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“He told me. He wants me to leave you alone.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I’m a loser and I shouldn’t bring you down with me.”
“That prick,” I mumble.
Alden’s body shakes with laughter. “He’s not wrong.”
“Shut up. Yes, he is wrong. Did he happen to mention that he showed up with flowers to ask me out?”
“He conveniently left that part out.”
“I bet. You aren’t a loser. Don’t listen to him.”
“No worries, El. I couldn’t leave you alone if I wanted to.”
“I don’t want you to. I’m worried about you. You don’t hang out with any of us anymore. I don’t know where you go or what you do.”
He sets the ice pack aside and hooks his arm around my middle. “I’m fine. I’m having fun and making money. Making plans.” His body is relaxing, and I know he’s close to sleep.
“Next weekend. I’ll take you with me.”
His mumbled words are followed by a snore, and I doubt he’ll even remember them.
CHAPTER4
A squeak jumps out of me, and I nearly drop my drink when I enter my bedroom where Alden sits on my bed. “What are you doing here? Are you okay?”
“What? I can only visit when I’m banged up now?” He grins at me. “Your parents are gone?”
“Until tomorrow night.”
“Perfect. Let’s go.”
“What? Go where?”
“Out. You asked me where I go. What I do. Let me show you.”
I want to. Gnawing my lip, I consider it. Who knows what kind of trouble he could get me into? Am I really going to leave with him a week after he showed up beat to a pulp? The shadows of bruises still show on his face.
His lips slowly climb into a smile. “Are you afraid?”
“Of course not.”
“Liar.” He steps up to me and tilts his head to feather a kiss across my lips. “I’d never let anything happen to you, Ella.”
For some reason I remember Oliver standing in front of me, saying he never had a chance against him. I’m the one who never had a chance. From the first time he climbed in my window, I never had a prayer of resisting him. “Okay.”
I slip on my shoes, tuck my house key and money into my pocket, and close my window. I’m not climbing down.
“Shh,” I caution, opening my door. “Garrett’s still up.”
We step into the hall, and I curse under my breath. Garrett stands in front of his bedroom door. Alden takes my hand, and Garrett only stares for a long moment, regarding him.
Alden finally speaks up. “We’re going to the fights.”
Garrett looks back and forth between us. “Nichols and Gillen tonight?”
