Page 55 of Jake and Conner

I nodded anyway. I needed a moment to think. I wanted to call Conner and discuss this situation with him, but I was pretty sure that if I pulled out a phone now, someone was going to panic. "You're eighteen?" I asked instead.

"Yes," Mark confirmed.

"What do you think your mom is going to do to you?"

"I don't know. Something bad."

"What if she couldn't get her hands on you?"

Bastian and Mark both looked at me. It was Bastian who spoke first. "How do you mean?"

"Well, if Mark isn't going back to living with her, there's not much she can do, is there?"

"Where would I go?" Mark asked.

I glanced at Bastian, wondering if his parents knew anything about this. Probably not. If they did, I was pretty sure they would have taken the teen in already.

"My parents willkillme," Bastian said, as if he could read my thoughts.

"You'll be in trouble, but not more trouble thanthis." I motioned around the room. Bastiancouldn'tthink that keeping his pregnant boyfriend here was the best idea.

Bastian swallowed visibly. "Okay fine," he said then.

"What if they say no?" Mark asked, unconvinced.

"If they say no, you're moving in with me," I said.

Both of the teens stared at me.

"Really?" Mark sounded incredulous. "You don't even know me."

"You need help, and that's my cousin's kid you're carrying. You're basically family now." I didn't mention the fact that I also felt like I owed his deceased dad. In a way, this was a chance for me to make up for my failures, perceived or real. "C'mon," I said. "We're gonna get some food into you and then we're taking you to a doctor."

Finally, Mark rose from the bed.

Next to me, Bastian exhaled, audibly relieved. I squeezed his shoulder, imagining the thoughts that must be running rampant in his head. He wanted his mate and baby to be safe. I could relate to that, even if my mate was only at a demo, rather than pregnant. For once, I was truly glad that Connerwasn'tpregnant. I would probably be losing my mind.

24

Conner

When I came to again, Raphael was leaning over me. "Conner?" he called frantically, waving his hand in my face.

I groaned and rubbed my head, trying to make sense of what was going on.

"Oh thank God." Raph exhaled. "You passed out, man!"

"What?" I sat up, still feeling a little groggy. People were standing in a circle around us, most of them looking at me with concern on their faces.

"You were only out for a few seconds, but damn. That was scary!" Raph cast a quick glance around. "Can you get up?"

"Yeah, I think so."

My friend hooked an arm under mine and helped me to my feet. "You okay now?" he asked, doubt shining in his eyes.

"Yes," I said, knowing that he wouldn't believe me.

"Do I need to call an ambulance?" someone from the crowd asked.