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Next to me, Bentley slapped her hands over her mouth in shock, while Bella appeared suddenly beside me before she leaped forward to push away one of the two guys that were swinging at her brother.
I shook my head, unable to believe what was happening.
They were defending my honor. Beau was getting punched in the face right now. Gracen caught a fist to the stomach. And Bella was jumping on Jeremiah Tanner’s back and pulling his hair.
Because of me.
I knew I should feel flattered and touched by the love and support. But I just felt so mortified and awful.
So I spun around and rushed off.
The worst thing about panicked, blind running, however, was that you couldn’t exactly see where you were going. I think I knocked over at least half a dozen people in my desperation to escape the gymnasium, ticking almost all of them off.
Choruses of, “Hey!” and, “Watch where you’re going!” and, “Fatso,” followed me to the door.
“What the…” one familiar voice had said before a confused “Chloe?” followed it, but I didn’t stick around long enough to see who it was.
As soon as I plowed my way into the hall, I sprinted as fast as a person in high heels and a tight skirt could. But when I reached the nearest bathroom—tears already filling my eyes—a trio of girls was exiting, blocking my path, and I could hear more voices inside.
Nothing would make my humiliation more complete than if I hadwitnessesto the meltdown I was about to experience, so I wheeled away and entered a different hall until I found a back bathroom that I knew no one would be using.
It was blessedly quiet and dark inside.
Exhaling in relief, I entered, and the motion sensors tripped the lights, flipping on what looked like a room full of mirrors.
I slowed to a stop and took in my tear-streaked face with mascara smudged everywhere, then lowered my gaze to the body that had caused all these problems.
“What was I thinking?” I demanded, wondering why in the world I had thought puttingthison display would make it prettier.
Gah, I was such an idiot. Clomping toward a vinyl-padded bench that was pushed against the wall, I slumped down and buried my face in my hands before releasing the flood.
The tears came hot and heavy, and I didn’t even attempt to stop them.
I have no idea how long I cried, but my eyes were stinging, and my nose was sore from how many times I had blown it when the door opened and an accusing yet relieved male voice said, “Thereyou are.”
I looked up and blinked in confusion when I foundLukeof all people stepping into the girls’ restroom and letting the door swing shut behind him.
3CHLOE
“Wha-what’reyoudoing here?” I demanded, frowning and shaking my head in confusion as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Because Luke in a girls’ bathroom was justallout of place.
“What?” He lifted his hands as ifmyquestion was the craziest part in all of this. “I had to take a piss.” Then he rolled his eyes and dropped his arms as he strolled toward me, not at all intimidated by his surroundings. “I’m looking for you; what do you think?”
“But…” I shook my head. “You can’t just walk into a girls’ bathroom.”
“Really?” he countered with raised eyebrows. “Because it looks like I just did.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. Luke could be so aggravating. I swear, he had to argue with just abouteverythinga person said.
“But why didyoucome?” I pressed.
Bella or Bentley, I would’ve expected. Maybe even Gracen, and less likely Beau. But Luke? Never. He wasn’t the type to care about a person’s feelings enough to seek them out and check on them.
At least, I didn’tthinkhe was.
“Becauseapparently,” he answered, sounding put out that he had to be here as he paused in front of me and sternly set his hands on his hips. “I’m the only one left whocan. All the other members in your little band of misfits got into a fight in the middle of the fucking dance floor—go figure—so I had to wade in and save the damn day. Only to find out it all started because of you, exceptyouwere nowhere to be found. So they all freaked out, worried as hell about you, although none of them can actually look for you, since they’re currently banned from the dance and are right now prowling the parking lot in concern. Which left it up tometo leave my date and come find you.”
I snorted and wiped my eyes the rest of the way dry. “Well, I’msosorry I’m such a troublemaker that made you leave your date at the dance. You can go back now and tell everyone I’m fine; I’ll be out in a minute.”
