TROUBLE, A New Adult Romance Novel (The Rebel Series) by Elle Casey Page A

later, after I’ve had a quick nap and finally put the last piece of my clothing into a drawer, Mick shows up in my doorway holding out his phone.   “Call for ya.”
    I walk over and take it from him gently.   “For me?”   Just the idea makes me nervous.   Is it Colin?
    “Some girl named Charity, I think?   Got my number from Colin.”
    I’m momentarily stunned.   But then my brain kicks in.   “Oh!   Thanks!”   I put the phone to my ear.   “Charity?   Hi, this is Alissa.”
    “Hey, girl.   You sure are hard to find, you know that?   Anyway, I’m on break at school so I only have a minute.   I just wanted to see if you’re available to meet me for a soda or a water one of these days.   I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said, and I think we could do something about this adoption thing.   Together, I mean.   Like you just helping me and stuff or whatever.”
    The idea of being able to help someone like I’ve been helped fills me with instant happiness.   Mick looks at me funny as I respond.   “Sure, I’d love to.   Maybe I can ride with my friend when she goes into work.   That’s just up the street from where I met you that one time.”
    “Excellent.   Works for me.   And I have my grandpa’s car, so if you want, I can come get you.   If the whole riding with the friend thing doesn’t work out.”
    “Okay.   I should be fine.   We can discuss everything over a soda.”
    “Tomorrow okay for you?”
    I shrug.   “I think so.   If not, I’ll call you back. What time?”
    “Three.   I have about an hour then.”
    “Great!”   I’m probably way too excited about the prospect of an ice water with a friend, but so what.   “See you tomorrow.”
    “You too.   And don’t forget to keep your feet up.   Helps with the puffy ankles.”
    “Thanks for the reminder.   Bye.”   I press the red button and hand the phone over to Mick.   “Thanks.”
    “Who was that?”
    “Just a friend.”   Someone I can help.   Someone who knows what I’m going through.   Suddenly, my life doesn’t feel quite as desperate.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    DINNER ENDS UP BEING PIZZA, wings and beer.   I stick with pizza and water.   My stomach isn’t much into hot sauce and I’m pretty sure turning my baby into an alcoholic in the third trimester is not a good idea.   We’re sitting around the family room eating off paper plates when Colin walks in.
    “Where’ve you been?” Mick asks.   “We could have used your help lifting the furniture.”   His tone is missing the anger it usually has when talking to Colin.
    “Working.   Finishing up that Nova as requested.”   His words are for Rebel, but he’s staring at the pizza boxes.
    “Help yourself,” Teagan says, gesturing to the food.   “Beer’s in the fridge.”
    “No thanks.   I’ll just stick with water.”
    My heart leaps up into my throat and sticks there when he takes his two pieces of pizza and comes over to sit on the arm of my chair.   He swipes my bottled water off the table in front of me and helps himself to a huge swig of it.   I’m afraid I might faint at his familiarity.   It’s way to comfortable and warm.
    “Ew, cooties,” Quin says.   She walks into the kitchen and comes back with a fresh bottle of water for me.   “Here, sweetie cheeks.   You can have your own. Wouldn’t want you swapping spit with pure Trouble, now would we?”   She smiles, but I swear there’s a devil inside there just having a ball over my discomfort.   I’m actually kind of sad to have my own water.
    “Ha, ha.   Very funny,” I say, wishing I could come up with something snappier.   But I don’t want to let her know that she’s shot an arrow right into the center of my heart.   I totally want to swap spit with Colin.   It’s no use denying it anymore, but the very least I can do is act cool about it.   To be a pitiful pregnant mess hanging onto his very shadow would be the worst kind of