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As angry as I am over everything that happened, I can’t place the blame on Clark. He befriended me, took me out, spent time with me, and even stuck up to Vance in my honor.
Plus, it’s not him I really want to hurt, it’s Vance.
Rolling my eyes, I try and hide the smile pulling at my lips. “Carbs are my weakness.”
“I know, that’s why I’m using them. Thank God you have a kryptonite.” He sighs like he’s been spending all afternoon trying to get me to go with him.
Dramatic much.
“No Vance?” I ask, placing my hands on my hips.
He nods. “No Vance.”
My gaze narrows. “If you’re lying to me and he shows up, I get to throat punch you.”
He beams. “Fine. One throat punch if he shows up. But what do I get if he doesn’t?”
This flirtatious shit has got to stop.
“To live?”
His face deadpans. “You wound me, Ava, you legit shoot me down every single time. It’s like you’re immune to my charm or something.”
“That’s because I am.”
Looking hurt, he asks, “So, it’s a date?”
“Not a date, Clark, but yes I suppose I can go with you for pizza. As friends, only friends, nothing else,” I sigh, and Clark does this weird little shimmy of excitement.
“I’ll message you the deets,” he says before giving me a quick hug. I shove at his shoulders and he releases me. Clark is too much, and knowing he’s Vance’s best friend, I should stay away, far, far, away, but for some reason, I can’t.
I don’t hate Clark. Clark isn’t the reason for my pain, my heartache.
Vance is, and I should probably remind myself of that often, so I don’t fall down the rabbit hole and into another trap.
???
I finish classes and head home to change before heading out to meet up with Clark. When I enter the foyer, I hear voices, they’re muffled, but like always, carry through the house. Ignoring them, or trying too, I grab a bottle of water and granola bar from the kitchen. I try and make my mind go blank, try and forget that he exists, but my foot hits the bottom step of the stairs at the same time Vance’s voice shatters through my resistance.
“I’ll bury you. I will fucking bury you so deep you won’t be able to breathe. You did this to me, and you’ll pay. All these years I blamed her. I said things… I…” Vance sounds hurt, heartbroken even, and though I want him to feel that way, there’s a pang of sadness that ripples through me at the thought.
“You’re kids, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure she’ll forget the things that you said.” His father’s intolerable voice meets my ears next.
“We’re not just kids,” Vance yells, the venom in his words shatters me. He’s more than angry, he’s on the verge of exploding. “And what happened all those years ago was because you and Laura couldn’t keep your hands off each other. So while you might be able to blame Ava and me in your heads, we both know that you were the ones fucking.”
A gasp escapes my lips and I bring my hand to my mouth. I’ve never heard him talk to his father like that before.
There’s a loud slapping noise, and I hold my breath, anxiously waiting to hear what is going to be heard next. I told myself I didn’t care, that I wouldn’t fall for Vance ever again, but the truth is I’m not over him, not even close. My body craves his touch, craves his cruel words, his venomous rage. I’ve come accustomed to him, and like a drug, I can’t get enough.
“Fuck with her, touch a single hair on her body and I’ll ruin you. Do you hear me?” Vance’s voice finally cuts through the silence.
“Yes, I’ve got it,” Henry says.
The squeaking of a door opening has me barreling up the stairs, two at a time until I reach my room. I slip inside, closing the door softly behind me.
What was that? Was Vance protecting me from his father? I don’t understand. I growl in frustration, sinking down onto the edge of the mattress. Ripping open the granola bar, I shove pieces into my mouth, because there’s nothing else to do.
I try not to think about what I just heard. I try and remind myself that Vance doesn’t really care about me, not like I care about him. He would’ve believed me if he did.
But the fact that he stuck up to his dad for me, the fact that he went against his own father… it resonates in me. It’s in no way worthy of forgiveness, but it shows he’s trying…that he… “I love you, Ava…” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve repeated that inside my head. I can’t tell you how true I wish it was.
