Alice pulls her head back with a glare. “She’s had to take the term off, maybe even the year. How do you expect her to handle everything?”
My brows pinch together. “Handle what?”
Jade tuts at me. “Go away, Finn. Stay away from her.”
“I want to make sure she’s okay,” I mumble.
“She’s doing just fine; she has her sister to thank for that.”
“So, she’s with her sister in Eaton?”
They share a glance, and Alice scowls. “Don’t go over there. Don’t make this worse for her. She’s been struggling as it is, and besides, you made your bed, now you can lie in it.”
A hole burns through my chest. “I don’t remember the conversation, okay?”
“As if that makes it any better,” Alice says as she looks away to eat her lunch.
“It doesn’t,” I heave. “But whatever I did, I didn’t mean it. I was messed up.”
Jade rolls her eyes. “Tell it to someone who cares. Maya is one strong woman, and I fear if she wasn’t, you would have messed her up, too.”
I blink at her words, but deep down I know it’s true. When I head back to my table, I grab my belongings, both Silas and JJ burning holes in the side of my face.
“What happened?” JJ demands.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I grumble. “I’ve got to go.”
“Wait—”
I grit my teeth. “No. I need to leave.”
They’re worried about me, and I get it. But I’m not going to do what they think. Instead, I leave the cafeteria and find a quiet spot on campus before pulling out my phone and ringing the one person whose voice I want to hear.
I don’t deserve her kindness after the way I betrayed her, but she’s willing to maintain a relationship with me as long as I keep myself in check, so that’s what I’m willing to do.
“Hey, Finn. You okay?”
The sound of my sister’s voice makes me want to cry. “Hey, Iv. I’m having a bad day, to be honest. I’m sorry if you’re busy.”
“No, no,” she rushes. “Not busy. Just finished up with a class, now walking home. What’s going on?”
“I fucked up so bad.” My voice cracks.
“What do you mean?”
I inhale sharply. “All I do is hurt people I care about.”
“But we’re working through our relationship, Finn. It’s okay.” Her tone is soothing.
My head shakes over and over. “Not just you.”
“Then who?”
“Maya.”
“Who’s Maya?”
The only girl I think I’ll ever love.
