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She could threaten me, leave notes, and send ominous texts, but that was all they were… threats. Meaningless and petty words. She’d pulled her ace card when she’d plastered my face all over school. Everyone knew who I was now: the rich girl from Montecito. I was the outsider again. But I was done chasing their acceptance. I didn’t need or want it.
“Speaking of the devil.” Vin whistled low through his teeth, and our heads all turned to find Kendall across the lawn. She paused, her friends coming up behind her. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.
“Jeez, what is her problem?”
“She’s never liked outsiders,” Scarlett answered.
I knew it wasn’t a dig. She was just stating a fact. But what they didn’t know—and I couldn’t tell them—was that Kendall had another reason to keep up her hate campaign. Scarlett probably knew enough since she and Evan seemed to be tight; but I didn’t know how much the others knew, and I wouldn’t betray Evan’s confidence.
“Hey, what’s happening?” Malachi appeared. When his eyes fell on me, his face gave nothing away. He lifted his chin in a curt nod and dropped down on the end of the bench beside Jay.
“Kendall’s out to destroy Becca, who, by the way, went public with Porter.”
We all looked at Vin. He was such a gossip, but if Malachi was surprised, he didn’t show it. He didn’t really show anything.
The rest of lunch passed with them talking about the upcoming weekend. I ate my lunch quietly, avoiding eye contact with anyone while checking my cell phone for messages from Evan.
There weren’t any.
By the time everyone got up to return to classes, I was restless. Lilly and Scarlett walked ahead while Jay and Malachi goofed around with the trash. I lingered behind, still not entirely comfortable with being back in their group. Someone fell into step beside me, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Malachi.
“I only told him because I was worried.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” I said quietly, not wanting to draw an audience. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“Becca, come on. It was only time before you let him back in.”
I paused and turned to face him. “Excuse me?”
“Porter is a good guy.” He ran a hand over his head. “He cares about you, and he can protect you. Teller’s is a good place, but I was wrong leaving you to it. I’m sorry.”
This was… weird.
“You don’t need to apologize to me, and I’m not really mad you told him. If it wasn’t for you…” My voice trailed off.
Did I really want to admit that if it wasn’t for him, Evan and I would have never smoothed things over? But Malachi beat me to it. His lip quirked up.
“Yeah, yeah, you would. I may not talk a lot, but I see everything.” He brushed past me and headed inside the building.
I stared after him, wondering what the hell that was supposed to mean.
* * *
When I left school, Evan was waiting, leaning against his Impala, looking all kinds of serious.
“Hey.” I approached him. “Is everything okay?”
His hand looped around my neck, drawing me close as his lips slanted over mine. The kiss was quick and hard and left me breathless. When he pulled away, his hard features had softened a little.
“I am now.” He smiled and the anxiety that had churned my stomach most of the afternoon ebbed away.
I smoothed my hands over the hard ridges of his stomach. “I was worried.”
“I’m sorry.” He pressed a kiss to my head. “I didn’t want you to worry. Everything’s okay, I promise. I was wondering if you’d want to come get Eli with me? I know he’d love to see you.”
“I don’t know.” I hesitated. “Will your mom be there?”
He tensed, his jaw clenching. “She’s at the store. She managed to change around a couple of shifts now that Mellie is out of town. She’ll be gone until eight thirty.”
