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“Thought you might have.”
“Dammit.” I drop my face in my hands. “Every time you kiss me, you follow it up with some horrible news. I’m not sure I wanna kiss you anymore.”
“Fuck that,” Maddox crouches down in front of me and puts his hands on my knees, “I’m gonna kiss you any chance I get, so you better prepare yourself.”
“The kiss I can handle. What comes after? Not so much.”
“Listen. I’m working tirelessly with my dad on this. Well, working against him, technically. But as long as he assumes I’m helping on his side, he’ll keep me in the loop on all the evidence and suspects. We’re gonna clear your name.”
“I’m not so sure you can when it comes to the governor. Although, Scar mentioned Neo could help. Since it’s his dad and all.” My hands rest on his. “I just don’t wanna get you in any trouble, Maddox.”
He turns my hands over, entwining our fingers. “We’re in this together.”
“I’m grateful for that. But we’re still left with one big question: who is trying to frame me and why?”
“I’m not sure. But we will find out. And when we do, I’ll make damn sure the fucker pays.”
CHAPTER31
RILEY
It feelssurreal holding Maddox’s hand in public like this. There are whispers and weird looks from some, but also smiles from the people who seem to be genuinely happy for us. I mean, who wouldn’t be? We’re a cute fucking couple. Not that we have a title yet, but we really don’t need one.
Then there’s Ridge…
I see him in the woods, perched on a branch like he was the first time I saw him. He’s watching from afar. Always watching.
It’s definitely uncomfortable, but not in the way it used to be.
I drop Maddox’s hand, warranting a look of confusion. When I nod toward Ridge and he follows my gaze, I’m sure he understands. Neither of us wants to shove what we have going down Ridge’s throat.
“I’ve gotta get to my last class,” Maddox says. “Can I walk you home after school?”
“My last class is an hour after yours. You don’t have to do that.”
He presses a chaste kiss to my cheek and whispers, “I want to.”
“Okay then. If you insist.”
I can’t help the smile that grows on my face, but the minute I look back at Ridge, my heart sinks. Eyes pinned on me, he drops down, hanging from the branch with one hand. Then he lets go and his feet hit the ground.
Maddox leaves and I wait a second to see if Ridge is going to come in my direction. Wave me over. Talk to me. Anything.
But when he doesn’t, my stomach hardens.
I hate that I’ve hurt him—thatwe’vehurt him.
I’m being selfish. I know this to be true. And Maddox is, too. I’m so happy when I’m not thinking about Ridge. Being with Maddox is everything I’ve ever wanted. But the minute I see Ridge, or he enters my thoughts, a little piece of my heart chips away. How long before it’s completely broken?
I’ve got forty minutes before my next class and my stomach is growling, so I decide to go into the student center to get a snack. Every few seconds, I glance over my shoulder to see if Ridge is coming, but he’s not there. My posture slumps and I pull open the doors. Just as I go to step inside, Cade comes out, bumping into me. I backstep, making room for him to exit, while avoiding a confrontation with him.
“Long time no see.” He grins devilishly, then sweeps a finger across my cheek with a bandaged hand. I grumble in disgust. “Oh, and nice job taking Melody down the other night. You’re stronger than I’ve given you credit for, baby girl.”
Everything freezes. My body. My thoughts. My heart.
Did he just call me…baby girl?
Once I come back down to reality, I watch him as he walks away, laughing with a couple of his friends. The god-awful sound is like nails on a chalkboard. How dare he laugh after he…
