“Hey!”He rubs the spot and laughs.“Where’s the love?”
Before I can stomp away, Collin wraps his arms around me and sweeps me off the floor, blowing a raspberry on my neck.I squirm against his grip and let out a peal of laughter—against my will.“Stop it.”
He sets me on my feet, but doesn’t let me go.I wrap my arms around his chest and hug him back.And I begin to cry.
Collin squeezes me and presses a kiss to the side of my head.“We’re going to be okay.I’m not mad anymore.”
I nod, my face pressed into the Stanford logo on his hoodie.“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.I don’t think you’re Princess Peach.You’re right.You’re kind of a freak.”
I try to shove him, but he laughs and keeps me trapped in his arms.“Stop.You’re getting so violent.It’s doing something for me.”
I groan into his chest.
“Do you know what the bonfire thing is all about?”I ask, tilting my head up at him.
Collin shakes his head.“Let’s ask him.”
With Collin’s arm slung over my shoulders, I wipe at my stupid tears and let him lead me outside, where Jonathan is leaning against his hood with his arms crossed.
“Let the girl know why you’re being all caveman about the bonfire tonight.”
Jonathan shoots Collin a scathing look.Collin rolls his eyes in response.
“I know you’re talking to Danika again.But that group isn’t good for anyone.Don’t go with them.”When Collin gives him a wide-eyed urging, Jonathan mumbles, “Please.”
“I wasn’t planning to hang out with them,” I reply, unable to meet Jonathan’s eyes.“I’m meeting Danika.She’s breaking up with Oren, and then I’m taking her home with me.The girls are sleeping over.”
“She’s breaking up with Oren at the bonfire?”Collin asks, thrown by this news.“Why there?”
I don’t know how to respond without it sounding dramatic.Or giving Jonathan another reason why I shouldn’t go.
“She wants witnesses,” Jonathan concludes.“So he doesn’t do anything.”
“When did that ever stop him?”Collin rebuts.He focuses on me with an unexpected conclusion.“You’re going to put yourself in the middle of them again, aren’t you?”
“Not happening,” Jonathan says with conviction before I utter a single word.
“Because I’m going with you,” Collin says like it’s all settled.They just had an entire conversation without me.I’d be annoyed, except now Collin will be there too.
Jonathan is quiet.I glance up to weigh his reaction, in hopes he’ll come as well.He’s studying the rocks in the driveway.Now he won’t meetmyeyes.
“I’ll be inside,” Collin tells me.“Pick me up at my house at seven.”
I wrap my arms around myself, chilled through again.
“I’m worried about you.”
He finds his way to me.At least with his attention.He’s still standing on the other side of a chasm.
“I’m okay.Been staying with Collin.”
I’m confused at first, until it occurs to me that his dad probably doesn’t want him home right now.
“I can’t go back there,” Jonathan explains.“You don’t understand what he’s like.”
I swallow the words that I want to ask him.Instead, I hope my silence will encourage him to keep talking.
