Page 158 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“Cross … Cross!”

Cross turned in just enough time for Catherine to barrel into him like a crazy person. He was standing with a group of friends just outside the entrance of the school. The force of her running into his body sent them both flying back into the brick bannister of the stairs.

She fisted his leather jacket and instantly, strong arms were wrapping her tight.

Safe.

Home.

And him.

An old leather jacket. A conch shell. Bloody mouth. Kisses under falling snowflakes. Sand in her hair. Backseats. Pizza. Romeo and Juliet. Stick shift.

Arrogant boy. Trouble boy. Wild boy. Her boy.

Her boy who never hurt her.

Her boy who waited.

Her boy who loved.

Hers.

“Whoa, hey,” Cross whispered, his hands slipping under Catherine’s tightly tucked jaw to force her head up. His dark gaze skipped over her face, once, then twice. His thumbs stroked the corners of her lips, and stilled when the tears from her eyes tracked down to his skin. “What the fuck, Catherine? What the fuck?”

She was aware—too aware—that people were all around them, friends watching, whispering … already spreading gossip and shit.

Cross hated that nonsense.

“I’m sorry,” Catherine mumbled.

“No, screw that,” he said, turning her around in his embrace and making her walk down the stairs. He didn’t let go of her the whole time. He didn’t stop making them walk until they were all the way across the lot and standing under the school’s old willow tree. Only then did he turn her back around, his hands taking place on her face again so he could wipe the constant stream of tears away. “I need you to talk, or I’m going to start killing somebody, babe.”

“I fucked up,” Catherine said through sniffles, “I really fucked up, Cross. I didn’t follow the rules, and it’s bad.”

“You fucked up. You didn’t follow the rules.”

She nodded.

“Be clearer, Catty.”

“They’re always saying I can’t head out on my own. John and Andino, I mean. They’re always too careful, always repeating the same shit about what I can or can’t do. You’re a girl, you can’t do it the same way, they say.”

She was rambling, because that was easier. It was easier to avoid what she didn’t want to say. Anything was easier than that.

“Dealing, you mean?” Cross asked.

Catherine nodded wildly.

“Did you go out on your own?”

“Not to deal,” Catherine said, “but some of them know me anyway when I’m out.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“John and Andino didn’t know I was heading to parties, though, they just thought I was going out with Derik, and they’d leave me the hell alone about it.”

Cross stiffened.