, Thea. Isn't she beautiful?"

"Fuck it," Thea says solemnly.

"I plan to, pup."

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Bailey

Lectures. Worse; dad-lectures. Worst of all; dad-lectures-to-an-only-child. There is no one else to take the heat off of me. No one. I'm all alone here on the couch. No one will rescue me. No one will stop Dad from talking.

"Pregnancy," he announces solemnly, "would be disastrous for your future career. You have a scholarship, Bailey. One that you would lose if you left school for even a semester. And it wouldn't be fair to your child, to have a mother that hasn't lived herself, yet."

Something Dad said catches my attention immediately. My heart sinks to my toes. My scholarship. How did I forget? If I transfer now, for the Spring Semester, how will it affect the possibility of getting a scholarship? A lot of scholarships are for incoming freshmen. I will lose it.

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