I grind my teeth.
“We still need answers,” Dom says beside me. “You guys didn’t see her last week. Something happened.”
“I don’t fucking care. Ice her out.” Anger bubbles up inside me. “I don’t have time for petty bitches and their games. That’s not how we roll.” Both of them nod their agreement, but Emilio looks hesitant.
“There’s gotta be an explanation,” he hedges. I glare at him and he puts his arms up, palms out in surrender. “Whatever you say, man. We’ll ice her out.”
I nod. She ghosted us. Ghosted me. And for what? This guy? I don’t know him. Don’t even recognize his face. Not once have I ever seen him near her before. But she blew me off forthatguy. She made me look like a fool. And now, hand in hand, she’s making sure the entire school knows she’s dropped me.
She didn’t even have the decency to call. My pops showed up to the game. He never comes to my games. He never has the time. But he came to our rival game against the Saints and I had it all planned out. He was going to meet my girl. I told my fucking parents about her. My mom knew Allie was supposed to be there and she no-showed. Fucking no-showed. No call. No text. Nothing.
A tick forms in my jaw and I glare at her retreating form. As if she can sense my attention her head swivels to look over her shoulder and her eyes lock on mine. Pools of chocolate brown meet my stare head-on and she flinches.
I hope she sees just how pissed off I am. How done I am with her.
The guy beside her slows his steps. I watch as she untangles her hand from his and he frowns at her. She says something to him. She’s shaking her head and glancing over at me again. He says something back and they argue for a moment before a decision is made.
She turns around and heads in my direction—the new guy hot on her heels. She chews on her bottom lip, worry lines deepening with every step she takes. Good. She should be worried. If she’s expecting a warm welcome, she won’t find it.
The guy has a blank expression. I can’t get a read on him but he stays close to Allie. Almost like he wants to protect her. His hands are tatted and he has two diamond studs in his ears. He’s dressed in dark denim jeans and a black hoodie with the words Richland printed on the back. Then it clicks. This dude is from her hometown. Is he the ex? The ex that doesn’t look like he’s an ex anymore?
They’re almost to us when Dom asks, “What’s the plan?”
I shake my head. I don’t know. She’s coming over to us but she’s with him. They clearly have some sort of relationship with each other and I have no fucking clue what’s going on. Was I some side piece of hers? She said in the beginning, she didn’t want anything serious. We didn’t use labels. I never called her my girlfriend, but fuck, she was my girl. She’d beenmy girl.
None of it matters now. “Stick to the plan. Ice her out. I’m done.”
They nod and we each grab our bags, heading straight toward them. Allie’s steps falter and her skin pales, highlighting the sharp angles of her cheekbones. Has she lost more weight?
When we’re right in front of them she says, “Ro?” My name on her lips is whisper-soft and it does something to me, twisting my insides around, but I don’t respond. I don’t react. Instead, I push right between her and her new guy and head straight to the doors. My steps never slow.
She gasps before saying a little bit louder, “Roman?”
I keep going. Then the asshole with her calls out, “Bro, what’s your problem?”
I whirl on him. Dropping my backpack on the pavement, I close the distance between us and get right in his face. He holds his ground and fury flashes in his eyes.
Allie sucks in a breath and takes several steps back. She’s as white as a sheet but I can’t find it in me to fucking care.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but this is my school. My town. Don’t talk to me again. Ever. We clear.”
He doesn’t answer, meanwhile Allie’s all but hyperventilating beside us as she watches the exchange.
Slowly, so fucking slow, I turn my head to glare at her. “The same goes for you. Don’t speak to me. We’re not friends. We’re not anything. I don’t fraternize with whores.” She jerks back as if I’ve slapped her and the next thing I know a fist smashes into my face and I stumble back a few steps. Dom and Emilio rush up beside me and I shake my head, blinking hard to clear my vision as it meets the angry glare of the guy she came with.
His nostrils flare and his hands clench into tight fists at his sides as though he’s barely keeping himself from hitting me again.
I spit and my blood smacks the pavement. “You’re gonna regret that.”
“Don’t call her that again. Are we clear?” His tone is hard, his eyes murderous.
I can’t help it. I laugh. “Whatever you say,cabrón.Just know she was underneath me two weeks ago. Who knows how many guys she’s had since?”
“You worthlesssonovabitch.Do you have any idea what she’s—”
“Julio, don’t!” she cries out and we both turn to see her tear-filled gaze. “Please. Don’t.”
Guilt tears into me at the sight of those tears before I push it away. No way am I going to feel sorry for her. She’s gotJulionow. That’s this fucker's name. So not the ex.
