“Let me get it,” Jade suddenly says from behind Hana as she walks into the living room. For a second time tonight, I hold my breath as my eyes scan over the light blue silk dress Jade’s wearing. She’s curled the tips of her ginger strands, and it makes the auburn in her hair pop out more.
She looks stunning, but hell will freeze over before I give her a compliment.
Jade fiddles with Hana’s zip, and then gets it to go up. “There you go.” She grins at Hana. “You look so pretty in pale pink. That’s one color I’m allergic to with my red hair.”
“Thanks, my friend.” Hana glances over everyone then says, “Well, we’re all ready. Let's go.”
I rise to my feet and hold my hand out to Fallon to help her up then wait for her to walk ahead. When we reach Hana, she hooks her arm through Fallon’s and says, “Oooh, the guys are going to go gaga over you tonight.”
“They better not. I’ll have Jade throat punch them all,” Fallon jokes.
Jase falls in next to me, and we leave the suite with Kao, Noah, Mila, and Jade somewhere behind us.
It’s a habit we learned at a young age — Fallon at the head with Hana in the middle, and then Jase and I behind them. Dad once explained to me it’s because we always have to form a united front, and it’s Jase and my duty to protect the girls at all cost.JADEFallon asked me to give Hunter some time before talking to him about what happened, but damn it’s hard.
After Colton came to see me, I was distraught over what happened to him and Brady. Now I’m left with regret.
A shit load of regret.
Knowing I failed Brady is something I’ll just have to learn to live with, and I’ve come to realize there can never be any closure when it comes to a loved one taking their own life.
And then there’s Hunter.
I’m angry with myself for screwing up so badly. I’ve been going over the week of Brady’s passing, trying to remember what made me think Hunter was to blame. But I’ve got nothing.
My only defense is that I was a grief-stricken sixteen-year-old. Because I was upset with Hunter for interrupting Brady and me, I latched onto that anger.
But it’s no excuse.
Walking next to Mila, my eyes are glued to Hunter’s broad back.
Regret is actually an understatement for what I feel. I’ve single-handedly destroyed a friendship that meant the world to me. I was cruel and, at times, downright vile toward Hunter, and the fact that he never lashed out against me goes to show what an amazing person he really is.
An amazing person who I pushed away every damn chance I got.
Ashamed for my awful behavior, I know I have to do everything in my power to try to make things right between us.
Even if it takes two years to fix things between Hunter and me. I’ll do anything I have to.
I deserve his anger because, at the end of the day, I hurt and insulted Hunter in the worst way possible.
When we walk into the hall, Mila and I head straight for our table while Fallon, Hana, Jase, and Hunter do their rounds at the tables to welcome all the students.
My gaze follows Hunter. He stops by Jessica Atwood and her posse of friends’ table, and I frown when she says something to him with a rueful smile. My frown only deepens when she holds out her hand to him, and Hunter actually shakes it before moving onto the next table.
“Did you see that?” I ask Mila.
“Yep.” She places her elbow on the table and rests her chin on her hand. “Looks like Jessica apologized to Hunter.”
I give Mila a what-the-hell look. “She must be afraid of being kicked out after what happened to Melinda.”
“Serves them right. Hopefully, it put them all in their place.” Then Mila turns her head to Kao. “What happened to you and Summer coming together to this thing?”
Kao shrugs. “After the incident with Melinda, I thought it would be best to keep my distance from that group of girls. Besides, I’m hoping to dance with Fallon.”
My eyebrows pop up. “Yeah? You’re finally going to ask her to date you instead of eyeing her from a distance?”
Kao shakes his head, a sad smile tugging at his lips. “No, I just want to have one dance with her.”
“You should tell her how you feel,” Mila says.
Kao just shakes his head while his eyes drift to Fallon as she crosses the floor toward our table. “Let’s drop the topic.”
Fallon stops by the side of the table and pins Kao with a look that’s filled with bravery. “Kao, will you please open the dance floor with me?”
Surprise flutters over his face, but he’s up and walking toward her in a split-second, and it makes me struggle to not laugh.