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“Fuck,” I hiss as the shears slip, slicing into my skin. Blood wells, pain shoots through me.
Great. Now I’m restrained and bleeding with no way of helping myself.
The cut doesn’t feel too deep, but the blood is everywhere, making me a little woozy.
“Think,” I hiss. “Think.”
My eyes land on the door again. I have no choice but to go for help. If I don’t, I’ll be stuck here until nightfall.
Sucking it up, I march toward the door only for it to swing open.
“I’m— shit, what happened?” Theo pales, his expression guttering.
“If you’ve come to gloat, you can fuck off.”
“Raine, that’s not… you need to get that looked at.”
“It’s fine. I just need to clean and dress it. Cut me loose and I’ll sort it.”
“Shit, yeah. Come here.” He grabs a smaller pair of gardening scissors off a shelf and takes my hands in his. “I didn’t come to gloat.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You want the truth?” I press my lips together as he cuts me free. “You’re under my skin, okay? I’m not used to… to feeling like this.”
“You tied me up, fucked me senseless, and then left me here. Am I supposed to believe that was your attempt at wooing me.”
“No, that’s—” The muscle in his jaw tightens. “I came back.”
“Yeah. Although the jury is out on why. I need to go.” I snatch my hands away the second I’m free, cradling my injured arm to my chest. Blood coats my skin and my ruined school blouse.
“Wait, Raine.” Theo grabs my arm, gently tugging me back to him. “I’m sorry, okay. I didn’t know…” Our eyes clash and for the first time ever, I see a hint of regret in his eyes. “Just let me fix this, okay?”
“I… fine.”
“Come on.” He pulls off his blazer and wraps it around my shoulders, gently nudging me toward the door, and I hesitate. Something about this feels different.
I’d felt it earlier too, when he gave me a small, albeit vague piece of himself.
But I’m a fool if I let myself fall any deeper for him.
Because Theo’s future is all mapped out for him, and my life will only truly start when I age out of the system and get as far away from here as possible.
A strange pang of sadness goes through me. But I shake it off. I don’t belong here, with Theo and his friends, in a place like Saints Cross.
I can’t ever forget that.
Even in the quiet moments, when it feels like the lines of our hate for one another are blurring into something else, I can’t forget it.
Theo Ashworth isn’t mine.
He never will be.
* * *
“Seriously, you’re bringing me to the Chapel?” I gawk at Theo as he pulls out his keys and unlocks the door.
“Got a better idea?” His brow lifts in that annoying smug way of his.
