“Thank you.” I hugged her back before Nix grew impatient and tugged me into his arms.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” he said to Kye and Chloe.
“Clo is right.” Kye grinned as if the past was already erased between us and everything was normal again. “It’s good to have you back, B.” The two of them got in Nix’s car leaving me, Nix, and Nate.
“I’ll… uh, wait in the car,” he said.
“I fucking hate this,” Nix breathed, pulling me into his arms. “I should be the one driving you home, not Miller.”
“It’s just a ride home.”
His eyes narrowed, swirling with anger. “Still don’t like it. You’re mine, B. Last night was… fuck, it was everything.”
It had been. Falling asleep in his arms, sleepy and sated. Waking up to his intense gray eyes watching me, kissing him good morning, feeling the heat of his body pressed against mine.
I couldn’t remember sleeping that well in a really long time.
“This is our reality, Nix. I live here now. And you—”
“Don’t.” He huffed. “Don’t worry, B, I haven’t forgotten where I come from.”
“Please.” I tugged on his hoodie. “Don’t do this. I don’t want us to argue before I have to go back there.”
“Shit, B. I’m sorry.” He dipped his head, touching it to mine, and breathing me in. “I know this isn’t going to be easy. I just need you to stick with me, Birdie. Can you do that?”
I slid my hands up his chest, fighting back the tears burning the backs of my eyes, and nodded.
“Now kiss me like you mean it,” he said, his voice low and husky, hitting me straight in the stomach. “I want to be able to taste you all day.”
Our lips met as silent tears rolled down my cheeks. God, I hated this. I didn’t want to say goodbye. Not now, not ever. But things were different. And I didn’t doubt Michael would go to great lengths to keep us apart if he’d already intervened last year.
Nix pulled away first, kissing me once. Twice. Dropping a final kiss on my forehead. “Text me as soon as you can, okay?”
I nodded, stepping back and wrapping my arms around myself, trying to hold in my tears. My broken bloody heart.
It wasn’t fair.
Nothing about this was.
And as I watched him walk backwards to his car, his eyes never once leaving mine, the harsh truth slammed into me.
I’d spent the last nine months hating him and it was nothing but a dirty lie.
The sun was cresting on the horizon, as Nate pulled up outside my father’s estate.
“Thanks for the ride, and for… everything.” I unbuckled my belt.
“Listen, I know last night was intense. If you ever need to talk… and I don’t mean in a creepy way. But I get it, at least, part of me does. I’m here, always.”
“I appreciate it, I do. I’m just really overwhelmed right now.”
“Of course.” He ran a hand down his face. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”
With a small nod, I climbed out of his car and made my way up to the house. Nate waited until I went inside to leave and part of me liked him even more for it. Nix was going to have to accept that Nate was my friend. Something I was going to need to survive the rest of my year at DA. Especially after the text I received last night.
Inhaling a shuddering breath, I headed for the kitchen to grab a bottle of water before heading to my room to grab a couple hours of sleep before Michael and Sabrina returned home from their trip.
My eyes shuttered as a heavy weight settled over me. My father couldn’t know about Nix, not yet. Not until we’d figured out some kind of plan.
I dipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone, opening a new message.
* * *
Me: I’m back.
* * *
Nix replied immediately. I smiled at the nickname he’d entered into my cell.
* * *
Hot Tub Guy: I’m already thinking about when I can see you again…
* * *
My heart strained. I wanted that, I did. But there was so much to consider and now that we were apart again, things seemed insurmountable.
* * *
Me: Soon.
* * *
Hot Tub Guy: When? And why do I feel like you’re already checking out on me?
* * *
Me: I’m not… I promise. I’m just overwhelmed.
* * *
My cell phone started vibrating and I answered. “Hello.”
“I needed to hear your voice.” His voice was distant. Cold. “Are you alone?”
“I’m in the kitchen, getting a drink.”
“Is anyone there?”
“Celeste isn’t back yet and Max must be sleeping still, but this is… risky.”
“Yeah,” he blew out a frustrated breath. “I know. But I needed to hear your voice, to know we’re okay. We are okay, aren’t we, B?”
“Yeah, we’re okay. We’re more than okay.”
His sigh of relief settled deep inside me. “Try to get some rest. I’m going to figure out a plan for us, you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“You know, last night… it meant something to me, B. Something real.”
His words fisted my heart as tears rushed up my throat. “Me too.”
“I’ll talk to you soon, B.”
“Bye,” I whispered, hanging up.
“Who was that?”
My heart almost lurched out of my chest as I whirled around to find Max glaring at me. “No one.”
“Didn’t sound like no one to me. Where were you all night?”
“Where were you?” I countered, noticing he was dressed in yesterday’s clothes.
He smirked. “That’s for me to know…”
“Don’t you have someone else to annoy?” I scoffed, trying to calm my racing heart.
“When it’s so much fun getting under your skin? Nope.”
“Whatever, Max. I’m going to my room.” I moved around him, toward the stairs. But he grabbed my arm. “Don’t touch me.” A lick of fear ran down my spine.
“Or what, Harleigh Wren?” He stepped up to me, contempt shining in his eyes.
“Why do you hate me so much?” The words tumbled from my lips.
“Hate you? I don’t hate you, I pity you. Trying to fit in a place that will never accept you. It’s sad really. You’re pathetic, Maguire. Nothing but a piece of trailer trash who doesn’t belong here.”
Tears of anger stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall, reminding myself that Max was just a spoiled kid who had grown up with Michael and Sabrina, two emotionally stunted people, for parents. Although they couldn’t be held entirely responsible for his vile personality, I didn’t doubt it had a big impact.
“Trust me,” I snarled, “I want to be here about as much as you want me here.” Shoving past him, I stomped upstairs.