His hand wraps around my wrist.
I rip it away so quickly his fingers barely brush my skin.“You don’t get to touch me.”
His mouth opens, jaw working, but whatever he’s trying to say dies in his throat.I don’t wait for him to find his voice.
“You should walk away, Reece,” Lola says, stepping in front of me, shoulders squared, eyes daring him to test her.
If I weren’t hurting so badly, I’d be smirking at her because this isn’t the same girl who used to shrink under Tia’s shadow.This is new-Lola energy.Try-me-and-bleed-for-it energy.That mess-with-my-girl-and-I’ll-bury-you look in her eyes—that almost makes me proud despite all the fucking pain.
Aubrey’s already moving, slipping between Lola and Reece before things escalate.“Not now, Reece.Give her some space.”She hooks her fingers around Lola’s arm and pulls.“Come on.”
Reece remains rooted to the floor, frozen in place.
I keep walking, even though something inside me still aches for what we almost became.For the version of him I allowed myself to believe in.
And fuck, I hate that it still hurts.And even after everything, some pathetic part of me still wants him to fix it.
By the time I reach class, I’m hollow.Scraped clean.Stripped down to nothing but skin stretched over what used to be a girl.
I settle into my usual seat in the middle row, spine straight, chin up, pretending I’m not falling apart at the seams.
Lola settles next to me, her presence a shield I didn’t ask for but damn it, need.Aubrey slips into the seat behind me, claiming her spot beside Noah.
“Is she okay?”Noah whispers.
Aubrey doesn’t answer, at least not aloud.
Then there’s Reece.
One row ahead.Three seats over.Far enough not to touch me, yet close enough that I can feel every single moment of his gaze.
The teacher speaks in a monotone blur of dates and assignments.I don’t hear a thing.
My only awareness is Reece’s stare piercing into the side of my head.
Even so, I avoid looking his way.
Midway through class, my phone buzzes on the desk.The vibration rattles loudly enough to turn a few heads.I flip it over quickly, heart already pounding in my chest.
Reece: It wasn’t like that.I swear to fucking God, Sam.
I don’t move or breathe.
Another buzz.
Reece: I never said that shit.You weren’t some bet.
My stomach twists.That voice in my head whispers, ”What if he’s telling the truth?”
I shut it up fast.
Buzz.
Reece: Talk to me, Red.Please.
My hand hovers over the phone.Just for a second.Long enough to wonder whether answering would fix anything.
Then I blink.
