“Look,” Noah says, his voice hard as he focuses back on Jace. “I’ve known you since freshman year, Cooper. I’ve seen you go through girls faster than I go through protein shakes. You don’t do relationships. So what’s different now? Why should we even believe this is real?”
Jace’s jaw ticks, and his eyes turn cold. “You want to know what’s different? I’ve never walked into this school with my arm around someone. Never. Not even once.”
Noah pauses, and I can see the recognition flicker across his face. “You’re right. You haven’t.”
“So maybe that should tell you something.” Jace’s arm shifts around my shoulders. “But here’s what really pisses me off about this whole conversation. You’re all standing here acting concerned about Lola, but you’re not even looking at her. You’re not asking her what she wants. You’re assuming she needs you to protect her from me.”
“Because she does,” Sam shoots back. “You’re going to break her heart eventually.”
“That’s not your call to make.” Jace’s voice drops lower. “This is between me and Lola. You don’t get a vote.”
“We’re her friends,” Aubrey says, her eyes flashing. “We’re supposed to look out for her.”
“By what, deciding who I can and can’t date?” I cut in, and Aubrey’s eyes snap to mine. “I love you guys, but this is my decision. Not yours.”
“We’re just trying to protect you,” Sam says, her voice softening slightly.
“From what exactly? Being happy?” The words come out sharp. “You don’t get to decide what’s good for me just because you don’t approve.”
“This isn’t about approval,” Reece says, speaking up for the first time. “This is about the fact that we’ve seen him operate. We know how he is.”
“No. You know how I was,” Jace corrects, his tone sharp. “You haven’t a clue about how I am with her.”
“So enlighten us,” Noah challenges. “What makes this different?”
“I don’t owe any of you shit,” Jace says. “The only person I answer to is standing right here, and she already knows how I feel.”
“And I don’t owe you an explanation either,” I add, my voice steady despite the way my heart is pounding. “I’m with Jace because I want to be. Because he makes me happy. That should be enough.”
Sam crosses her arms. “That’s not good enough.”
“Too fucking bad,” Jace says, and despite everything, I almost smile.
“You know what… I don’t need this right now.” I pull away from Jace’s arm, and I see the flash of concern in his eyes. “I don’t need to stand here and defend myself to people who are supposed to be my friends.”
“Lola, wait,” Sam says, reaching for me.
“No.” I step back. “You want to have an opinion about my relationship? Fine. But don’t expect me to stand here and listen to you say whatever you want. You don’t get to judge me or my decisions.”
“If you hurt her,” Noah says, ignoring me completely and focusing on Jace, “I will personally make sure you regret it.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Jace’s voice is deadly quiet. “You think I haven’t thought about what happens if I fuck this up? But here’s the thing, Noah. I’m not asking for your approval. I’m not asking for your blessing. I’m with Lola because she wants to be with me, and I want to be with her. That’s it. That’s the only thing that matters. Now get that through your fucking head.”
The silence that follows is suffocating. People in the hallway are openly staring now, phones out, probably recording every second of this disaster.
Jace and I turn and walk away, leaving my friends standing there in stunned silence. The hallway parts for us, whispers following in our wake.
I don’t glance back.
Jace’s hand is solid around my shoulder, the only anchor I have right now as my world tilts sideways. My chest is tight and my throat burns with words I didn’t say, with the hurt I’m trying desperately to swallow down.
We round the corner toward the science wing, and the crowd thins out. The noise fades to a dull hum. Jace pulls me to a stop near the water fountains, turning to face me.
“You okay?” His free hand comes up to cup my jaw.
“I’m fine,” I say automatically, but my voice cracks on the words.
“Bells.” His thumb strokes across my cheekbone. “Don’t pretend with me. Look at me. They’ll come around. And if they don’t, then screw them.”
