“What is?” Whatever he’s planning is going to be amazing. I can feel it in my bones.
“Something awesome. You’ll like it. It’s all about you.”
Holding my hand more tightly, he walks with me, matching my steps. The students part like the Red Sea for Moses. They look at our linked hands, then raise their eyes to look at me. Their lips are curved in smiles so identical that they feel artificial.
Unease slithers underneath my skin. “You’re really not going to tell me what this is about?” I say it playfully, to hide my anxiety. I don’t want to ruin the moment.
“It’s a surprise.” He places a kiss on top of my head.
I’m being nervous for nothing. I should trust him to make whatever this is good. He’s never given me a surprise that wasn’t delightful.
“It’s starting!” shouts Sadie. Why does she sound so excited? She should be huffing and marching off in a fit of pique.
Grant takes a step sideways and stands behind me. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and leans his chin on my head. I can feel his body heat all along my back. The pose is protective and cocooning, but for some reason, claustrophobia clutches my throat.
“Just watch,” he says sweetly.
Instead of reassuring me, his words make me feel doubly trapped. Something iswrong. I start to tell him to let go, but two naked guys burst out and start running along the field. I squint to see who they are. Heath and Will. They’re shouting, too. I try to take a step back, but I can’t, not with Grant holding me.
“I don’t want to see this,” I say over the hammering of my heart.
“Yes, you do.” His voice is so calm, like the lull of the peaceful ocean at night.
Before I can sink into his hypnotic pull, I jerk myself back to the reality of what’s happening in front of me.
“You’re the star, baby.”
“I’m not dressed like a star,” I say stupidly.
“Sure you are.” He laughs softly. “The Dior fits you perfectly.”
What? I look down to check what I’m wearing. I’m in that dress Marketta picked out. When did that happen?
“Grant Lasker is a better man than us!” the boys shout in unison. “He deflowered her like a pro.”
Grant laughs. I feel the shaking rumble against my back. Hot humiliation bursts inside me, and I can’t breathe. Muffled giggles and outright laughter come from everyone.
“Let mego!” I struggle against Grant’s grip.
But he tightens his hold. “You’re going to watch this. This is the price you pay for stealing.”
“You can have it back!” I shout, struggling to break free. But he’s too strong.
“How? You sold it all, remember?”
“You can have it back! You can have it back,” I repeat in an endless loop. I’ll do anything to make this moment stop.
“No, I can’t. Nothing you do can change the fact that youtook my things and sold them.You owe me.”
“I don’t owe you anything! Everything ended when you used me. You did it foramusement.”
“If I’d just wanted to have fun, I could’ve done it a lot cheaper,” he hisses into my ear.
“The money was nothing to you. Just like I was nothing to you!” Tears pour down my cheeks. I twist and turn left and right. Desperation builds. Everyone is watching; I have to get away. Escape. Never let anybody see how much this hurts—
Suddenly Grant lets go. The momentum of my struggle throws me off balance. I fall to my side.
My face smacks against something rough and unpleasant. Pain blossoms. I blink a few times and lift my arms, relieved that I can move freely now.
