"I'm not a kid."
"I know that. But they're never going to give you the chance to show them if we keep…" He swallows. "They're saying--they're calling you a--"
My heart stops. I can almost hear him say it.Whore.
"The shit they're saying? I'm gonna end up in jail, Molly. If I hear one fucking man say it, I'll--" He shakes his head, swallowing the rest of the sentence. "And anything they say is because ofme."He's wrecked, in such distress, he's hanging onto me tight enough to make my bones, my lungs, my heart ache. "I can't live with myself if it's me who ruins you, ruins your reputation. I can't be the reason you're hurt. "
I close my eyes, my arms around his waist, his heartbeat steady and true beneath my ear.
Even if you're the one who hurts me?
But I understand. I hate it and it makes me want to die, but I understand.
"This sucks." I mutter.
"I know."
"I hate it."
"Me too. It's temporary," he says like he's trying to convince himself, then lets me go, steps back, the space between us thick. "I'll call you. Okay?"
I nod.
Temporary.
The way he's looking at me feels like he's never going to see me again.Nothingabout it feels temporary, even though I know he wants it to be. Even though I know he doesn't want to leave. Even though I know he wants me.
Somehow, I know.
But I watch Grey gets in his truck, pulls away, and as his truck disappears down the street, I can only hope.
CHAPTER 29
SMALL VICTORIES
MOLLY
With every day that's passed, I've realized that I was not, in fact, wrong.
Saturday night and Sunday were brutal, miserable, but the week that followed was hell, thick with gossip and shit talk, whispers and stares. The teachers and staff are talking, but thankfully things have been professional at least. But the distance they've put between us is tangible, isolating me.
The worst part is, I haven't had Grey to turn to. I haven't even seen him in a week. Haven't heard from him in five days, our texts trailing off until there was nothing but painful silence.
I grip the steering wheel of my parked car with sweaty hands, staring at the baseball field, the moment I've been dreading all week finally upon me--it's Friday, which means teacher league practice.
The team is already on the field warming up, but Grey is the first person I find. The shape of him is carved into my aching heart.
I can't avoid him tonight.
Maybe I should go home.
People would probably just talk more. Make up more rumors, like the doozies they spun up this week. My favorite was that I lured him to my house with chicken piccata and relentlessly seduced him until he gave in. I love that they believe I possess that sort of sexual power. I mean, my chicken piccata is good, but I'm not sure it could inspire an evolution into a succubus.
It's just an hour. Go throw the ball. Stick with Cass. It'll be fine.
I take a deep breath, get out of my car, and walk toward the field. My gaze is locked on his back. I don't want it to be, but every time I look away, it snaps right back to him. His head turns as if he could hear me coming, though it would be impossible at this distance. And then he turns, his eyes pinning me like steel ties. My stomach drops through the pavement.
He looks like hell.
