The crippling weight on my shoulders fades, and the feeling taking its place is overwhelming. Relief pours into me in warm, fluid waves. The steel chain that tied me to Mr. Doau for so long has been sawed in half.
I’m free of him.
I can’t believe it.
My throat closes up. I swing around and drift through the bustling hall, only partially present.
Easton did this. He did it for me. Maybe it was because he felt sorry for me. Maybe he was disgusted. Either way, I’m finally fuckingfree. Of one thing at least. And I’ve never felt so grateful.
For the first time, I seek Easton out. I find him at his locker with Zach.
“What’s up, Eva?” Zach yanks my focus toward him as he grabs his backpack off the floor and slips it over his shoulder.
“Hey.”
He tilts his head back and says, “Someone’s in a good mood today.”
I blink. “This is my good mood?”
“Isn’t it?” He chuckles and pats my back. “See you later, alligator. That’s right, I just said that.”
Then, it’s just me and Easton.
He leans against his locker and stares down at me. A brow lifts. I’m not sure what to say, so I don’t say anything. We hold each other’s gazes, and I suddenly can’t find enough air. A second ticks by, and then another. With each tick, his eyes darken, darken, and darken, until they’re no longer the color of whiskey but of carnal secrets. Warmth spreads over me as I recall what I did last night while thinking about him.
“Whatever you said,” I finally manage, “it worked.”
He squints like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about, but then his gaze lands on Mr. Doau’s classroom door down the hall and narrows. He tips his chin in understanding without looking back at me. “You’re welcome.”
I shift again and glance at my shoes as if they’ve become very interesting. “I never said thank you.”
“But you were thinking it.”
My lips start to curve, but I manage to catch myself before an actual smile slips.Say it.Say thank you. But when I bring my eyes back to his and my mouth opens, what comes out is, “I never asked for your help, you know. I would have been fine.”
“So you like to remind me.” Humor dances in his gaze, and my stomach does a somersault. “You’re trying something new today.”
I wrinkle my nose. “What?”
“Your hair.” His gaze settles on the loose curls spilling down my shoulders, then it slides further down my body. So slow and meticulous, as if he’s seen all of it before. I break out in a shiver, and goose bumps run down my arms. Clearing his throat, he glances away before finding my eyes again. “It’s down. I like it.”
Warmth builds in my chest, my throat, and—oh my god. Am Iblushing?
Suddenly painfully uncomfortable, I roll my eyes. “It’s just hair, Easton. Don’t be weird.”
He laughs. Actuallylaughs. Because of something I said. It’s a low rumble, and ... what the fuck is happening to me? This feeling is hot and awkward, but the thought is morphed by the rough sound of his laugh sliding between my legs and sparking a flame.
“It’s a compliment. It doesn’t have to be weird.”
“Well, it is.” I rub my lips together and look away. “Anyway, I just wanted to find you to ... to ...”
“Not thank me?”
“Exactly.”
A corner of his mouth twitches. “Because you’re fine.”
“Right.”
