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When I turn, she’s walking down the aisle toward me. Caden stands at the door watching her.

“Why aren’t you at lunch?” I wait until she’s close and inhale her vanilla scent.

She smiles up at me and takes my hand. “I wanted to make sure you found your way back to us.”

I grab the back of her neck and pull her in for a kiss that isn’t quick. She tastes sweet and opens beneath me, letting me in. I take what I need from her kiss, the reassurance that she’s okay, that she’s whole, that she survived.

She falls into the kiss and leans into me. When I draw away, she gives me a smile that makes me want to dive back in. I’m sure I could find somewhere we could be alone. I touch the collar around her neck.

The one I gave her to remind her she’s mine. At the time, I didn’t know I’d be hers too.

“Let’s go to lunch, kitten.”

Harper

Honestly, I could do without the cafeteria today, but I know this is important to the guys. We’re showing whoever was part of Saturday night that they may have gotten to us, but they didn’t take us down.

I walk in with my hand in Eli’s and with Caden’s arm around my shoulders. The sound level lowers as people turn to watch us. I shiver. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being the center of attention.

“Just keep your eyes fixed on Luke, little nympho,” Caden says.

Jack, Nico, and Luke are sitting waiting for us at our table. I’m not allowed to go anywhere by myself. After Caden assured the drug test people I’m not on the list for a urine sample and if they had a problem with that, they’d need to talk to the principal, I went back for Eli.

Yes, Eli needed to talk to Ashley alone, but I didn’t like the idea of him being anywhere without us. I don’t want any of us to be vulnerable today or ever again. I may not have my memory, but I know what happened.

We walk past the Cheermonsters’ table. Ashley is already there with Hannah and Emma. Mike sits with them. There is no basketball table today. A few players sit together at other tables, but there’s no Zach Gray table.

It’s a relief, but it doesn’t stop the looks from everyone else. I’ve never wanted to be invisible more than in this moment when it feels like everyone sees me. They think they know what we went through.

When we reach the table, I go to Jack and sit between him and Nico. My back is to the rest of the cafeteria, but it’s better this way.

“Are you doing okay, sunshine?” Nico asks.

I lift my gaze to his. “I missed you last night.”

He smiles. It’s not the first time I’ve said it this morning. He leans in and brushes his lips against mine. A little rush goes through me at the simple touch. I don’t think I’m the only one who’s said he was missed either. Him being injured is just part of what Zach and his crew did to us.

“My PT is happy with my progress. With the fall this weekend, they want me to keep using the crutches at school, but I should be off them soon. A little bit at a time.”

I cup his jaw. “Good.”

When I turn to eat my food, I catch Luke’s gaze on me. He smiles, and a pulse of heat spears me. I woke up to him fucking me slowly. His fingers danced over my clit, coaxing me to orgasm. When he finished and pulled out, Jack lifted me over him and slid his cock deep inside. I rode him until we both came.

I would have loved to snuggle and maybe sleep more, but we needed to shower and get ready for school. As much as I didn’t want to face other people, I know I need to be here. Having Mom say I could skip if I needed to helped.

Jack’s thigh brushes against mine under the table. I don’t know how long the constant touch and attention will go on, but I love it. It comforts me. I need the reassurance they’re here with me. It’s going to be hard to settle back into our regular routines again.

Even the video chats won’t be as satisfying as being able to touch them and having them hold me all the time. I’ll miss sleeping with all of them. But I guess tonight I’ll be back over at Jack’s until Mom decides it’s time to return home.

Home. Fuck, it’s been so long since I’ve slept in my own bed.

“Do we think it’s safe for Mom and me to go home?” I lift my gaze to Luke. He could continue to stay at Caden’s, but I’d rather him come back with me. I love sleeping in his arms.

Luke leans his elbows on the table. “With Zach and Sidney out of the picture, possibly.”

I sigh. He’s being vague. We’re probably still being listened to. We always figured it was probably the parents who had us under surveillance, not Zach and Tanner.

It would be nice if this was the end of it, but there’s still the mystery surrounding my father’s death and whatever he took of William Foster’s. I guess we’ll be back to reviewing footage duty again. At least we won’t have to watch the drug house videos anymore.