“But why come after me—” Jill stopped. Blinked. “Oh. Now they know . . .”
“Now they know you’re carrying the child of a demahnk,” I finished for her.
Jill’s expression went flat and cold. “They’re not getting my baby,” she said with fierce certainty. “Steeev, drive to my house.” Her house, where Zack was staying. Was.
Shiiiiiiit. She was going to flail me. “Zack’s not there,” I said. “He’s gone. He left with Ryan and Sonny yesterday.”
The seat belt and her belly kept her from pivoting, but she flipped down the visor and snapped the mirror open to scour me with an angry gaze in the reflection. “Gone where?”
“I don’t know,” I groaned then related the phone conversation—what there was of it. “I swear I wasn’t intentionally keeping it from you,” I continued. “But the Sheriff’s Office called me right after that, and then you were gone this morning . . . I’m so sorry. It completely slipped my mind. I promise.”
Jill flipped the visor back up, but not before I caught a glimpse of the hurt that slashed across her face. I knew it wasn’t because of me, but that didn’t make me feel any better. From her viewpoint Zack had ditched her right before she needed him the most.
Damn it. “Jill,” I said, “I can’t imagine any scenario where he’d distance himself from you and the bean unless it was to keep you safe.” But what did I know? He was a demahnk playing at being human.
She remained silent for several seconds, and when she finally spoke her voice was soft and sad, echoing my thoughts. “He’s not human.”
The weight of those three words hung in the air. She hadn’t said them to describe Zack but to affirm her recognition of his “not human-ness” and all it entailed. She was accepting—though she hated to do so—that she couldn’t expect him to act as a human would. And, whether any of us liked it or not, she couldn’t depend on him in the same way she could a human.
She let out a soft sigh and stroked her hand over her belly. “I don’t think I can do this anymore.”
I knew she didn’t mean the baby, but I had to clear the somber mood. “That’s cool, I’ll do it for you. C’mon, shove that belly up against mine and we’ll squeeze her through the belly buttons. I’m in good shape. I can carry her for a while.”
She let out a weak laugh. “Yeah. We could get it on video and be an internet sensation.” She rolled her neck on her shoulders and lifted her chin. “No matter what happens, I’m getting an awesome baby out of all of this.” The good ol’ fierce Jill strength returned to her posture. “No way am I giving her up. To anyone.”
“Damn straight,” I said, and even Steeev gave a firm nod of agreement.
We turned right at an intersection where we should have turned left to get to my house. “Where are we going?” I looked behind us in sudden worry. “Is someone following us? Are you trying to lose a tail?”
Steeev shook his head. “No, but it is imperative that you both consume ice cream.”
I laughed. “I knew you were the perfect syraza for this job.”
Chapter 17
While Steeev navigated orange and white-striped barriers around road construction, I called Bryce and filled him in on the recent excitement. He listened in silence until I finished then said, “Put her on, please.”
“Hey,” Jill said into the phone after I passed it forward. Then, “Yeah, I’m good.” A pause. “Thanks. That means a lot.” She hung up and handed it back to me without another word.
I put my phone away and kept my questions to myself.
? ? ?
Ruthie’s Smoothies and Other Frozen Goodies deserved its fame as the best frozen concoction establishment within fifty miles of downtown Beaulac. Even at well after sundown, half a dozen cars occupied the parking spaces in front of its rainbow-colored storefront. It was the place for the teen crowd to hang out and be seen, however, Ruthie maintained a zero-tolerance policy for any of the typical high-schooler shenanigans that might put off adult customers. More than once I’d watched her kick a patron out for disruptive behavior or poor manners. Adults were subject to the same standards of behavior, and rumor had it that a long-time city councilman was counting the days until the end of his one year banishment for an unknown offense.
Steeev parked well away from other cars, but when he climbed out Jill stayed put except to undo her seatbelt. I sent a questioning glance her way as I opened my door. “You change your mind about ice cream?”
“As if! No, I’m not allowed to get out until he’s made sure it’s safe.” She seemed more bemused than annoyed. “He glowers, and boy does he ever have a stubborn streak. I swear to god. You should see it.”