Next thing I know, she's already driving away... away from me.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Go, Zach."
I snap my head back to Taylor. She's still pale, eyes red and wet, but somehow she's smiling like she's reading my mind. Like she knows exactly where my head is.
"Go and follow her,"
"But... I told you I'd go with you to Campus Safety—"
She shakes her head, sniffling. "We can still do that later. After you talk to her. After you reassure her there's nothing going on between us." She lets out a shaky laugh, swiping at her cheeks.
"Trust me, if you wait too long, you're screwed. You know how girls are—we overthink a lot and I'm sure she's already spinning some worse scenario in her head. By tonight, you'll be starring as the asshole who ditched her for me. And once that story sticks? Good luck digging yourself out."
Despite myself, I huff out a reluctant smile.
She's not wrong. Still, the idea of just leaving her like this twists in my gut.
She looks so wrecked, so damn small right now. The last thing I want is for her to be alone if Kirk tries something again.
That's when I spot him — Kentaro trudging out of the rink, duffel slung over one shoulder, leg pads dangling from his hand like they weigh a hundred pounds each.
I glance at Taylor again, then call out, "Kent!" and wave him over.
Kentaro slows, brows knitting together. He stops in front of me, confused.
"Can you take Taylor back to the Pond with you? You're heading home, right?"
His brows pull even tighter, irritation written all over his face. "What? I mean, yeah, I'm heading home, but..." His eyes flick to Taylor, and he gives her a flat, annoyed once-over. "Why don't you take her instead?"
"I need to go somewhere." My hand lands on his shoulder, grip tight, pleading. "Please, man. Just... make sure she gets there and doesn't leave until I'm back."
Kentaro's face turns sour like I just asked him to babysit a rabid raccoon. His jaw ticks, his nostrils flare, and he lets out the slowest, longest sigh like this is the worst inconvenience he's ever endured.
I swear, if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under for even suggesting he spend more than thirty seconds in Taylor's presence.
"Come on, man," I press, desperation leaking into my voice. "Do me a solid here."
He grumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like"kill me now,"but finally mutters, "Fine."
"Thank you." Relief floods me as I clap him on the shoulder again. I turn back to Taylor. "You're safe with Kent. Just stay at the Pond and wait for me, okay? As soon as I'm back, we'll go to Campus Safety together."
"Okay."
That's all I need. Without another word, I'm in my car, engine roaring as I peel out of the lot. My pulse hammers with every turn, every red light I blow past, every second wasted.
I head straight for Caroline's dorm, praying she's there.
CHAPTER TWENTY-five
ZACH
Itry calling Caroline on the drive over, knuckles white on the wheel, but it goes straight to voicemail. Figures. We're not exactly on the calling-each-other level yet—and at this rate, I'll never make it there if I don't clear the Taylor mess up fast.
Now I'm outside her dorm, pulse drumming in my ears as I knock again, harder this time. Still no answer.
Just as I'm about to knock a third time, the door finally swings open.
