AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know.”
“Cool,” he says. “Just wanted to check.”
Without a word, Cole gets out of the car. Part of me thinks he got bored waiting for me, but then my door is yanked open and his hand appears. Gingerly, I take it, letting him help me out.
“When shit gets too much for me, I just go inside myself where it’s quiet,” he says before stalking off toward the building. I stare after him, but something catches my eye.
Ace is standing over by a big tree, watching me. My body tingles, as if it hasn’t yet gotten the memo that we hate him. He takes a step forward as if he’s about to descend on me, and it jolts me into action. I take off in the direction of Hadley.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she says, but I wave her off, grabbing her hand and pulling her inside the building.
Kids stare and some even point from behind their books, but to my surprise, no one comments. As we reach my locker, I’m half-expecting it to be tagged with words like ‘slut’ or ‘whore.’ But it’s exactly as I last left it.
“Okay,” I say, letting out an exasperated breath. “What is going on?”
“Your mom and James told you they’d talked to Vager, right?”
“Yeah, but we both know the kids at school usually give zero fucks what Vager has to say about anything. He’s a mouthpiece. A puppet.” My brows bunch as I whip around and glance down the hall. Sure enough, kids are lingering, pretending not to watch. But one by one, as I make eye contact with them, they all scurry off or avert their gazes.
It’s the total opposite of what I expected to happen.
“If it isn’t Vager, then who—”
A rumble of whispers grows up and down the hall, the source of their interest moving toward me in long, sure strides. My heart ratchets, beating wildly in my chest as Ace reaches us.
“Hey,” he says, uncertainty flickering in his frosty blue gaze.
“I’ll see you in class.” Hadley makes herself scarce.
Ace runs a hand over his head and down his neck. I’ve never seen him look so vulnerable as in this moment.
It’s disarming, tugging at the thread I still feel twisting between us.
“You okay?” he breathes. “Fuck, Remi, I—”
“Don’t.”
I can’t do this.
I can’t stand here listening to his excuses and apologies.
Not if I want to survive the day.
“But I need to—”
A couple of kids stare as they pass us, catching my attention. I lift my chin, staring back, daring them to say anything. Indignation burns in my veins.
When I finally give Ace my attention again, he’s frowning. “This, you and me,” I hiss. “It’s done. I trusted you.” My body trembles. “I trusted you with my secrets and you betrayed me.”
I go to move around him, but Ace grabs my arm. My eyes snap to where he’s holding me and he immediately releases me, guilt washing over his expression. “Come on, Princess. We need to—”
“We don’t need to do anything. Stay away from me, Ace.” I take off down the hall and don’t look back. I can’t. Because despite all his mistakes, my heart still thinks we can trust him. It wants him to pull me into his arms and tell me everything is going to be okay.
Maybe the accident damaged that, too.
Because Ace isn’t the hero here.
He’s the villain.
