Page 146 of Wicked Brutal

Becca spots me. “Morning, sunshine.” I give her the finger. “There he is.”

“Why are you yelling before eight?”

“I wasn’t yelling.”

Danny looks at me. “She was yelling.”

“Traitor,” Becca says.

“You love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

Penny joins them from the other end of the hall, and for a second it’s just — normal. The closest thing Edgewood has to it anymore.

Then Ally turns the corner. My entire body recognizes her before my brain does. It always fucking does. She’s wearing a green Edgewood sweater over her uniform today. Long sleeves. My eyes go directly to the arm Roman bruised yesterday. Covered. Of course. Her hair is down, her bag hanging from one shoulder while she walks beside two girls from yearbook. She sees me. I see the exact second it happens. Her eyes soften. Mine don’t. They can’t.

I turn back to X. “Coach still making us run the new set this afternoon?”

X doesn’t miss a beat. “Probably.”

“Fucking stupid.”

Ally passes behind me. I don’t turn around. I don’t say good morning. Don’t smile. Don’t acknowledge that less than six hours ago she was curled against my chest wearing my shirt while I promised her things I could actually promise and refused to lie about the things I couldn’t.

Nobody watching us would know she’s carrying my baby. Nobody would know I know what shampoo she used this morning because she left the bottle in my shower. Nobody would know I watched her cross the yard barefoot at two in the fucking morning.

I’m sitting at the end of our usual lunch table with X and Danny when Penny walks into the cafeteria. Alone. I notice because she normally comes in with Ally. Penny doesn’t look at me. She walks straight toward the girls’ table. Also normal. She drops her bag beside Becca. Normal. Leans down. Normal. Says something quietly. Becca’s head starts to turn toward me. Penny catches her chin. Stops her. Not normal.

My phone vibrates. I don’t move immediately. Neither does X. He saw it too. I wait another few seconds before reaching into my pocket.

Penny: Don’t react.

Great fucking opening.

what…

Her answer takes longer than I like.

Penny: Roman is here.

Everything inside me goes cold. I keep my face exactly the same. Danny is talking to Kaiden across the table about something. Iz is stealing fries from X’s tray. The cafeteria is loud enough to hide a murder. Nobody else has noticed. Good.

where

Penny: front office

ally?

Penny: with me five minutes ago. I told her.

why is he here

Penny: don’t know. I went to guidance about my schedule. Saw him through the office doors.

Penny: He’s signing something.

Fuck. I finally look up. Penny is sitting beside Becca now. She doesn’t look at me. Good girl.