“Did he drive your truck?”
“My transmission will never be the same.”The tortured look makes even more sense now.He never lets anyone drive his truck.
I cringe, feeling the pain of the grinding gears.“Sorry.I can drive you guys until you’re better.”
“Maybe,” he replies, seriously considering it.“You don’t mind driving across town to get us?”
“Not at all.”
“What’s the other guy look like?”a voice calls from a group of guys walking by.Jonathan ignores it.“Don’t piss him off, Sadie.You could be next.”I spin to seek out the source of the asinine comment.
Jonathan steps toward the guys, and I instinctively place a hand on his chest.He stills.My hand is shaking.He puts his large, warm hand on top of mine, covering it completely.
“I would never—”
“Don’t.”My voice is stronger than I mean for it to be.It’s laced with anger.Not at him.At just the thought that anyone wouldthinkit.“Youneverhave to say that to me.”The blaze of emotion leaves me with an unfamiliar tremor.
Jonathan places a gentle kiss on my temple, and I lean into him.He stiffens with a pained inhale.I pull back.“Sorry.”
“I’m alright.”
ButI’mfar from it.
Dude, that sucks,”Darren says, sliding into our crowded lunch table, which has now grown to include Oren and Sean.Oren is here for Danika.And I guess Sean is here for Oren?And Darren… well, he knows Jonathan, CollinandOren.
We don’t ever mix friend groups like this.They spend time with the guys.I spend time with the girls.Never together, except at parties, but they don’t count because we’re nottogether,together.I’m definitely overthinking this.
Maybe because in a matter of hours, I know we can never go back.Because this is not just between us anymore.
“Who’s your backup on Friday?”Sean asks Oren.
“He doesn’t need a backup,” Jonathan tells him.“But he has McMannis when he needs a breather.”
“Sorry, man,” Oren says with sincerity.
“I heard it was payback for that guy whose arm you broke at the party,” Sean interjects without any tact.
Jonathan flashes his eyes between the guys.I open my mouth to protest, but nothing comes out.
“That’s bullshit,” Collin quips, defending Jonathan, as he always does, with much more practice and ease than me.“Who’s saying that?”
“Itisbullshit, considering that guy really broke his arm trying to scale the gate at the Garrett estate and wasn’t even at the party.He was caught on the camera that was installed while they’re doing renovations.”Danika nods toward Jonathan.“Actually, it’s your dad’s company working there.He turned in the video.”
Jonathan becomes very still.“When?”
“Yesterday,” Danika tells him.She narrows her eyes at Sean, who slumps in his seat.“So, tell everyone to shut the hell up.”
“Yesterday,” I hear Jonathan say under his breath.
I thought he’d feel better, knowing that the accusations will finally stop.And the police will quit harassing him.But he looks more disturbed now than when Sean opened his big mouth.
I lean over and ask, “You okay?”
He rids himself of whatever shadow darkened his features.“Uh, yeah.Just thought my dad would’ve mentioned it.”
I glance at Collin.He’s studying Jonathan like he’s come to his own conclusion.I feel like I’m missing something Ishouldalready know.This isn’t the first time.
What?I mouth to Collin.He shakes me off, like it’s nothing.
