“But, Damien,” I clear my throat. “You shouldn’t be talking to me, at all.”
He sighs. “I know. You were serious aboutthat, huh?”
“It’s for your own good,” I respond. “I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“Even now when he’s involved with Cassia?”
I clench my jaw. “That’s none of my business, or yours for that matter.”
“Fine,” he sighs. “I won’t bother you again. But don’t let the bastard isolate you from the world, Sophia. You deserve so much better.”
“He won’t,” I mutter.
“Come on, now.”
I frown. “Where?”
“I’ll walk you to the girls' dormitory. It’s late, you shouldn’t be walking alone.”
“But I still have a bit more to study.”
“Really?” Damien deadpans. “You can study tomorrow, or this weekend. You need sleep, because in case you forgot, tomorrow’s first class starts at eight.”
With a groan and a few choice words under my breath, I pack everything back into my bag, standing up and stretching a little.
Tomorrow after classes, I’ll confront the bastard. And I won’t go easy on him, because I deserve an explanation. If he fails to provide me with one that’ll satisfy the rage inside of me, he’ll regret it all. He’ll regret ever approaching me, and most of all, he’ll regret knowing me.
That, I’m certain of.
THIRTY-NINE
The highway is rather empty. It’s almost seven in the evening, and given that it’s a school night, I’m going back to the academy to try and figure out how to deal with Cassia’s bullshit once and for all. Not only does the cunt have a tracker on me, but I’m confident she’s bugging my phone, too because whatever I say to Aiden, Elias, or Kenzo somehow goes back to her. And I highly doubt any of them would tattle on me to the bitch. Which makes all of this more difficult. I even got a new, secret phone that I intended to use to contact Sophia, but Cassia was a fucking step ahead of me.
I went to see my father for lunch, and ever since I left the restaurant, a car’s been following me. I don’t recognize it, and it’s far enough so I wouldn’t be able to see the driver’s face. Whoever it is, they’re driving like it’s their first time behind the wheel.
It’s the only vehicle behind me, and without thinking too much about it, I hit the brakes, stopping in the middle of the road. The car behind me almost bumps into me, and as I slide out of the driver’sseat, my breath catches in my throat.
A furious-looking Sophia storms out of her car, her anger barely concealed. But fuck me, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her this close, and she’s as beautiful as I remember her being.
“What the fuck, Ford?” She screams in my face, and my heart sinks to my feet at the sound of my surname on her lips. I thought we were past that, but then I remember what I did, and I don’t have any right to act hurt or surprised.
“You’re the one who’s not supposed to be driving. You don’t even have a driver’s license. You’re the one who’s been following me, Sloane.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” Sophia steps forward, jabbing a finger in my chest. It’s such a small, simple touch, yet it almost makes me spiral. But I can’t. I have to do this; it’s all for her. If I could prove that Cassia’s not tracking and bugging my phone and car, I’d tell Sophia everything right now. However, I won’t risk it.
Hurting her is better than ruining her life.
“Then what do you mean, Sloane?”
“I meant,” she grits out. “Why? Why did you just stop talking to me, Ford? Why are you hanging out with Cassia all of a sudden, and most importantly — what the fuck did I do wrong?”
The hurt in her voice matches the painful expression on her face. It takes all the inner strength I can muster not to fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness. With a clench of my jaw, I push her finger off my chest.
“Look, Sloane, it was fun while it lasted, but that’s all I was looking for — fun.”
Her expression falters, and the raw ache, vulnerability, and sorrow on her face make me hate myself. This has to be one of the most painful things I’ve ever done in my life, and no matter howmuch I try to justify it, I can’t. I’m ruining her in all the ways I never intended to.
“Excuse me?”
