“What is it?” I demanded. “Just tell me.”
Rafael met my eyes, and they shined with concern. “So, uh, I guess I should get all the facts first. You guys did have sex, right?”
“Yes,” I ground out. “Twice, if you really must know.”
“Well, I knew about the first time,” Rafael mumbled. “When he told me about the second time earlier today, I seriously thought you were dating. Griffin doesn’t do second dates.”
I paused. I’d described myself that way for so long that it felt almost surreal to hear it be said about someone else - especially someone I’d essentiallyhada second date with.
“I don’t either,” I told him. “And we’re not dating. Just so that’s clear.”
Rafael blinked at me, then continued. “Do you know why? I mean, has he really told you anything about himself?”
I bristled at the implication that Griffin was a stranger to me, even though it wasn’t entirely wrong. How much could I say I really knew about him?
“No,” I admitted quietly.
Rafael nodded. He took a moment to build up the courage to ask his next question. “Jake, do you think you’re pregnant?”
It sounded incredibly loud in the nearly silent lobby. The words hung in the air like a lingering scent, one that wouldn’t dissipate.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. Hearing it out loud, my voice was small and afraid.
Rafael gave me a sympathetic look. “Were you really trying to buy morning-after pills?”
I felt like a cornered animal. Maybe this was how Lilith felt when we captured her.
“Yes,” I mumbled.
“But you don’t know for sure if youarepregnant?”
“No.”
What was wrong with me? I’d barely met this guy and I was spilling all my deepest secrets to him.
“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on between you and Griffin, and why he was stupid enough not to use a condom in the first place, but…” Rafael sighed. “I’m not judging you or anything - you live your life - but if you are pregnant, and you’re trying to take a pill for it, please don’t tell Griffin.”
I hesitated. “I wasn’t going to. But why?”
Rafael bit his lip. “It’s not really my story to share, but since you and him have some weird relationship going on, I’ll tell you. Just don’t repeat it, okay?”
“I won’t,” I promised, and meant it.
“So, Griffin had a relationship with this omega, Heath. They were seriously in love. Griffin thought he was the one.”
He shook his head. “Hell, even I did, too. Everyone who knew them thought the same thing.”
For some reason, I felt a prickle of jealousy, even though from the tone of his voice I figured this story wouldn’t end well. I folded my hands together and listened.
“Griffin decided he wanted kids, and Heath agreed.” Rafael’s lips tightened. “That’s when things fell apart. They tried for a baby, and Heath got pregnant. Griffin was ecstatic. I’d never seen the guy so happy.”
Dread settled in my stomach, like I was waiting for the jump scare in a horror movie.
“But something was wrong,” Rafael said. “Heath freaked out. A little while after he found out he was pregnant, he… terminated the pregnancy.”
My eyes widened. “Oh.”
Rafael’s eyes were pained. “Not only that, but he didn’t tell Griffin. Griffin didn’t find out about it until he noticed half the money in their shared account was gone, and so were all of Heath’s things. Heath left while Griffin was at work, and he hasn’t seen him since.”
