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Chapter 25
Astrid
“Where have you been?” Roni looks upset when I walk into our room after class. But it’s not hatred when she looks at me; it’s genuine concern. She sits at her desk, studying with her books and tablet spread out. I wonder if she went to class.
“I had some stuff I had to deal with,” I say, tossing my book bag down on my desk.
“Look, this is your room too,” she says, “You shouldn’t have to stay away.”
I want to say something offensive. After all, she used that bolt across the door to keep me out. I give her a look but decide not to say anything. Roni looks genuinely upset, and well, Roni doesn’t fake her emotions. I’ve learned that while sharing a room with her.
“How are you holding up?” I ask her gently.
She shrugs her shoulders and puts down her book. “I’m counting the days until break. Then it’s a middle-finger salute to Stonehaven, and I’m out of the gate. I can’t wait until I’m out of here.”
I grin. I felt like that until yesterday. “I know what you mean,” I reply, showing solidarity I don’t feel anymore. “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
“My aunt is hosting the family in Jersey,” she replies, “She has a big house with acres of land. My cousins will be there. It should be fun.” Roni shrugs unconvincingly. “It will be okay. How about you?”
“I hadn’t thought about it,” I reply, “I usually spend it with my mother.” My voice trails off as I frown, thinking about what they’re doing to her. I hope our plan works. Once we’re done with Ted, I’m getting even with Howland.
Roni starts to say something, but I glance at my phone. “I gotta go,” I tell her.
I hurry into the bathroom to change out of my uniform and put on some jeans. I reapply my makeup in the mirror, just a little gloss and mascara. I grab an old ring of my mother’s and place it on my finger. I stop myself and wonder why I’m doing all this. I’m only going to meet Pierce.
I can’t help thinking about yesterday. They didn’t freak out as, one by one, they kissed me before they left. I should have asked Wyatt what he meant when he said they discussed it. Maybe Pierce will tell me.
Instead of hanging out at Getz’s office, we take off in Pierce’s car. A week ago, I wouldn’t have gotten in and let him drive me away from the campus. But all that has changed. I saved his ass, and he saved mine. I relax against the seat and play with my phone as he turns up the volume on his radio.
“It figures you listen to Royal Blood,” I tease him.
“You think I listen to BTS?” he laughs.
I smile, watching him out of the corner of my eye. Yes. I’m checking him out now that he’s not the asshole I thought he was. His brown hair is freshly cut, and his blue eyes narrow as he pushes down on the gas, shooting past a speed limit sign.
“So where are you going?” I ask.
“Nowhere in Rockingham,” he replies. “Those boys don’t take you out anywhere.”
My shoulders rise as I go on the defense. I’m not a cheap and easy time. “Bryce took me out to a nice place.”
“Once.”
I stare harder at my phone, thinking maybe he’s an asshole after all.
“If we had been dating,” he says, “I would’ve had you out every weekend. That’s all I mean.”
I smile. “But we aren’t dating. Are we?”
He glances over at me, taking his eyes off the road. “What do you want to do?”
“That’s an odd way to ask a girl out,” I reply, putting my phone away.
Pierce scoffs. “You have four sets of balls wrapped around your pretty finger. So you tell me what you want to do.”
It’s time to ask. “Wyatt said something that didn’t make sense. He said you guys discussed it. What did you discuss?”
Pierce laughs as he pulls into the parking lot of the posh mall outside of Rockingham. He finds a parking spot at the far end and parks his car across two spaces.
