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“No, Lewis. I can’t do this anymore… I won’t. Kaiden is our boy. He’s our son, and you’re…” She expelled a weary breath. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
With a garbled cry, Mom took off down the hall and I followed. I’d known he would react badly when he found out about Lily, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.
“Let’s take a look at that,” Mom said. “Sit.”
I dropped onto one of the stools. “Did you mean it?”
She paused, lifting her teary gaze to mine. “Yeah, sweetheart, I did.”
“Good,” I said with a stiff nod.
“What happened?” Mom ran a towel under the faucet and gave it to me to press against my mouth. It stung like a bitch, but hopefully it would help with any swelling.
“Coach Ford stopped by… I, uh… I have something to tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
“I met a girl, Mom.Thegirl.”
“Oh my,” she gasped but her brows furrowed. “And how does that concern Coach Ford?”
“She’s his daughter.”
Soft laughter bubbled in her chest, and it was my turn to frown. “Mom?”
“Well, if that isn’t history coming full circle,” she gave me a warm smile. “I don’t know what is.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Lily
“Lily, can I come in?”Poppy stuck her head around the door, and I nodded. She glided over to me and slipped under the covers. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever step foot in school again.”
“Don’t say that.” She threaded her fingers in mine. “It’ll be okay, Lil. Dad and Principal Kiln will stamp out the video and you have me and Peyton and Ashleigh and…” She trailed off. “Have you spoken to him?”
Pressing my lips together, I swallowed the fresh wave of tears rushing up my throat.
“Oh, Lil. You should talk to him. Mom said—”
“I can’t. I’m not ready.”
I’d stood in the middle of the dance and declared my love to Kaiden, and he’d been there… with her. The rational part of me knew he was only doing it because she was a manipulative bitch, but it didn’t change the fact she’d ruined what should have been the best night of my life.
“I don’t know if I should tell you this…” Poppy hesitated. “But Dad’s over there right now.”
“He’s what?” I bolted upright. “Mom let him go over there?”
“Mom didn’tlethim do anything.” She sighed. “You know what he’s like. It’s eating him up inside that this happened, and I guess he and Kaiden have a lot to talk about.”
“Oh my God.” Burying my face in my hands, I tried to swallow the tears. I was so sick of crying. I’d cried almost all night, remembering Lindsey’s cruel words and my classmates whispers and snickers as they watched the video.
“Lily, stop.” Poppy’s hands clasped around my wrists. I hadn’t even realized my fingers had found their way into my hair. But now that I was aware, I couldn’t resist tugging the roots sharply; the sharp, burning sensation like a salve to my battered soul.
“Lily, you don’t want to do this,” she said softly.
“I need it,” I said, tugging again, a huge wave of shame washing over me as I pulled my fingers away and admired the loose strands.
