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Peyton
Xander didn’t giveme a ride back to the Ford’s. I wanted to walk. I needed space to think, to process everything that had happened.
He didn’t like the idea of me walking across town, but I’d insisted. Besides, it wasn’t like he could deliver me to their doorstep without an explanation. One I knew neither of us had right now.
There had been no more kissing or touching or holding one another, and for as disappointed as I was, I couldn’t deny part of me was relieved. Because kissing Xander… it had been completely overwhelming. Even as the cold air brushed my face, I could still feel the warmth of his mouth against mine, taste him on my tongue.
I burrowed into my coat, trying to protect myself as much as I could from the bitter wind. Lily had called twice since her text. She was worried and I knew she had questions. Questions I didn’t want to answer.
Questions I couldn’t answer.
Because this thing between Xander and I, it had to remain a secret. The second it became public, it would implode. And I refused to let that happen, not when it was so new and fragile.
He’d kissed me.
Xander Chase had kissed me with such intensity I was pretty sure he’d ruined me for all other kisses.
I touched a finger to my lips, smiling like a fool as I crossed the street into the Ford’s neighborhood. We hadn’t talked about what the kiss meant or what it didn’t mean but I knew something had changed between us.
But my bubble burst the second I stepped foot in the Ford’s house though.
“Peyton, in the kitchen, please.” Felicity called.
The hairs along the back of my neck stood to attention as I slipped off my fur-lined boots and went into the kitchen. Lily and Poppy were seated at the breakfast counter, both wearing grim expressions.
“Is everything okay?” My skin vibrated. Did she know where I’d been? Had they somehow found out about Xander?
Panic welled inside me.
“Why don’t you take a seat, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart was good. It was a pet name. She wouldn’t be calling me sweetheart if she was about to reprimand me.
“Okay, guys, you’re starting to scare me.” Strangled laughter bubbled up my throat.
“Principal Kiln called. You skipped class this afternoon?”
“Yeah, but I can explain…” I started. “I had a moment and needed to get out of there.”
“You didn’t think to go to Mya’s office or ask to see the school nurse?”
“I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.”
“Principal Kiln is concerned,” her eyes crinkled with concern. “He said there was a fight…”
“It was nothing.” I cast Lily a ‘help me’ look, but she only mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
“I know things have been hard, Peyton, but we can’t help you if you don’t talk to us. If you’re finding school difficult—”
“I’m not.”
“So what happened? Walking out in the middle of the day isn’t like you, Peyton, and we can’t just let it slide because—”
“I’m sorry, okay. Some girls were saying some things and I let it get to me. I didn’t want to make a big deal about it, but I couldn’t be there. So I left. I told Lily I was okay.”
“Girls?” Lily finally spoke up. “What girls?” There was a protective edge to her words, and pride blossomed inside me.
There had been a time our roles were reversed; when I’d defended Lily from the mean girls and vipers of Rixon High. She’d come such a long way.
