Page 4 of Vexatious Queen

Ren practically leaped off her seat as she turned her blazing gaze on me.

“Keep looking at me like that, and we’re going to have a much bigger issue,” I whispered.

“You’re impossible.”

I would’ve continued the entertaining banter, but then Ivy arrived with Sabastian. Lifting my hand into the air, I waved them over. They stood at the doors for a moment, wearing a nearly identical skeptical expression.

“Have a seat,” I offered. “We have plenty of room. Unless, of course, you don’t want to sit with us.” I watched Sabastian, daring him to refuse.

“Okay, thanks,” he finally said.

Sabastian sat and pulled Ivy down onto his lap before his eyes shifted to Ren.

“I haven’t seen any of you since the funeral. I just want to say that I’m sorry for what happened, and if you need anything, let me know.”

“Oh, now you want to offer your help?” Blake exploded from his seat, which was totally out of character. “Now that my mother and Neil are dead, you suddenly want to be useful. How the fuck can you help now?”

We all sat perfectly still as Blake released his rage.

“Naw, fuck you and your help. Maybe my mother would still be here if you had done the right thing when it mattered.”

Blake stormed off, and Ren nudged my shoulder for me to move so she could go after him. I stood up to let her out.

“I didn’t…I mean…shit,” Sabastian said.

“He’ll come around,” I said, calmly and entirely out of character. I didn’t reassure people. It wasn’t in my nature. Other than Princess, she was the only exception.

Liam shot me a look, and I knew he was concerned about my mental health. He had asked me what was next, and I never answered.

But I had a new goal…at least for now.

JANUARY 12 – MONDAY 12:26 PM

Ren

“Blake.”

I ran to catch him as his long strides ate up the ground. He flew out the front doors, leaving people staring as he passed.

“Blake,” I called again as I made it outside. He didn’t slow. Dammit. He was already halfway to the parking lot before I was able to grab his arm.

“Blake…wait.”

He stopped and glared at me.

“Don’t try and tell me he’s a great guy and it’s all just one big misunderstanding that will get smoothed over if I just give him a chance,” he growled.

I’d never seen Blake this angry, at least not in a long time, and never at me.

“I wasn’t going to,” I said, letting go of his arm.

“Good, because I don’t care who that guy is to you. I’ll never trust him, like him, or forgive him. He could’ve told us where Lawrence was so many times. He didn’t tell us out of spite, and now my mother…”

Blake stopped and took a step back. The emotion was so raw in his eyes that I felt the pain in my chest all over again, as fresh as the day we stood at her grave.

He pointed toward the school.

“Don’t ever try to make me think otherwise. I’m done being there when people need me, but then they ghost me when I need them.”