A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 123: Little Maybe

I stare at the computer screen—the blank Word document, might I add—trying to write up a good explanation and/or apology for dad. He won't like it if I tell him I want to remain here in California, or that I'm getting married already, or hell, even that I'm pregnant. I need to give him a valid reason, which is where I'm stuck at, and I end up deleting more than I punch out.

After deleting a whole poor paragraph on how staying here will be beneficial to the students, I begin to get frustrated. None of this is going to make any sense to him. "He won't understand," I mutter to the air, throwing my arms over the edges of my office chair. Pixie crawls out of her bed and nuzzles the back of my hand. I pick her up and pull her in my lap. "This is going to be impossible, girl, and how the hell am I supposed to tell him I'm pregnant?! He deserves to know, but he'll be beyond pissed to find out John's going to be his son-in-law." Alien son-in-law?

Christ. I'm basically configuring the most important essay of my life. It's beyond irritating to think that whatever I end up saying will be turned against me anyway. I'm ready to throw the keyboard against the wall with unmanned control when there's a knock on the door. Thank God.

"Come in," I call.

John walks into my new office and sits on the edge of my desk, his back to the monitor to lean in and peck my cheek. This is still so new to us both. "Hey," he greets.

"Hi," I reply, not paying him much mind, and he leans back to view the screen.

"What're you working on?"

"You really want to know?"

"Always. Looks like an essay."

I scoff at that. "I wish it was," I tell him. "I'm trying to find a way to convince my dad to let me stay in California. Not to mention that I need to tell him I'm pregnant and going to get married, which he's obviously going to be mad about."

"Yeah... Sorry..."

"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault."

"If I had asked him ahead of time, maybe he wouldn't be so mad," he slurs.

"This isn't the 1950s," I remind him. "I'm seventeen years old. I should be able to choose who I want to marry and who I don't, so don't worry about it. I'll deal with him, I promise."

"Are you sure? Do you want me to come with you when you talk to him?"

"That would definitely ease the nerves, but you don't have to," I tell him. "I know you're probably buried in paperwork." But bae shakes his head, stopping me before I continue.

"I'll join you anyway," he states. "It beats paperwork."

"Are you sure it's a good idea? You know he basically hates you, right? He won't like it if he finds out you're going to be his alien son-in-law too."

"I know. But... priorities, and like you said, you're old enough to make your own choices."

I nod, because I like that he agrees with me, but I also can't help but feel like he means something else at the same time. "So, um, did you need something?" I ask.

"Need something?" he repeats, all coy and witty. I want to roll my eyes. "Besides you?"

"Yes, besides me," I murmur. "Unless... you wanted to...?" All he does is nod and smile a simple boyish and adorable smile, and I see then in the hot, steamy blue of his eyes that he wants me. He's hungry. "John... I don't know if it's a good idea... right now, I mean..."

"I know, I know. You're pregnant. But I talked to Malcolm. He said it's fine as long as it's safe, if you're up to it...? Do you want to?"

"I do, but... what if something happens? What if it hurts me? Or... Little Maybe?"