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“We need to talk,” Levi says, sliding his tray onto the table.
“Take a seat, why don’t you,” I quip as if he and Jayden haven’t sat with us for the last four lunchtimes. We don’t talk much, not really. We eat our questionable lunches, Shelbie occasionally teases Jayden about whatever drama he’s managed to get himself tangled up in, and then we go our separate ways. I have one class with Jayden, two with Levi, and homeroom and the rest of my classes with Shelbie. Between the three of them, they’ve managed to cover most of my schedule.
Before I would have said it was unnecessary, but now there’s something comforting about knowing they have my back. In an odd kind of way, having Levi and Jayden around makes me feel close to Conner.
“Is Warren picking you up from school?”
“I’m riding with Shelbie today, why?”
“Good,” he murmurs. “That’s good.”
“Okay, what am I missing?”
He and Jayden share a look. Jayden shrugs, and Levi lets out a long breath.
“After class, head to the swimming pool locker rooms.”
“What?” I hiss with disbelief. No one goes in the pool house. It’s been out of bounds for years. The pool was deemed unsafe so they closed the entire building. It’s sat there empty ever since.
“It’ll be open. You can walk right in.”
“Yeah, but why would I want to do that?”
“Just make sure you’re there, Kenny.” Levi grumbles, but Jayden’s eyes give them away.
“Conner,” I breathe. “No, he can’t. He can’t risk it.” I lean across the table. “You have to tell him not to come. I mean it, Levi. Promise me.”
“Have you met Jagger?” he scoffs. “He’ll do what he wants with or without our help. We figured at least this way, he shouldn’t get caught.”
“He’s really coming here?” I don’t know how to feel about it. On the one hand I’m so fucking relieved. But on the other, I’m terrified. He’ll know. He’ll take one look at me and know I’ve let Warren touch me.
“Yeah. You need to head straight to the pool house after class,” Levi whispers. “Take the back path and you s
hould be undetected.”
“I...” Do I really want to do this?
Do I really want to betray Warren and risk seeing Conner?
I shouldn’t. But I need a chance to explain. I need a chance to apologize. I just need to see him, even for a few minutes.
Guilt rises inside me like a tidal wave. I’m doing this to protect Conner and his family, but part of me had wondered if they would all write me off.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” My voice trembles.
“It’s pretty simple, K,” Levi scoffs. “You go easily, or you don’t and Jagger chases you down. He’s determined to see you, whether you play ball or not.”
A shiver runs down my spine at his words. Conner is pissed. He has to be. I left like a thief in the night. Even though I had good reason to, he won’t see it like that.
Because he loves you.
I shut down the little voice.
I can’t be weak, not now. Not when there’s too much at stake.
“Hey,” Shelbie says, covering my hand with hers. “It’ll be okay, Kennedy.”
I want to believe her, I do. But seeing Conner again, staring him in the eye after everything that’s happened... I’m not sure I’ll survive it.
