"So am I supposed to stop it?"
He lifted his hands, offering nothing. "I'm sorry, kid. I don't know. I have a feeling none of us will until it's too late. I'm just doing my best to keep your mind and heart as safe as your body."
"Yeah." I bit my lower lip, but on impulse added, "It's kinda why I love you."
Liam's breath caught and he lifted a hand to his lips. "Yeah?"
I nodded. "I mean, that's ok, right? Like, you and Bracken are the best dads I could ever ask for. You make me feel safe and happy. Like I can talk to you."
"Because you always can," he swore. "Always, Rain, even when it's embarrassing or weird. Even if it's something you don't think is big enough. It's the sort of father I always wanted to be."
Suddenly, a tiny giggle slipped out. "Do you think Jack had something to do with you meeting me? Like, maybe he fixed it so we'd end up a kickass family?"
"I dunno." Liam looked over. "Did you, Jack?"
"Jack!" the bird replied.
"That's a yes or no question," Liam pointed out.
The crow simply ruffled his feathers. "Jack." This time he sounded indignant.
"I think he did," I said. "I also think it's cool, so I'm going to believe it until he tells me otherwise."
"Jack!" he cawed again. "Jack-Rain. Jack-Rain-Dads!"
I had no clue what that meant, but it seemed to support my theory.
Chapter Thirty-One
RAIN
Ispent all of history and most of biology with Liam, talking about everything. Mostly me and Aspen, though. He praised me for realizing the effect trauma could have on her, and how it might strain our relationship, but assured me it would be ok. Also, if Aspendiddump me, there were still other fish in the sea - and then he named all the rest of my friends.
Oddly, that helped. Not completely, but it did put things in perspective, and I needed some. If the worst happened, Aspen and I could still be friends. She didn't need to hate me, and if I respected her, then she might not. Yeah, it would be awkward for a bit, but I was more than willing to work through it.
Liam reminded me I could also change rooms, but I didn't want to. I wanted my girlfriend back! I wanted to make sure she knew she was safe. I missed the sound of her voice, the way her blue eyes sparkled with some kind of mischief, and all those sweet, exploratory kisses we'd shared.
Yet when I walked into the cafeteria for lunch, my eyes immediately jumped over to our table. It was empty. That made me scan the line, finding her and Keir in it, making their way forward. Torian, Wilder, and Hawke were further back. Ok, we were all here, so this was fine. It had to be.
"Court!" Jack tried to whisper.
"Yeah, saw her," I assured him.
"Jack!" he tried next.
"Wanna pick food?" I asked.
He nodded vehemently, leaning forward as we finally reached the glass window. Turning his head this way and then that, the bird examined his meal options. When he found something he liked, he cawed. That led to a game of me pointing and asking until I found what he was talking about.
As for me, I went with a big salad. Maybe it had some chicken in it, but Jack liked it, and no one acted weird when he ate it. Adding extra cheese, some of those little fae flower-bites, and smothering it in dressing meant it would be yummy too.
By the time I reached the table, the entire court was already seated. I moved to the chair beside Aspen. She gave me a smile, but Wilder was going off about Ms. Rhodes making him take notes.
"And she knows I'll remember it. She made me do it for Rain!"
"Which means Rain needed the notes," Keir pointed out.
Wilder scoffed. "Her? Shit. She is a fae history vacuum."
