Page 24 of Secret Love

“Oh my God,” I groan.

“So I guess we don’t need to hide anymore.”

I let out a huff. “Mom won’t say anything.” I try to sit up. Dunc helps me. “But it’s more about school.” I hate to burst his bubble, but it’s the truth. School is my main concern. I don’t want the negative attention a relationship with Dunc will bring. I hate that I even have to worry about it.

“School? Why school?”

“Just cause.” I turn to sit on the side of the bed, giving him my back. It’s embarrassing to admit to the bullying I experience. I feel silly that I can’t stand up for myself. Even though I want to. My words always get stuck in my throat. Van says I just don’t have it in me to be cruel. I bet Dunc has never been bullied a day in his life. He’d never understand.

Dunc mutters a few curses before getting up from the bed.

“You agreed,” I remind him.

“Right,” he mutters, sounding pissed. Guilt weighs on me. I don’t want to upset anyone. I spend most of my life trying to make sure that I never do. It’s because I have a stupid fear that I know comes from my egg donor that I’m easy to discard if I cause too much trouble.

“I’m going to get ready.” I get up from the bed.

“You need help?” Dunc offers, coming over to me.

“I think I got it.”

“All right.” Dunc surprises me by dropping a kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you downstairs.” I nod, watching him go. I start to get ready. It takes me longer with my arm not being fully functioning in its sling.

“Hey.” My mom knocks on my door again.

“Yeah,” I call back. She opens the door, slipping into my room.

“So.” She leans up against the door.

“Nothing happened.”

“Yet. Nothing happened yet.”

“Mom.” I know my face is getting redder by the second.

“Hey, I think you forgot I got myself knocked up by Cooper. I was your age once.”

“Well, you put me on birth control a year ago, so I don’t foresee that happening,” I remind her.

“I know. I’m just checking in.” She walks over, taking my brush from me. “Let me get it.”

“Like I said. Nothing has happened. It’s new.”

“New as in it just happened?”

“New as in I agreed that maybe we could be something, but I don’t want to tell anyone yet.” Mom snorts a laugh. “What?”

“I bet he’s taking that real well.” She puts the brush down to braid my hair.

“It’s fine.”

“You keep telling yourself that.”

“He’s intense,” I admit.

“You like that?” I nod. Yeah, I kind of do. It gives me reassurance that he’s really into me.

“Cooper ever say anything about him dating?”