Page 183 of Forever Relentless

“Hey.” I greeted them as I came to a stop.

Dante gave me a nod, his hand gripped Savannah’s tightly. Hadley looked like she was ready to come apart at the seams, and her boyfriend looked worried that he wouldn’t be able to put her back together again.

“He told you?” Savannah guessed.

“He did.” I rocked back on my heels as I looked at each of them. “I told Mason.”

Dante looked at me. “And how did he take it?”

I felt a surge of guilt. I’d built this around getting him something he hadn’t asked for.

“Happy?” Dustin guessed. “I know I would be,” he added defensively when Hadley glared at him.

“Yeah.” I pushed my hair out of my face; I had no reason to keep my head down now, after all. I’d fooled no one. “He said I can put it behind me and come home.”

“What about Tiffany?” Hadley demanded.

I looked down at the ground. “I think . . . God, I hate saying this, but I think they’re right.” I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. “Maybe we’ll never know. The only person who knew, or at least I hope she did,” I added in a whisper, “was Tiff.”

“And the guy who hurt her,” Hadley spat.

I didn’t say what her two friends didn’t say either. We’d never know if there was a guy.

“I don’t think she made it up,” Savannah said, her voice low but laced with conviction. “I’ve been thinking about it, ever since Noah dropped his bombshell on us earlier. Coach Sutherland never said he didn’t believe her either. He said it never happened there. And Noah believes him. And I—”

“You believe him?” Hadley asked, aghast.

“No.” Savannah looked up and met my gaze. “I believe Noah.”

“Then there’s still someone to be held accountable!” Hadley raged.

I nodded, but I also knew what no one else was saying — without Tiffany, where did we start looking? Despite all his evilness — and he was evil — Coach Sutherland would have looked into it.

And he found nothing.

We had a whole lot of nothing and very little something. I felt even more helpless than I had four years ago.

“He made the deal for you,” Dante spoke for the first time.

Yeah. I knew that too.

“I think he thinks he solved everyone’s problems,” I said with a sneer.

“Are you leaving?” Savannah asked.

“I have no reason to stay.”

Four pairs of eyes looked at me, and I saw each one question me.

I looked away. “I’m going to Digby’s. Anyone here legal to drink?” They all shook their heads. “Well, that blows.”

Dante actually smiled. “Not legal doesn’t mean we can’t.”

We started walking toward the bar. “Will you get into trouble?” I asked as we reached the door.

Dante shrugged. “Tonight? I no longer care.”

The girls ordered soda, Dustin took a beer and so did Dante. The servers placed glasses of soda on the table, and when I went to object, Dante shook his head slightly.