His eyes soften as they drink her in and he moves toward her. He cups the back of her neck and draws her face toward his chest. She goes willingly, wrapping her arms round his waist and fuck, it’s like a punch to the gut. Seeing that, seeing her in his arms hurts more than that fucker’s punch to my face ever could.
I don’t say anything. I have no fucking words. I turn around and head back to the entrance, refusing to look back.
“Watch your back,” Dom warns him before moving in step beside me.
“What the hell was that?” Emilio mutters when we’re out of hearing distance from the happy couple.
I don’t answer him.
When Silvia Parish walks past me, rather than ignoring her like I usually would, I call her over. Her eyes are hesitant, but they brighten when I give her a smile. She slows her steps, waiting for me.
“Hey, Ro,” she purrs.
I see the confusion in my boys' gazes but I ignore them. “Ready to be out of the dog house?” I ask her.
She pouts. “That was really mean of you.”
“Yeah. Well, maybe later I’ll make it up to you. What do you say?”
Lust darkens her eyes and she nods her head in agreement. “Mmmmm. I’d love to.” She settles in beside me. “Are you and the little do-gooder over?”
I shake my head, then look down at her and give her a devilish grin. “Nothing to be over,” I tell her. “Shit never even started.”
THIRTY
Allie
If Julio wasn’t with me, I wouldn’t have survived today. He follows me to all my classes. A few girls give him interested looks but he ignores them, his full attention on me.
Roman is a no-show first period. A part of me wonders if he’s off screwing Silvia in the locker rooms or something. I know he’s mad but he didn’t need to say what he did.
I want to talk to him, to explain why I didn’t call or text. I know if he knew my reasons, if he knew everything that happened, he’d understand. At least, I hope he would. But I can’t convince myself to expose myself like that to him. His words cut deep. He wanted to hurt me and he did. What if he doesn’t understand? What if telling him what happened only confirms what I am in his eyes? A whore.
Julio tries to comfort me throughout the day. Every time I catch sight of Roman, Dominique, or Emilio, he distracts me with a question or a dumb joke. Sometimes it works. But most of the time, it doesn’t.
“Hey,” he tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You don’t need them. Seven more months and you’re coming home with me.”
I nod. I’ll be eighteen in four months. Graduate in seven. It feels like forever and a day away but in reality, it’s not that far. Falling out like this with the Devils hurts, but maybe it was for the best.
We eat lunch in the library without incident. Well, Julio does at least. I manage two bites of pizza before throwing my tray away, unable to stomach the food any better than I have been at Gerald’s.
Spanish goes by without a hitch. When I get to Welding, Julio draws a little more attention than he had in my previous classes, but this time, since it’s a class full of guys, Julio doesn’t ignore them.
“This the new beau?” Aaron asks, a smile on his face. It’s a forced smile but it’s a smile nonetheless. I stiffen as he nears but Julio positions himself between us, easing some of the tension before he answers Aaron for me.
“Nah, man. Allie’s like my little sister. I’m a friend from back home.” He reaches out a hand and Aaron shakes it. His smile morphs to one that’s more genuine as he gives Julio a once-over.
“Sister, huh? You two could have fooled me. All the hand holding, the looks…” He trails off and I know there’s a question in there, but he doesn’t come out and ask it.
Julio and I have been affectionate since he arrived. I’m not entirely sure why. Back home, we never really held hands, but we’ve cuddled watching movies together and neither of us have ever shied away from physical contact. But it’s always been platonic. Saying I’m like a sister is one hundred percent accurate. I don’t have any biological siblings but if I did, I imagine my relationship with them would be like what I have with Julio. Easy. Comfortable. And with zero romantic feelings for the other person.
“I’ve known J since grade school.” I shrug. “I don’t think either of us realized how people might take things.”
Julio snorts beside me. “We also don’t care.”
Aaron seems to mull that over. “So… how’s Roman handling this? I saw him earlier with—” He cuts himself off and looks away. Rubbing his hand over the back of his neck he offers me an apologetic look. “Sorry. I know it’s none of my business but I think you deserve to know.” He pauses. “Roman was all over Silvia Parish at lunch today.”
A rock falls to the pit of my stomach. “It didn’t take him long to move on.”
