I stagger backward from the pain, expecting to find that Jasmine was the culprit.
But it’s Nikki.
Everett’s sister lunges at me, utterly enraged. “Your father killed my mother and you didn’t think we deserved to know? You fuckingbitch!”
As my cheek stings from her blow, I start to back away, but I suddenly notice Everett standing there. His face is pale with shock.
“You goddamn lying bitch!” Nikki shrieks.
She hurls herself at me again, and before I can react, she’s grabbed a fistful of my hair. I cry out, grappling with her, trying to get her off me. Hands try to pry us apart, but I can’t make anything out through the haze of pain and confusion.
“Nikki, enough!” someone yells, but she’s beyond listening. She’s pushing and shoving, her red fingernails digging into my arm.
I feel my own anger boiling up, mingling with the humiliation and fear. In a burst of desperation, I shove her hard, breaking her grip on me, and she stumbles before regaining her footing.
The gym is a mess of shouts, everyone’s attention fixated on us. Whispers and accusations blend into a deafening hum. Kids are filming everything, their phones aimed at me, at Nikki. The chaperones rush over, trying to break up the fight, their voices barely audible over the din.
I feel eyes on me from every direction, judging, accusing. I suddenly spot Natalie Singh several feet away, staring at me. I glance toward the stage where Zed stands, posture proud, stance wide,like a king watching over his peasants. He loves this. The production. The drama and the big reveal. He’s probably been planning it for weeks.
Blinking back the tears, I run from the dance floor, desperate to escape.
“Ryan,” I hear someone say. Chase.
I ignore him, pushing through the crowd. Relief pours into me when I finally glimpse the exit sign. I race out the doors and stumble into the fluorescent-lit hallway. I’m still battling tears when Chase appears beside me, wrapping one strong arm around my shoulders, and I let him, because I have no strength left to fight.
“Come on,” he murmurs in my ear. “I’ll take you home.”
I rip myself away from him. “No.”
My skin burns from the sheer humiliation of what just happened, and I’m dangerously close to a panic attack. Chase senses it, because he steps closer, reaching out to stroke my cheek.
His voice is low as he says, “You’re okay, Shipley. It’s okay.”
But I’m not.
“You’vegotto be kidding me,” an incredulous voice says from behind us.
We turn toward the gym doors, where Everett stands, jaw clenched tight. He takes in the sight of Chase’s hand dropping from my face in what was clearly an intimate moment.
“I am such a fucking idiot,” he spits out, looking between us. “I get it now, Ryan.” He starts to laugh. Bitter and defeated. “How long has this been going on?”
“I…” I stammer, then glance at Chase, unsure what to say.
“How long have you guys been lying to me?” demands Everett.
“Ev, it wasn’t like that—” Chase starts.
Everett cuts him off. “Fuck you, Chase. Both of you.”
Finding my voice, I step toward him, trying to explain. “Everett, please, just listen—”
“Save it,Gabrielle. I don’t want to hear another word from either one of you.”
My heart sinks as I watch him storm off. For several heartbreaking seconds, silence hangs over the hallway. I swallow the lump of agony in my throat and turn to Chase.
“I think I’ll take that ride home, after all.”
thirty-eight
