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Jonah closes the door and walks me into the living room, pulling me next to him on the couch. “You should save your money for college,” he says with a sneaky little smile.

I grin at him. “I’m not sure college is an option.”

“Why not?” Micah asks as he takes a seat in one the large chairs near the couch. Jenna sits on his lap, looking over at me.

“It could be. You could go to school with Jonah.”

The truth is I never really let myself think about college, so I’m not even sure that’s what I want. The with Jonah part though . . . I do like the sound of that.

“You don’t have to decide anything right now,” Coach says. “It’s been kind of a big day.”

“Yeah,” I say in agreement.

“I’m happy you’re here,” Jonah says quietly from beside me. “Not happy that your family sucks but happy you’re here.”

I look over at him and smile. “Me too.”

And it’s the truth.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

jonah

“We don’t have to do this,” I say for what feels like the hundredth time this morning, but Calvin doesn’t hesitate as we walk into our high school, hand in hand.

People stare.

A lot.

But no one says a word as we walk to our lockers. We went to the store yesterday and grabbed him some clothes for him to get by. He was adamant about not going back to that house, and I was relieved to hear it. He didn’t want to spend the money he earned working for his family, but when I offered to spend my own, he made the decision to do just that. I would have gladly used my savings to buy him new clothes, just to keep him away from that house and all the ugliness that comes with it.

“Calvin . . .” I start, but he just sighs and turns to me, sliding his hand out of mine but not stepping away from me.

“I’m okay. Are you okay?”

I nod my head because of course I am. Micah assured us both that he wants us to do whatever the hell we want to the last few months before we graduate. He’s 100 percent supportive of us both. “I’m more than okay,” I say with a grin.

He smiles right back—he’s doing that more and more. His face is beat all to hell. His lip still swollen and his cheek puffy and red. Jenna insisted on cleaning it up and putting a butterfly bandage on the wound where it was slightly cut open. He refused to go to urgent care but did let her help, so I guess that’s a win. I don’t think he’s worried about a scar, but honestly, it can only make him look hotter to me.

He survived. I hate his stupid brother and his stupid family, but he made it through. He shocks the hell out of me when he leans forward, pressing the sweetest, chaste kiss on my lips before pulling back and looking into my eyes, making sure I see him. “I love you.”

My heart nearly bursts in my chest, but of fucking course, Adler has to interrupt the moment. “Well, isn’t this sweet,” he says with pure disgust.

I don’t care. Nothing can ruin how happy I am right now. I turn around, standing right by Calvin’s side and looking at the ugly fucker with cuts and bruises all over his face. “Nice face,” I sneer.

“Looks like you two took the brunt of it,” he says, looking over at Calvin. “He’s not so pretty anymore, huh?”

I’m ready to tease him for saying I’m pretty, but Calvin is the one to speak up first. “Get your own boyfriend, asshole.” He hugs me closer and stares down his bully, clearly not afraid in the slightest.

Adler looks around, as if he’s searching for backup or someone to laugh at his stupid jokes. But no one is paying attention.

Maybe Big Bend isn’t as out of touch as I’d thought. Or maybe they’re just sick of his shit too. But no one is paying attention, and in true bully fashion, that takes away his power. He stalks off all mad, and Calvin and I just laugh at dumb ass.

The rest of the day is totally uneventful, and since we don’t have practice anymore, we go home right after school and play with the girls before Jenna makes dinner.

Calvin helps her.

It’s all very domestic and happy.