Professor Yates scoffed. “Boyfriend. You don’t need a boy, Savannah—”
“She needs me more than she’ll ever need you.”
We both turned as Dante walked into the shed. He looked pissed, and I felt my body sag in relief as he stalked toward me.
“Dante!” Professor Yates shoved his hands into his pockets. “It’s good to see—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Dante told him, making his way to me. With one glance, he took everything in, his frown deepening when he saw me. He was at my side, his arm around my waist, pulling me into him. “I got you, Sav,” he murmured. He turned to Yates. “Why the fuck are you here?”
Professor Yates squared his shoulders, all professional again. “I came with the unfortunate news that Dean Cole has tasked me with the role of informing Savannah that the shed will no longer be available for her use.”
“No, you didn’t...” I leaned into Dante and his immediate strength, taking the comfort he offered. “You didn’t say that atall. It’s really one of theonlythings you haven’t said today.”
Yates sighed. “If you interpreted my words incorrectly, well... that’s on you.” He started walking to the door. “You have a few days to clear it all out.”
The door shut behind him, and Dante was in front of me, his hands cupping my cheeks, eyes full of concern. “Sav? Are you okay?”
Tears came swiftly and unbidden; God, I really didn’t want to cry. “Yeah, I... I don’t know.”
“Sav, sweetheart, you need to let go of the mallet,” he said softly, his fingers smoothing over mine, which were still gripped tightly around the handle. “Then tell me why you’re clinging to a mallet. What did he say to you? Did he hurt you? Tell me if he hurt you.”
“He’s...” I blew out a breath. “It was horrible.” I saw Dante’s reaction as he glared toward the door, already moving away from me. “He didn’t touch me,” I said quickly, grabbing his sweatshirt, bringing his attention back to me. “It’s what he said,howhe said it...”
But the worst part wasn’t the words. It was that feeling — cold betrayal — from someone I thought was an ally.
“My dad’s always known about the shed. I was fooling no one,” I told him. “I think...” I cleared my throat. “IknowYates has been reporting to him.Spying.” I laughed bitterly. “Daddy dearest loves his spy network.”
“Sav.”
I moved away from him, angrily brushing away the tears. “God, I’m so stupid, Dante.” I shook my head as I looked around. “Heknowseverything. He controlseverything. And Yates—” I drew in a shaky breath — “was so creepy. Ugh. You told me, you stood right there.” I pointed wildly to the middle of the room. “You told me he was a creep, and I said you were wrong. Well, guess what? You weren’t wrong! Why am I so stupid?”
“Hey...” He held his hands up as he approached me. “I’m really sorry I was right.”
I snorted.
“Sav, sweetheart, listen to me,” he said, reaching out and tugging on my hand. “I amreallysorry that I was right. I wish, in this case, I was wrong. You have every right to be furious, and hurt, and betrayed, and all the other really relevant things you’re feeling, but I need you to tell me everything he said to you.”
I felt so drained. “I just want to forget,” I mumbled. I looked at my sculpture. “I don’t even know where I’m going to move it to.”
“Sav—”
“Ugh, and this is so not what you need!”
“Huh?”
“You have so much more to deal with!” I cried out. “Me losing an art shed? It’snothing. It’s nothing, even similar to what—”
My phone rang. I picked it up, dreading that it was Yates or my dad. It was worse. It was my mom.
“Ugh, she keeps calling me,” I muttered, tossing it down. My hands were in my hair. “Fuck. I can’t—”
His kiss silenced me. Dante drew back when he felt me relax a little. “Breathe, Sav.” He kissed me again, gently. “Listen to me, what affects you affects me. What hurts you, hurts me. Now tell me what he said.Exactlywhat he said.”
“You’re going to punch him, aren’t you?” I asked suspiciously.
“I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“That won’t help.”
