“Now, thank me for being so kind as to not break your hand.”
I’m pushing it by humiliating him, but he has to learn not tomess with the crazy.
Jacob shoots me an incredulous look, his jaw threatening to dislocate at my request.
His silence has me nudge his right hand with my bat, giving it a couple of gentle taps. That’s all it takes for him to mutter a simple “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome! Don’t tell me I’m not magnanimous.” I rise slowly, because fast isn’t exactly on the menu right now. “I’m done with him.”
“Are you okay?” Link asks.
“Just peachy.”
More like a bruised peach. Possibly concussed.
He nods before walloping the back of Jacob’s head and pulling him from the ground. My bat’s latest plaything is unable to stand on the leg that took the beating, as he waddles like a duck, supported by his former friend. I didn’t hit him hard enough to break his leg, but he’ll remember me every time he limps for the next week or so.
“Link?”
He turns.
“Yeah?”
“Why aren’t you with Atlas?”
“Let’s put it this way—next time, there won’t be a need for anyone to stay behind, since you can obviously save yourself.”
Oh!
Oh, shit!
Atlas left his best friend behind to look after me?
“That I can.” I grin so wide Link could count all my teeth if he wanted.
He stands there, not proceeding down the corridor.
“Your brother sounds like he was a lot of fun. I’m sure I would’ve liked him.”
It’s only now that I realize I mentioned my brother earlier, and warmth settles in my chest, knowing consciously or not,he’ll always be in both my thoughts and words.
“You would have.”Lie.Milo could’ve fit with them like basil in tomato sauce, but Link would’ve hated him because my brother held Raven’s heart in the palm of his hand since we were kids. “Good night, Link!”
“Night, Summer!”
I’m starting to get attached to this name. A name I didn’t ask for, but Trent decided to give me, because if a name screamsridiculous, it’s less likely to whispermade-up. At least that’s his logic. I would’ve picked a boring one, easily forgettable, but I think Trent just liked it.
I watch as Jacob hobbles down the hall, supported by Link. I did my homework on him, too. He disappears from the photos I found on Atlas’s laptop exactly three years ago. That’s when his father died in a car explosion. According to the articles I dug out, Atlas’s mother and brother died three days prior to that in the exact same manner. Assuming coincidence is the enemy of logic here. I refuse to believe those deaths are unrelated. Maybe Atlas’s mom had an affair with his uncle. Mason found out. Killed them all. It would make sense. If only Jacob wasn’t acting like a jerk, he could’ve actually been an ally.
Once the guys are out of sight, I head inside my room, placing a chair under my door handle.
Grabbing some ice from the mini fridge in my room, I dump it into a bag and press it to the back of my head, before picking up a book to kill time. My eyes skim through black words on white pages, but none of them stick, because the only thing my brain will hold onto is this: Atlas cares, enough that he wants to protect me. An unfamiliar feeling flutters in my chest. I hate that it’s there, yet the comfort of being cared for wraps around me in a way I can’t fight. It’s not like I can’t protect myself. I can. But it’s the thought that counts.
I force my attention back to the book, fighting down emotions threatening to rise in me, while having absolutely no clue what I’ve read.
It doesn’t take long before my phone chimes in with a message.
Act nonchalant!
