I blink. Stare at her. Blink again. I’m caught somewhere between appalled and… relieved.
Before I can reply, she flicks a hand toward the principal’s closed door. “Mrs. Reyes sends her apologizes, but she was unexpectedly called down to the board. So you’re going to be meeting with our assistant principal today. Rose is already in there with her.”
“That’s fine,” I say, just as the door next to the principal’s opens.
Turning, I brace myself for the next hour and take a step forward. And freeze.
My breath stalls, then stutters in my lungs as my mind completely blanks. Shock seizes my body in a vice grip, locking me down so hard, I’d wince if I could move. The blood in my veins ices over, and if I could breathe, I’m sure it would be white puffs of cold.
But my heart… my heart pounds against my chest, striking it so hard black-and-blue bruises should mottle my skin.
It can’t be. I haven’t seen her in two years since she fled my house in the middle of the night, her lips swollen from my kiss. No, it’s not possible…
“India.”