Page 37 of Breaking Rules
I leaned back on the counter and did just that. I wasn’t sure if she planned to wait the whole time in the stall or not, but she came out of the stall half a minute later. She set the white stick on the counter and washed her hands, head ducked so her hair hid her face. After she dried her hands, she paced, lips moving as if she was counting her steps. I kept an eye on my watch, and when I straightened, she stopped, knowing it was time.
“Can you…?” Her bottom lip trembled, and my heart broke for her.
I nodded and looked at the test. A rush of relief went through me. “It’s negative.”
She put out her hand and caught the edge on the counter. “What…what are the chances it’s wrong?”
“They’re fairly accurate,” I said. “And if anything, they give false positives, not negatives.”
Soleil closed her eyes for a few seconds, and I took care of the test. After I washed my hands, I put my hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
“I’ll wait just outside.”
She nodded to let me know that she understood, and then I left. I waited until I was a few steps away, with my back to the door, before I dropped control, letting chaos reign now so I could get my head together when Soleil needed me.
Why did the girl think she was pregnant?
By who?
Was it one of the guys from the home?
I should get condoms, maybe talk to her about birth control.
Was she having regular sex?
Where?
My thoughts were interrupted by a text alert. I pulled my phone from my purse, smiling when I saw Alec’s name. I opened the message, and my stomach fell.
Things have changed now that Keli is back. You and I need to take a break while I figure out what’s going on with my family. Evanne’s well-being has to come first.
I’d known this was coming. There’d been plenty of evidence pointing toward it, and I’d even warned myself.
The bathroom door opened, and I shoved all my feelings down into a box. I’d learned to do it at a young age, and it was something I still employed when it was necessary. Like now.
Completely understandable.
I sent it and put my phone back in my purse. Soleil had to come first with me. Heaven knew she wouldn’t come first with anyone else. It wasn’t Brie’s or Josalyn’s fault. They had too many people to take care of and not enough time or resources to do it to the best of their abilities.
“Ready?” I asked with a smile.
She nodded, and we headed for the door.
I needed to find out who Soleil had had sex with. One of the boys at the house would be bad. A kid at her school wouldn’t be great. In fact, there was a good chance that, no matter who it was, it’d be illegal. She was fourteen.
I wouldn’t say anything to Brie or Josalyn just yet. I wanted to get more information before I did that. Soleil wouldn’t tell them anything, and once I crossed that line to give them information, she might not talk to me either. I had to know more first.
And until then, I’d protect Soleil myself.
Twenty-Three
Alec
Completely understandable.
Lumen had sent me that text last night in response to me saying we needed time apart. No disagreement. No asking about what it meant or how long I thought I might need.
I should have been thankful that she hadn’t become angry or accused me of leading her on or using her. Neither of those things were true, but someone who was hurt might not be thinking clearly. What I feared, however, was that Lumen had been able to think clearly because she wasn’t hurt.