She turned and offered up a smile even as her heart raced and her entire body tensed.

“You okay, Robin?” Preacher said.

“Yeah, fine.”

“I thought you were helping Bishop out tonight.”

“I was, but I had to study.” And panic like a crazy person because I think I’m pregnant with your child. See, had to study.

“It’s getting cold out. Jump in. I’ll give you a ride home.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind the walk.”

“You’re turning down a ride?” he asked.

She forced a smile to her lips. “No, of course not.”

Grabbing the door handle, inside her mind she was screaming at herself. Why the fuck was she going through this? She had to leave.

To get away.

What if he remembered that night?

If he remembered, you’d have known long before now.

She sat right near the door, and Preacher turned up the heat.

“Looks like we’re in for a cold winter.”

“Yeah, very cold.” She lowered her hoodie and tried to get comfortable.

“I haven’t seen you around in some time. Everything okay with you?”

“Yeah, studying.”

“That’s what Bishop said.”

“You and Bishop have talked about me?” she asked.

“He doesn’t know what he’s done wrong,” he said. “He thinks he’s upset you.”

“That’s crazy. He wouldn’t do anything to upset me.”

“That’s what I told him.” He patted his hands on the steering wheel as he navigated through the streets. It had started to rain, and the truck smelled like him. She remembered now the last time she’d been in this truck. He’d taken her to see the doctor because of Bishop’s prank.

The cut on her arm seemed so long ago now, a lifetime ago.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said.

“It’s about the party.”

If she got any tenser, someone would have been able to snap her with a blade and she’d have been torn in two. “What about the party?”

“Did you see a woman head to my room? Or a woman who said she was going to … be with me?”

“No.” She hoped she hadn’t said it too soon. “No, I didn’t hear anything.”

Her house was up ahead, and she saw the lights were on.

The moment he stopped the truck, she climbed out. “Thank you for the lift, I appreciate it.”

“Anytime. Hey, Robin,” he said.

She had no choice but to stop and turn toward him. Tilting her head to the side, she waited.

“You know if there’s anything bothering you or you need to talk to someone, you can come and talk to me, right?” he asked.

“Yes, I know. I do totally know that.” She nodded at him again. “I better get inside. It’s cold.”

She walked into the house and immediately heard her parents arguing.

“You will not speak to him again, do you understand me?” Bear’s voice was loud, scary. She was used to him yelling, but this held an edge of anger, real anger.

“Or what? You can’t tell me what to do or how I can live my life. You’re nothing to me, Bear. Why don’t you go and screw all those little bitches I know you love so much? It’s what you’re good at, remember? Screwing meaningless sluts. Do they even know what you’re doing? I bet you’ve got kids all over the place.”