“You think your dad will finally love you because you’re on your knees for one of his players?” he says crudely, and there’snothing I can say right now to convince him that Jack and I are only friends.
“Why do you care? We’re not together,” I say, but my hands are sweating as another call comes through.
Bradley looks over me again, and I’m afraid to move a muscle as his face relaxes into a calm smile. “Sorry, angel. We’re not over until I say we’re over. Stay away from Schultz.”
My feet stumble backward like I’ve been struck, and his words echo in my head.
We’re not over until I say we’re over.
His smile widens, pleased I’ve finally given him the reaction he wanted. I’m shaking, and there’s no hiding it now. “If I’m not at the rink in ten minutes, my dad is going to send Jack and Dylan to fetch me. Please leave.”
I hate that I use the word please, but I just want him to go.
“I haven’t seen you at any of my games,” he says, ignoring my comment about the guys. Bradley’s fucking delusional.
“You need to go,” I say, my voice wavering and I feel as small as ever. It’s like I’m right back where I was this time last year.
“I miss you, Al.”
If I open my mouth, I’m either going to scream or throw up, and I really don’t know which one it’s going to be, so I clamp my jaw shut. He doesn’t miss me. He misses having someone to control.
His hand reaches for my face, brushing his fingertips over the lump on my head. I flinch, and his nostrils flare while his jaw clenches.
“Think about what I said, and stay away from Jack.” His dark gaze meets mine as tears well in my eyes and I close them, nodding once. Maybe if I agree with him, Bradley will leave.
When I open my eyes again, Bradley’s walking away from me, already halfway to the stairwell. I fumble with my keys, finally finding the right one to unlock the door before shuttingand locking it quickly when I’m on the other side in case Bradley changes his mind. I cover my mouth to smother the sound of a sob from breaking loose as my phone clatters to the ground, the vibrations rattling against the vinyl flooring echoing in the silent apartment.
Oh my god, he knows where I live.
My legs give out underneath me, and I sink to the floor like a stone in a pond, all of the terrible memories of Bradley surfacing from the corner of my mind where I’ve shoved them.
Five minutes with Bradley have undone months of progress, shattering the mosaic of hope I’d put together using the broken pieces of myself left in his wake.
We’re not over till I say we’re over.
He can’t possibly believe that.
I close my eyes, feeling the tears stream down my cheeks as I gasp for air.
You’re fine, Al. He didn’t touch you—not really. You’ll be fine.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
Fuck free college. This is why I wanted to go to Texas. It would’ve been a fresh start, and there wouldn’t have been a shot in hell of Bradley showing up at my door because he felt threatened by one of my friends.
There’s a loud knock on the door, and I scramble to my feet, biting my lip to hold back my sobs because if he hears me, he’ll know I lied, and he won’t leave peacefully this time.He came back.Bradley didn’t care I said my dad was waiting for me.
“Al, it’s Jack. Are you here?” his familiar voice asks, knocking again.
He came. He really came.I move to unlock the door for Jack, but once I see him, my vision blurs to the point that I can no longer focus on anything. I’m immediately scooped into his strong arms, and I wrap mine around his neck, clinging to him as my tears fall faster.
Jack holds me effortlessly, supporting my weight as he walks us into the apartment while I bury my face in the crook of his neck. “I’ve got you. It’s okay,” Jack whispers, and I can’t do anything but cry, too damn relieved he’s here. “Dylan, lock the door and tell Ellie not to come back here,” he instructs, his voice shaking.
I’ve ruined everything.
“Can you tell me what happened?” Jack asks quietly, and I feel nauseous as the adrenaline fades from my body.
I shake my head, struggling to even know where to begin, so instead, I focus on trying to take a deep breath, inhaling the comforting smell of cinnamon and the feeling of safety that comes with being near Jack.
