But I knew the next time he broke my heart, I wasn’t ever going to recover, and that scared me. That was what I was hiding from and why I didn’t trust myself to see him in person or even talk to him.
Not that I would have much choice with the coming weekend.
It was my cousin Nevaeh’s birthday. She and Mia were flying home from Virginia for a few days, and everyone was going to her parents’ house for a big party. She was turning eighteen, but she was scary smart and already a senior in college.
As soon as the bell rang, ending the class, and thankfully the end of the school week, I grabbed my book and made a dash for the door before the teacher could stop me. At my locker, I tossed everything inside and waited for Shaw.
“Hey, Vi,” Arella called out as she passed with her friend Palmer. “I think the kids are going to your house for the evening,” she said as she paused a few feet from me. “Don’t let Damien have too much sugar or he will drive you insane.”
“I’m not going home,” I told her with a shrug. “So, he can drive Mason and Dad crazy all he wants.”
Frowning, my cousin left her friend and walked back to me. “Where are you going? Shaw’s?”
“Anywhere but home.”
“Why?”
“You’re so nosy, Arella,” I muttered.
She pinched my side then hugged me when I yelped. “I’m just worried about you. Since the twins’ party that never happened, you haven’t been yourself.”
“I wonder why?” I pulled out my phone when it alerted me to a new text, and sure enough, it was from Luca.
Looking over my shoulder at my phone screen, Arella sighed dramatically. “He’s worse than you are right now. So moody you can’t even look at him without him getting all snarly. I know it was a whole clusterfuck, but he’s sorry, Vi. It’s not like you to be so unforgiving.”
I slammed my locker door. “See you later, Arella.”
“Vi,” she huffed behind me. “Don’t be mad at me.”
“Stop being a bitch and taking his side,” I called over my shoulder as I walked away.
“I’m not being a bitch, and I’m not taking sides.” She fell into step beside me. “I love you both, and it hurts me to see either of you like this. Can’t you give him another chance and put both of you out of your misery?” She caught my arm and turned me to face her. “Look, all I’m saying is that you two are supposed to be together. Since you haven’t been, the world feels off-kilter for all of us. I just want it to be the way it was.”
I felt my numbness quickly fading, replaced by anger. “I’m so sorry the world isn’t perfect for you right now, princess. How about you stop being selfish for two seconds, and let the rest of us live our lives.”
“For fuck’s sake!” Arella grabbed my shoulders and shook me, while around us, others stopped to gape at us. “Shut the hell up. I know you’re hurting because of a dumb-ass boy right now, but just. Shut. Up! My dad is sick. My world hasn’t been perfect since he told me he might die. And maybe I’m selfish for not wanting anything else to change right now, but that’s only because it scares me. I might lose him. So, get over your stupid broken heart already and put the world back to the way it was because I can’t fucking take anything else right now!”
With that, she gave me one last shake and then stomped away.
I stood there, feeling like the worst bitch as I watched her go.
I’d been so locked up in not feeling anything that I’d forgotten what everyone else around me was dealing with concerning Uncle Drake’s illness. I refused to think about what my dad had to do to help his brother, and I hadn’t allowed myself to think about what my cousins were going through every day with their father so ill.
I’d been so pissed at Arella just now for being selfish, but she wasn’t. Not really. Not compared to how awful I was acting. By hiding from my hurt over Luca and hiding from my fear of losing my dad to whatever complications might arise during surgery, I’d forgotten about what those around me were dealing with.
I’d turned off everything, including my ability to feel compassion for those I loved most.
“Hey, beautiful.”
I looked up at Cannon just as tears filled my eyes. I saw his handsome face turn stormy as I began to crumple. “I knew this was coming,” he said resignedly as he lifted me into his arms.
I sobbed and buried my face in his neck as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“It’s okay, Vi.” I felt him kiss the side of my head as he carried me out of the school to the student parking lot. “You cry all you want, honey. I’ve got you.”
Chapter 11
Luca