Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ihated the idea of asking Teagan for help again.
At some point, she was going to question what I was doing.
However, no regular lab would do the testing I needed without consent.
After sending Teagan an email, I got dressed.
Normally, I’d take my injection, then head to the dining hall for breakfast before my first class.
Standing with the fridge door open, I pulled out a vial, holding it in my hand.
This wasn’t insulin. Whatever this was, I’d been injecting it into my body twice daily since I was a toddler.
As tempting as it was to not take it, I feared my body would go into some sort of withdrawal, which I couldn’t afford to have happen right now.
The best course of action was to continue taking this, keeping in mind that my mom had made this for me.
She loved me and wouldn’t purposefully cause me harm.
I had to hold onto that thought until I figured out what this was and why I was taking it.
Something occurred to me. I pulled out my phone and texted Rowan.
Laney
Do you know what my insulin really is?
Rowan
Sort of.
Laney
***
Rowan
I know it’s not insulin and I know one of the ingredients that’s in it.
Laney
Do you know why I’m taking it?
Rowan
No.
Laney
Is what I’m taking dangerous?
Rowan
In concentrated amounts, yes.
Laney
Should I stop taking it? Will my body react if I do? Will I go into withdrawal?
Rowan
I don’t know.
Laney
If you were in my position, what would you do?
Rowan
Keep taking it TEMPORARILY until you know why you’re taking it. Then decide what YOU want to do.
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. With shaking hands, I injected my non-insulin, then slid my phone into my back pocket.
I grabbed my backpack and headed to the dining hall.
Rowan had told me he smelled something in my insulin, which was why he’d taken it and had it tested.
Whatever he’d smelled must have been the ingredient he mentioned. I needed to know what it was.
I entered the dining hall and got a bowl of oatmeal and a hot tea. I chose a table off to the side by myself. As I sat there eating, I went through all of the information that seemed pertinent.
First, my insulin wasn’t insulin. I was injecting something into my body for a reason. I needed to know what it was and why I was taking it.
Second, the DNA. I’d done the test twice, and both times it came back as not human.
Which made no sense, and I had no idea how that was possible.
If I wasn’t human, what was I? Adan and I had redone the DNA test, and the results came back normal.
That was the time he’d loaded them into the machine and read the results.
At the time, I didn’t think to double check.
That meant Adan had to be involved in some way. The thought didn’t sit well with me.
Third, I had the DNA samples from my parents. I needed to make sure they were my biological parents. Before Adan had asked, I’d never considered they might not be.
Fourth, I was attacked by a dog, and Rowan saved me. I don’t know why, but I thought that was connected to this in some way.
Fifth, it seemed like someone was watching me.
Rowan had basically confirmed that a guy was stalking me.
He knew who it was but hadn’t told me yet.
He encouraged me not to go to the police.
I planned on calling and reporting it later today.
It might not make a difference, but I’d feel better doing it anyway.
Okay, I think that was it.
I was on the verge of having a total meltdown or panic attack. I massaged my temples, feeling a headache coming on. There was a lot going on with school, and I couldn’t let my grades slip because I was dealing with personal issues.
I was strong, smart, and could do this. I could keep up with my schoolwork and figure out what the heck was going on with my life. What I couldn’t afford to do was crack and breakdown over this. I’d worked too hard to be here at this school, and I wouldn’t lose my spot here for anything.
I finished eating and headed to my physics class. The same one Emily was in. She’d been acting strange toward me lately. After being super clingy for a couple of weeks, now she seemed to be keeping her distance. I sighed, realizing she had to factor into this mess as well.
The professor entered and went straight into the lecture.
Sitting there, I tried to remain focused, taking diligent notes.
But my mind kept wandering, thinking about my situation and what I should do.
I kept circling back to Rowan. This all started with him.
He knew a lot more than he was letting on.
Once I had my DNA results and knew my parents were my parents, Rowan and I would need to sit down and have that conversation neither of us wanted to have. The truth could be scary.
After physics, I had an hour until my molecular biology class.
I went to the bio building’s lobby and sat on one of the sofas.
Pulling out my phone, I texted Rowan. He’d said he’d had a hard night but didn’t want to talk about it.
I’d been so focused on myself, that I hadn’t stopped to think about what he might be going through.
If I expected honesty from him, we needed to be friends.
It was time for me to pull my weight and show him that I could be his friend.
Laney
How are you doing today? Any better?
Rowan
I’m fine.
Which meant he wasn’t fine. Fine was a generic way of saying things sucked, but he was okay. Not good, not great. Fine. I hated that word. Obviously, he was dealing with a lot, too. The best thing would be to keep things light.
Laney
Your ego probably hurts from getting its ass kicked twice in pool last night.
Rowan
But it kicked yours twice, so it’s okay.
Laney
Yes, but I don’t play sports. You’re a total sports guy. So really, huge kick to ego. Poor baby.
Rowan
Are you trying to kick me while I’m down?
Laney
Just trying to keep the advantage.
Rowan
Trust me, you have the advantage. I don’t ever see that changing.
I wasn’t quite sure how to take that. Was Rowan Ward flirting with me? If he was, I kind of liked it.
Rowan
Too much?
Laney
No. Just enough.
Rowan
I mean, you have to know the power you hold over guys. You’re gorgeous.
My cheeks warmed. He thought I was gorgeous. A smile spread across my face.
Rowan
You probably had a ton of boyfriends in high school.
Laney
You’re one to talk. Have you looked in the mirror?
Rowan
Avoidance. Give me a number.
Laney
***
Rowan
How many guys have you been with?
Laney
I’ve dated a couple of guys. I don’t have an exact number.
Rowan
Too many to count?
Laney
I’ll put it this way. I had one boyfriend for about a month. That’s it. Other than him, I went on a couple of dates. Now you spill.
Rowan
No way, not buying it. And me? I’ve had one girlfriend. Emily.
Laney
You conveniently avoided the how many you’ve dated question.
Rowan
That’s a different story.
Laney
So a lot then?
Rowan
Let’s just put it this way: none of them left an impression. And right now, you’re the only one I want to date.
Laney
Are you asking me out?
Rowan
Would you say yes if I did?
Laney
Maybe. Why don’t you ask and find out?
Rowan
As you’ve already pointed out, my ego has taken a beating. I’m not sure it could handle rejection at the moment.
Laney
You’re not going to ask me and find out?
Rowan
I don’t want to casually date you. I want a relationship with you.
Laney
Hmmm, I don’t see you as the relationship type of guy.
Rowan
Why?
Laney
You seem more like the life of the party sort of guy.
Rowan
I can be fun and serious. I can be wild and romantic. Give me a shot to prove it.
Laney
Gotta go to class.
Rowan
Talk to you later, Laney Lake.
I headed to my molecular biology class. This time, I had no trouble focusing on the professor’s lecture and taking notes. When the class ended, I packed up and exited the lecture hall, coming to an abrupt halt.
Rowan was standing in the hallway, a bouquet of wildflowers in one hand and a bag of takeout in the other.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my heartbeat picking up at the sight of him. This was the first time I’d been around him since we started texting.
“I’m here for you.” He handed me the flowers.
My heart did a little flip.
“I thought you might be hungry. Would you like to join me for lunch?” He shifted his weight from foot to foot, as if nervous.
I vaguely noticed a few other people in the hallway watching the two of us. “I’d love to,” I replied, wanting to go someplace where there were fewer people around.
He smiled, his shoulders relaxing. “I wasn’t sure if you’d join me or take the food and throw it in my face.”
“I don’t like wasting good Chinese food,” I replied sweetly.
He chuckled, leading me outside to one of the tables near the commons building.
I sat down, putting the bouquet on the table next to me. “This was very thoughtful of you. Thank you.” The flowers looked similar to the ones I’d gotten when I was sick. Those must have been from Rowan.
He opened the bag and pulled out two containers, handing one to me.
“How’d you know what to order me?” I asked.
“I didn’t. I guessed.”
I opened it and found grilled chicken with white rice. “Yum,” I said, taking a fork from him.
“I screwed up and forgot drinks. Sorry.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s fine. I have a water bottle with me.”
“You’re one of those girls,” he said with a laugh. He had a nice laugh.
Taking a bite of my food, I realized the two of us were having a civil conversation. My body still felt drawn to his, the desire to scoot closer and touch him strong, but it was somehow manageable. Maybe because my focus was on getting to know him. Whatever the reason, I welcomed it.