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I laughed again and took her hand, leading her onto the dance floor. We found an open spot and started moving to the music, but before the song even ended, I heard the one person I’d been hoping to avoid tonight.
“Fucking your way through the rest of the team now, Ky?” Max taunted. “Let me know if you need a reminder of what a real man’s like when you’re done with Thomason.”
Kyler stiffened, her eyes going wide. I tried to pull her closer, as if my arms could somehow shield her from his cruelty, and I could feel her trembling as she pushed herself away from me.
She wasn’t just upset by Max. She was scared of him.
No, not scared.Terrified.
I loosened my hold on her just a little, not wanting to leave her feeling trapped here, but I couldn’t bring myself to let go completely. Not when he was still standing right here.
“Fuck off, Taylor,” I growled. “Leave her alone.”
“Ky, did our time together really meannothingto you?” Max pressed.
And with that, she tore herself out of my arms and bolted toward the door.
I didn’t even bother trying to say anything to Max. It wouldn’t have done any good. And there was only one thing that was important right now: going after my girl.
Once again, I lost Kyler in the sea of people as she made her way to the door. As I started to head outside, Coach Jefferson grabbed my arm.
“You leave, you can’t come back in, Thomason,” he warned.
“Fine by me,” I told him, tearing my arm free of his grip. “My date just ran out of here upset. Pretty sure she’s not going to want to come back in anyway. But can youpleasetalk to Max about letting up on Kyler? I don’t know what his problem is with her, but he’s terrorizing her.”
“I’ll try, but unless she makes a complaint to the school, there’s not a lot I can do,” he muttered, sounding almost bored. Like he couldn’t have cared less what his star quarterback was doing to some girl.
“Trying’s better than nothing. I’ll see you Monday,” I gritted out, opening the door and walking outside.
I could hear Kyler’s sobs the second the door shut behind me, and I turned my head in the direction they were coming from. She was standing about twenty feet away, leaning against the wall, bawling her eyes out.
Anger simmered in my veins, so strong I could taste it. I wanted to pound Max and every other asshole in this school who’d had a part in making her life so miserable into the pavement. She didn’t deserve this. Any of it.
“Ky,” I said as I walked up to her. “I’m sorry. I’msosorry. I didn’t see him there. I would have taken you somewhere else if I had.”
“It’s not your fault,” she sniffled.
“Can I give you a hug?” I asked. “Please?”
It took her a few seconds, but she nodded, so I pulled her into an embrace, and she sank into my arms. Her tears wet my shirt, and all I wanted in the world was to turn them into a smile. I knew I needed to get her out of here, but I couldn’t let this be the way our night ended.
And then inspiration struck.
“Can I take you someplace, Ky? Just us?”
She nodded into my chest, and I risked kissing the top of her head. That made her pull back and look at me, but not wanting to push her, I just smiled.
“Come on,” I encouraged, letting go of her and holding out my hand.
* * *
I took Kyler to Quivira Glen Park in Shawnee, which was about a twenty-minute drive away. The small park was open twenty-four hours, but I knew no one really went there at night. So it was the perfect place for us to have some privacy, and for me to try to salvage the evening.
“How long has it been since you were on a swing set?” I asked her.
She chuckled. “Years.”
“Let’s go,” I said, opening my door.
