Page 124 of Barinov

Normally, I love that shit. Today, it’s annoying as hell.

The girls finish hugging him and turn to me with icy stares.

I shift awkwardly, swallowing the monstrous lump lodged in my throat. “Uh, hey girls. I uh wanted to say that…” I mumble like an idiot.

Their faces stay hard.

Cade leans in. “Try sounding less like a convicted felon,” he whispers with a cocky grin.

I shoot him a glare. The bastard just shrugs and laughs again, knowing good and well that I plan on taking it out on his ass once we get back to NOX. I glance back at Ellie and Haley.

“I’m sorry,” I say again with a long sigh. “I’ve been a complete dick to you.”

Haley scoffs, twirling a red wave around her finger. “That’s the understatement of the century.”

“I know,” I mutter, not about to argue with her. “I just… I wasn’t handling anything well and I know I hurt you both. And scared you. And yelled at you. And well, everything else.”

Good God, now they’ve got me rambling.

“Look, I was just hoping maybe we could—”

I clamp my mouth shut as Ellie takes a slow step forward. Her ocean-blue eyes soften as they search mine. I think she’s about to hug me, but then Little Whitmore hauls off and slaps me right across the cheek. The sound echoes throughout the gym. One of the Legacy girls stretching gasps. The other just fucking points at me.

And as if getting bitch-slapped by a 5’3” blonde in glitter isn’t embarrassing enough, Rico and Javi start giggling like little school girls and mumbling in Spanish. I look over at the DJ booth just in time to see the asshole who has the audacity to call himself my bestie snicker into his headset.

Fucking Rez too.

“I deserved that,” I say, rubbing my cheek.

“That’s for yelling at us,” Ellie says coolly. “Don’t do it again.” She pulls me in for a hug, her arms fiercely wrapping around me with all the spunk she’s usually known for.

Haley hasn’t moved. Her sage-green eyes are still staring at me like I’m on trial. “Look, Lex, I know you didn’t mean it,” she starts, her voice growing louder with each word. “But I swear to God if you ever raise your voice at me like that again I’ll—”

“I won’t,” I cut in, my slingless hand raised in defense. “I swear.”

Haley watches me for another breath. My body tenses, bracing for the punch I know she’s about to launch at me. Thankfully, she doesn’t and just hugs me instead. I wrap my good arm around her and pull her in tight against me.

“You stupid asshole,” she laughs into my chest. “I missed you.”

“Missed you too, Hales,” I whisper, placing a quick kiss onto the crown of her head.

“See,” Cade says, clasping a hand on my good shoulder. “That wasn’t so bad.”

“Tell that to my cheek.”

Knox saunters over with Ellie and Haley’s earpieces. As he hands over the gear to the girls, I peer down and notice something on his wrist. It’s a bright rainbow friendship bracelet with the words Lexie’s Bestie spelled out on the beads.

“What the hell is that?” I ask, nodding to his wrist.

He follows my gaze, then casually lifts his arm and flexes like it’s a million dollar watch. “Oh this? Made it a while back. Wasn’t sure if you deserved it or not, especially after this week. But then I saw Hales hug you and I figured the gang was officially back together so I put it on.”

“You made me a sparkly, beaded friendship bracelet?”

He shrugs. “Don’t get hard over it.”

“Hey,” I deadpan. “That’s my line.”

“This cannot be happening,” Ellie says, her voice high-pitched and laced with hatred as she glances around us to look out into the crowd.