“What are you doing tonight?” he asks.
He’s not going to let it go.
“My cousin’s dragging me to a party.”
“You mean the pool party? You’re actually going to that?”
I can discern a hint of shock in his features. He’s probably surprised that I’d risk going to another party after the first one.
I nod as an answer.
“Do you really think it’s safe after… you know.” He doesn’t finish his sentence, but he doesn’t need to.
He steps out of the way, letting me access my locker. I open it, while he leans against the one next to mine.
“I can’t hide under a rock for the rest of my life, can I?” I try to deny the raw edge of anxiety burning in my chest. “Plus, I could use a night off. My neighbor’s dog’s new thing is to bark until 3:00 a.m.”
We lock eyes.
“You know if you need a place to stay, you can always sleep at my house.”
“And sleep in the same house as your psycho brother? Sure. Sounds great. I haven’t been strangled in a while.”
He laughs and steps closer until his disturbingly addictive cologne reaches my nostrils. He doesn’t speak, lowering his eyes to the tiled floor for a brief instant. He hovers over me, so tall I have to stretch my neck to get a good look at him.
“You know damn well I’d never let him lay a finger on you again.”
M
y heart jolts in my chest.
I open my mouth to speak when—
“There you are.”
Haze and I both jump and step away from each other. We turn our heads simultaneously. Next to us is Bianca. I take in her delicate features. She looks a hundred times better than she did the last time I saw her. But I mean, she’d just finished having sex with Haze so…
Ugh. Vomit.
Her eyes remain fixated on him as she completely ignores my presence.
“What happened to you last night? You left in such a hurry. You disappear for three days and then show up only to leave after ten minutes?”
I can’t ignore the relief that pours over me. He wasn’t with her these past three days. But then where was he?
Uncomfortable is the word to describe Haze’s facial expression.
“I was busy.” He shrugs.
Only then does Bianca deign to look at me. She looks me up and down, obviously tearing me to pieces in her mind. I’m not sure if she recognizes me from her party.
“The party’s tonight. You’re coming, right?” She steps closer, biting on her lower lip in an attempt to seduce him. “I thought we could finish what we started last Sunday.”
Realization punches me in the face.
That’s why he had to leave on Sunday after he helped me remove the helmet. It was to go see her. I look down, a painful pit forming in my throat.
Haze’s lips part as he stares at me, helpless. I pray that he won’t try to explain himself. After all, he doesn’t owe me anything. He is free to do what he wants.