“You’ve got this, Riley,” Beck said softly, clearly seeing my hesitation. “You’re the strongest person I know.”
I snorted a laugh. “Don’t lie to me, Beck. I’ve met Dylan.” I rolled my eyes and bit back a wince of pain as I brushed past him to grab my school satchel—Prada, of course. Avoiding his questioning gaze, I simply held the door for Beck to exit my apartment. “I guess you’re driving me?”
He nodded, waiting for me to lock up, then made as if to take my hand before thinking better of it. “Yes, I brought your favorite car. A peace offering.”
I pursed my lips and decided not to acknowledge that comment. Yes, we had aired some of our issues last night, but things were far from okay. This was real life. Real, bloody, painful, heartbreaking life. People don’t just magically forgive and forget overnight.
We drove to school in near silence, neither one of us really knowing how to handle this diplomatic truce, so it was a relief when we pulled into the parking lot and spotted Eddy waiting with Jasper.
“Holy fucking shit, girl,” she exclaimed, tackling me into a huge hug when I stepped out of Beck’s Bugatti. “I’m so, so, so, so sorry. I can’t believe they did that. What could have happened if Beck and Evan—”
Her rambling was cut off by Jasper’s hand over her mouth, and she released me in her surprise.
“Eddy, shut up,” Jasper hissed to his sister, “Just. Shut. Up.”
My bestie looked confused for a second, then her face flushed with red as she realized how uncomfortable I was. “Crap. Sorry, girl. You don’t wanna talk about it. Totally understand.” She mimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key.
“It’s fine,” I said with a weak smile, digging my fingernails into my bag strap. “But yeah if we could just … not talk about it. That’d be great.”
“Absolutely.” She nodded her agreement. “Anything you want.”
Eddy grabbed my hand and started walking with me toward the main school building, but Beck pushed between us and claimed my hand with his own.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, stopping in the middle of the path and staring pointedly at the hand which Eddy was holding a second ago.
Beck glared. “United front, remember?”
My eyes narrowed at him. “United, yes. Dating, no.” Using my other hand, I peeled his fingers off and took a deliberate step back. “Besides, don’t you have a degree you’re supposed to study for? This is the high school building.” I waved my hand in the direction of the building in front of us—in case he wasn’t aware.
Beck’s jaw tightened and his eyes flared with anger at my defiance. I knew how messed up it made me, and it was certainly something to discuss with my future therapist, butfuck meif my belly didn’t flutter with desire at his pissed off face.
“We’re not leaving you alone, Riley. Not today. Not. Ever.” His words were quiet, his teeth still clenched and his fists tight at his side. Such a control freak.
“Okay well, one of the guys can come. But you’ve spent too much time tailing me and not studying. You probably need all the degrees you can get if we’re going to change the world.”
He stepped closer to me, tipping his face down to meet mine as I looked up. “Is that what we’re going to do, Butterfly?” he breathed. “Change the world?”
Tilting my chin higher, I met his gaze just inches away. “You’re damn right we are. Starting with this corrupt company we’re about to inherit.”
A small smile touched his lips as he studied my face, and I was powerless to look away. Damn him.
“You’re incredible,” he murmured, then planted a quick kiss on my cheek before I could step away. And by my cheek, I meant way too close to my mouth for it to be anythingbutsexual.
“We’re not okay, Beck,” I snapped, stepping back a safe distance from him and his sinful lips. “Don’t mistake this truce as forgiveness.”
He just winked at me. That smug fuckwinkedat me then shouted for Evan to accompany me to class and disappeared toward the college side of Ducis with Dylan and Jasper.
The first step into the school was much fucking harder than I’d ever admit to. There were students everywhere, and immediately I had a flashback to yesterday. To the crowds that pushed and kicked at me. To their faces, all cut from the same angry, disgruntled, evil cloth.
My breathing intensified, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure I could actually make it inside. My feet didn’t seem to want to move.
“Riles?” Eddy said softly, pressing closer to me. “Are you okay?”
I shook my head minutely, unable to speak. What was happening to me?
“You’re having a panic attack,” Evan growled, low and close to my ear.
His heat surrounded me as he pulled me closer into his arms, pressing my face to his chest. From the outside, it probably looked like we were just hugging, but from where I stood, it was exactly what I needed to snap myself out of the panicked state.
