off the smaller box. The tears instantly begin to flow as I open the cover on the pink memory book. Inside, on the left page are the tiny footprints, and on the right, a picture of Kael's hands cradling the little feet that made them.
Before I can fully immerse myself in the box and its contents, there's a tap at the door followed directly by it opening. "Cora, I'm sorry about Blaise, I--" Drake stutters to a stop within arm’s reach, holding a tray of food. He takes in what I have open on the desk and my, yet again, wet face. "Oh. I'm so sorry for barging in; I just wanted to make sure you eat. If you need anything, please let me know." He sits the tray on the bed and rushes directly back out, shutting the door behind him.
His reaction had been stiff, but genuine, I think. With a heavy sigh, I close the box back up, storing it on the shelf in the closet. Tired and still needing to go over the syllabi before classes tomorrow, I put the other on the floor in the closet to deal with later.
I'm halfway done with the reading prep for tomorrow's classes when my phone buzzes. A reminder for my physical therapy in two days pops up, and I know I'll need to coordinate that with one of my keepers. If I can't leave the suite without one, I highly doubt leaving campus without an escort will be permitted. This time I go straight for Ash.
He opens his door shortly after I knock and steps back, motioning me to come in. A scowl takes over my face when I find both Jag and Drake are in the room, and now I'm thinking maybe I should have waited until he was alone.
"Hello, princess," Jag greets me, earning himself the middle finger. I don't bother to address him.
"Ash, I have PT on Tuesday. Do I need an escort, or can I get a pass to go by myself?" Just pretend the asshole isn't here.
Ash instantly turns to Jaeger for an answer, absolutely not helping me ignore him. I fume at the smirk my step-brother gives me, and of course he's the one that answers.
"We'll arrange for one of us to accompany you." One of them. That's not gonna work.
"Really? I can't even go to an appointment on my own? Or ask for one of you specifically? Is everything your say, Jag?" This confinement is ridiculous and makes no sense to me. I don't bother to wait for an answer and back out of the room. If it turns out Ash, or even Drake, can't take me, I'll reschedule the appointment.
I'm on autopilot for the rest of the day other than going over my books and making sure my schedule is memorized. I find some granola bars in the cupboard of the kitchenette instead of having to go ask for an escort, not very hungry after what Drake had brought me. Before bed, I pull up pictures on my phone of me and Kael. Getting lost in the past feels easier than facing my future right now, and when my scrolling lands on a particular happy moment, I'm sucked into the memory.
It was Valentine's Day, and I was on pins and needles waiting for Kael to text that he'd arrived in town. It had been hard adjusting to living on my own and breaking the news to everyone that I was pregnant once I couldn't hide getting ill every morning. Now, with the thickening of my waist just beginning to become apparent, the reality was really setting in.
Kael wanted to take me out to dinner, and I'd dressed for the occasion in a knee-length sweater dress that was just bulky enough to hide my tiny bump. It seemed I'd been waiting for ages, checking and rechecking that my phone had service. A knock sounded at the door, and I was hoping it wasn't one of the other residents needing a sitter. I'd been making a little extra cash on the side and getting some practice with watching the kids, but tonight was for me.
My surprise turned to joyous excitement when I opened the door to find Kael waiting in the hall with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. A laugh escaped him when I threw my arms around his neck, squashing the blooms and releasing their fragrance between us.
"You were supposed to text me! I'd have met you downstairs." I hated that he