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He grabbed my arm, pulling me back. “Then let him.” He glared down at me. “I don’t give a shit. He won’t keep me away from you, so the sooner he knows the score, the better.”
My naked body, except for my bottoms, seemed to scream, and even though it was dark, and he wouldn’t see much, he might still notice the bruises. I had to cover up.
“Let me go,” I gritted out, anxious.
But he didn’t. Pulling me in, he lifted me into his arms again and looked up into my eyes. “Look at me,” he said.
I did, the softness in his voice making me forget my brother and my body for a moment.
“I…” He trailed off, struggling for words. “I…like you.”
It sounded like “I love you,” and my chin trembled.
“I’ve liked you forever,” he said. “If you talk to him, the spell will break and the night will be over because you’re not the same in the sun. You’ll have all kinds of reasons again tomorrow about why I can’t have you. Stay with me tonight. Don’t talk to him. Don’t let anything between us tonight.”
Sobs swelled in my chest, and I held his shoulders, wanting to just wrap my arms around him because he was probably right.
“Or you can come to Homecoming with me,” he said, giving me a choice. “Tomorrow night.”
Homecoming?
The phone rang again, but we just stared at each other, me in his arms and my legs dangling.
I couldn’t go to Homecoming. I didn’t have a dress. I didn’t dance. I didn’t want to be around his people.
Martin would never allow it.
People would just laugh.
I pushed against his hold, diving down to the floor for my cardigan as the phone rang and rang. I looked back up at him, covering myself with the sweater.
“No,” I said. “You can go now. I’m sorry I stopped you.”
He advanced on me, but I turned and ran, slipping on my sweater as I dashed into the kitchen for my phone.
I answered. “Hello?”
“What the hell were you doing?” Martin snapped. “I’ve called four times.”
I almost turned to see if Will was behind me, but my heart was beating so fast, I was afraid Martin would hear the shake in my voice.
“I’m sorry. I…” I stammered. “I fell asleep with my phone downstairs.”
“Of course, you did.” His tone was clipped. “We’re expecting wind tonight. Make sure the windows are closed, the garbage cans are stored, and the…”
But my mind trailed off as he barked in my ear the same orders I’d heard a hundred times.
I licked my lips, still tasting Will and feeling the emptiness grow and grow behind me as I heard the front door click shut.
I wanted to cry.
Martin eventually hung up, and I came back to the foyer, seeing that Will was gone.
I stood there for a minute, sick of the guilt and self-hate. I’d done it again. I was a bitter, condescending coward, and hopefully, he’d move on to someone like him. Happy and bubbly and…fun.
At least I wouldn’t be at Homecoming to see him enjoy someone else.
Taking myself upstairs, I checked on my grandma one more time and then entered my room, closing the door and plugging my phone into the charger.
