“You’re pregnant.”

“I’m not. I just have the flu,” I tell him, but I can feel the panic inside of me. He’s right. I know he is—I just can’t face it right now. I’m only sixteen, and Luka can’t stand me. I don’t know anything about being a mother…

“Don’t lie to me, Petal. You’ve been sick for weeks—every morning, just like clockwork.”

“Black, please, just let it go.”

“I can’t do that, sis. I’m going to go kill that bastard.”

“No. It’s not his fault, Black. None of this is his fault.”

“He may not have known the truth about your age—”

“Or who I was. He didn’t even know my real name, Black. He thought I was my sister.”

“Fuck.”

“I can’t face him. I can’t—”

“You have to tell him you’re pregnant, little sister. Either you do, or I will.”

* * *

Present:

I follow Black outside, and for some reason, I’m filled with nerves. He turns to look at me, and that grin he has on his face does nothing to ease my nerves—at all.

“So,” Black says, rubbing his hands together like a little kid.

“What’s percolating in that wee little brain of yours, Black?”

“Little sister, is that any way to talk to the brother who loves you?”

“I know that look, and nothing good ever comes from it,” I say, laughing. Black smirks at me.

When you’re blessed with a huge family, you tend to have a love/hate relationship with all of them. But, invariably you tend to have one person you click with the best. My sister Maggie is closer with Green than any of the rest of us. White and Black are close, but White has always been kind of a loner. Gray definitely leans on White more than the rest of us, and Cyan and Mary are really close. Black and Blue are twins, and their relationship is different from any other, but Black and I share a unique relationship. He has always felt responsible for me, and when I was pregnant with River, he was the one who was always there for me. He didn’t judge me for lying to Luka. He held my hand and let me cry. When his girlfriend turned into the she-bitch from Hell, I was the one he would call at night and complain to. I love my big brother. Right now I can already tell he has something up his sleeve. I’m just wondering how me dating fits into it.

“You still love Luka.”

“Black—”

“Don’t bother denying it, you already admitted it at the bowling alley.”

“I’m not denying it. It would be stupid to try. I just don’t see how it possibly matters at this point. The fact that Luka was out with Tani clearly shows he’s moving on.”

“Didn’t look like he was moving on to me—especially when he had you pinned against the wall,” Black responds.

“He was upset—”

“Petal, a man doesn’t react like that to a woman he’s over. The question is, do you want him?”

“Black—”

“Be honest with me, little sister.”

“Of course I do,” I answer giving up all defenses.

“You’ll have to tune out everyone this time, Petal,” Black warns.

“I know, it’s just—”

“No listening to Mom or Luka’s dad. None of it. You’re going to have to trust yourself and trust in Luka.”

“You make that sound so easy.”

“What choice do you have, Petal? You can either try or lose him forever. You can’t keep going like this. You need to decide before it’s too late,” Black says, and for once, he’s completely serious. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t terrified, but I also know that Black is right. Seeing Luka with Tani made it clear that Luka is moving on—without me. Can I get him back? Can I make him happy? How will I handle his father?

“Petal, what have you got to lose?” Black encourages me.

“Then, I say we begin Operation Get Luka Back.”

“That’s my little sister,” he says, grinning.

I fight down my nerves and try to smile back at him—and pray I’m not making a mistake.