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Though if she’s gone and Coach Turner manages to do the drug test, she’ll know about it before she returns to school. Maybe we can have her coach call her in. I guess we’ll deal with that if it happens. It’s more important to get Zach’s crew clean or cleaned out.

If he doesn’t try anything tonight, maybe that will have him scrambling if all his homies are getting clean.

Harper touches my arm and I give her a soft look when I meet her eyes. It’s amazing that she loves us. I’d protect her with everything I have.

Before Harper can say anything, Parker says, “Okay, time for the dance of the king and queen and the rest of the court.”

Harper

I exhale. It’s like I was on high alert the entire time and then all of a sudden, we’re done. A weight lifts off me.

No more worries.

Nothing happened.

Sure, Sidney made a scene, but Sidney wouldn’t be Sidney without a scene.

Luke handled it. He walks past me and leads Ashley off the stage and into the center of the dance floor. Caden lifts my hand and kisses it before taking Emma’s hand.

“Guess you’re mine again, kitten.” Eli smirks and I draw in a breath.

“I’m always yours.” We’re going to be fine. We leave the stage behind. The announcement is over and nothing happened. No blood pouring over my head and pretty dress.

Eli pulls me into his arms and the DJ starts the music. “Night Changes” by One Direction plays. I glance at the students gathered around us, but don’t see Kenz or Penny. Where are they? Why weren’t they here for this part?

“After this dance, can we go find Kenz and Penny?” I lift my gaze to Eli’s dark eyes.

“As long as you stay with us, yes.” Eli turns me and my gaze catches on Tanner. Angela stands next to him, talking to him, but he’s ignoring her. All his attention is on me. Chills creep down my spine and I move closer to Eli.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“Tanner.” I can tell him because Eli’s not Caden, who would probably lose his shit. “Every time I accidentally find him in the crowd, he’s staring at me.”

Eli turns me and looks at Tanner. “You’re gorgeous tonight. I don’t blame him for wanting what he can’t have.”

“It feels like more than that.” I don’t know how to explain. “He’s creeping me out.”

“No one is going to take you from us, kitten.” Eli tips my chin up with his knuckle and he searches my eyes. “No one.”

I swallow. Fuck, I want to believe his words. I want to drop my guard and enjoy this dance, but there are too many unknowns. We know that Zach had a plan for tonight. We know he wanted to take me out to that farm and give me a new life. But we don’t know the way he was going to orchestrate it.

All night I’ve either been in someone’s arms or surrounded by all my guys. And now, they don’t have any reason to leave me alone where he can get to me. So maybe tonight isn’t the night. Maybe we’ll just have to wait and see.

The song is almost over. We’re almost done.

I snuggle into Eli’s chest. “After this, can we go home?”

He chuckles and kisses my head. “Yes, kitten. We can go home.”

I close my eyes, and a loud pop goes off. The darkness of the dance floor is swept away with bright light. Someone screams. Eli holds me close as my heart races. What’s happening?

CHAPTER 17

The Battle Ground

Harper

My ears ring, but the music, though muffled, is still playing, making it hard to hear anything else. Everything around me feels still, like the world just stopped. My heart races in my chest as I try to figure out what’s happening.