Page 65 of Wicked Prince

"I thought about that," I admit, unconsciously bringing a hand to my stomach. "Maybe that's the right thing to do. It's just…"

"It doesn't feel like the right thing," he says knowingly.

"Yeah," I sigh. "Not right now, at least."

"Well, you're right. You do have time to figure it out. And whatever you decide, you're going to be okay. You're definitely the most resilient person I know."

"That's concerning if true," I tease.

He sticks his tongue out and bites it in a grimace when he sees something across the room. I can tell from the look of complete disdain on his face who it is before I even glance over.

Yep, Lorenzo and Kayleigh are walking into the cafeteria, arm in arm. I don't know why I let myself be affected by what should be a commonplace sight by now. It just doesn't make it any easier to come to terms with.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see them take a seat a few tables away, on the same side of the table. Kayleigh is leaning into him, whispering in his ear and giggling at whatever inside joke there is between them.

"Well, there goes my appetite," Anthony remarks, dropping the French fry in his hand.

"They are a couple now," I say dryly. "That's what couples do."

"You know, there's one factor in all this we haven't discussed."

"What?" I ask, even though I have a bad feeling I already know.

"Him," he says pointedly. "There's no reason you should be having to worry about all this by yourself. It takes two to make a baby."

"As true as that is, Lorenzo is the last person I want to know about any of this right now," I admit. I look up to make sure he's not paying attention, because just saying his name feels like it has the ability to summon him somehow. Like a demon.

An incubus, at any rate.

"So you're not gonna tell him if the testispositive?"

I pause again, because I haven't quite come to a decision about that myself. "I don't know. I don't want to, especially not after the way things ended between us, and I'm pretty sure his reaction would make me feel even worse."

"But…?" he presses.

"But," I continue, "part of me feels like he deserves to know, I guess."

Anthony scoffs. "I wouldn't go that far. But I do think he should have a share in the responsibility, whatever you choose to do."

"Responsibility isn't really something Lorenzo is known for," I say dryly.

"Yeah, no kidding."

"Well, I should probably get to class," I say, even though there's plenty of time left in the lunch hour. The truth is, I just don't want to linger here any longer, and I've stuck around long enough that it won't look like I'm just fleeing because Lorenzo came in. Not that he seems to be paying attention, anyway.

I'm sure Anthony knows that's why, but he doesn't call me on it. He just gives me a sympathetic smile. "Tell me when you hear back from the clinic, okay?"

"I will," I promise, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek before I leave the cafeteria, refusing to let myself glance back at Lorenzo. One day soon, I'm going to have to leave this place without looking back at all, so I’d better get into the habit now.

ChapterTwenty-Six

LORENZO

The moment I see movement out of the corner of my eye, I look up sharply to find that Amelia is walking out of the cafeteria. My body flinches reactively, and it takes all my willpower not to go after her.

Just like it took all my willpower this morning not to talk to her, or catch up with her outside of class.

For a while, I held out hope that she would change her mind about the damn ultimatum. That giving her space would help her see how ridiculous she's being.

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