Page 62 of Striker’s Rebel

Eliana’s eyes shine, but she keeps going.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it.”

“Jamie loves me.”

I look past her at him.

He is still watching us.

Loves her.

Right.

“Eliana.”

“He does.”

“He hits you.”

“He made a mistake.”

“He gave you a black eye.”

“I know what he did!”

The shout turns a few heads.

Neither of us cares.

Her breathing is uneven now.

“So why are you defending him?”

“Because you don’t know what it’s like.”

Something inside me twists.

“What exactly don’t I know?”

“To want something normal.”

I stare at her.

She wipes angrily at her face.

“A house. A husband. Kids someday. Someone who actually stays.”

My anger falters.

“Eliana…”

“Jamie is my chance at a real family, June. Why are you trying so hard to take that away from me?”

Everything inside me goes quiet.

The bar is still loud around us. Glasses clink. Someone laughs near the pool table. Music keeps playing.