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“A week,” I whisper. “It’s really complicated, and I know I should feel dumb about this. It wasn’t actually my fault.”

“Did you fall on a dick?” he asks before making a strangled sound. “Pretend I didn’t say that. Of course you didn’t. You barely had any time at school here, so the pool of people is very narrow. It’s those boys, isn’t it?”

“They were all there, but there’s only one person that could be the father,” I admit, rubbing my forehead with my fingers. “I don’t plan on telling them. We don’t have any type of relationship except where they’re being horrible to me. I refuse to allow that kind of energy around my kid.”

“So you’re keeping the baby?” Emil asks. There’s no inflection in his voice, but his jaw is clenched as he speaks. I think that’s more regarding his dislike of the guys than our current conversation.

“I am,” I reply, taking a huge gulp of air afterward.

“Well done,” he says. “It’s the first of the big decisions you’ll have to make, but we’ll be here every step of the way. I guess it’s a good thing we like babies in this family, huh?”

I can’t help the relieved laugh that slips out as I sag inside my seat.

“What did you think would happen when you told me?” Emil asks, lips twitching as he glances over at me.

“I turn eighteen tomorrow and I’m basically a pregnant teen with few prospects. I expected to get yelled at,” I say, wincing.

“You could easily sell your sketches and paintings, Noor. I wouldn’t say you don’t have any prospects. That’s a bit heavy handed,” he says. “Go to art school, learn your craft, and we’ll be here for you and the baby. It’s not what any of us planned for, but it’s where we are now. We’re going to keep moving forward, okay?”

“Okay,” I rasp, blinking rapidly. “Ugh, I thought I was done crying.”

Emil chuckles under his breath, shrugging. “Your birthday is tomorrow, and that’s a big fucking deal here. You might cry a bit more.”

“Well, at least I’m getting some kind of warning,” I say, smiling through my tears.

Emil walks me into the house when we arrive, and we hang out until everyone gets home. I change into a long sleeved shirt and leggings to get more comfortable, and then come back to draw with the girls.

“Pretty,” Ari says, watching me. I’m drawing a dragon, and I smile at her as I have it breathe sparkles instead of fire.

“That’s cute,” Lili grins, leaning over to watch me.

“I can’t traumatize them with a fire breathing dragon,” I hiss, amused.

“I like your version better,” she decides. “It suits you.”

I’ve never been a sparkly girl. I enjoy darker colors, combat boots, and comfort. Maybe, two things can be true, and I can grow into my soft and sparkly era.

You never know. Crazier things have happened.

CHAPTER

THIRTY

NOOR

People are whispering in my room. It slowly wakes me up because my space should be silent outside of my own breathing, and my body twitches hard as someone climbs onto my bed. The wrongness pulls me out of the haze of sleep, and it finally becomes enough to make me gasp in a breath and force my eyes to open.

No one should be in my room, and I locked myself in like usual when I went to bed a few hours ago.

My arms and legs begin to flail as I scream, and hands pin me down to keep me from moving.

“Help!” I scream, my eyes wild as I see the door is firmly closed. There are shadowy figures in my room, and I blink rapidly to be able to focus on them.

No one else but those who live here know the rooms are soundproof, it’s just a coincidence.

It has to be. Who the fuck is here?

“Shut up, whore,” Alexa hisses, her hand slapping me before she shoves a balled up rag in my mouth.