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I instinctively take a step forward to help, but Emily tugs me back straight away. I’m about to complain when she points at the school doors with her chin. Chris and Luke are running down the stairs.
“No need to get involved, ‘Me. Not in this. Not anymore.”
I could tell Emily how close Rose and I have become in the last couple of months. I could explain that Nathan kicks her out of the house every time his boss, Mateo Bianco, spends nights talking business in Nathan’s mansion. I could explain that she sleeps in my bed when she would otherwise be on the streets because he won’t let her go back to the Murrays. That I’m still more involved than I should be.
Except if I did that, I would also have to explainwhyNathan kicks her out. That it’s his way of protecting her. I would have to reveal that Bianco is obsessed with inflicting pain on a seventeen-year-old and that he’s been doing it for years. That he truly, deep down, believes he owns Rose as if she is a personal trophy. And that is not my secret to tell.
So, I stay silent and let my best friend believe that I’m not involved with the Whites anymore.
Nathan gets away from Rose before Chris and Luke reach them. I don’t think he wants a fight, he’s just desperate to affirm his power. That’s just what he does, isn’t it?
“You care more about your car breaking than breakingme.You fucking asshole,” she spits as Luke leads her inside. Nathan leaves in a screech of tires and Rose is still raising her middle fingers at the wind once the car has disappeared.
“Let’s get to class,” Emily says as she squeezes my arm.
I nod but struggle to take my gaze away from the group of three going through the doors.
While all of this is happening here, where the hell is Jake?
CHAPTER 3
It ain’t me – Kygo, Selena Gomez
Jamie
I read Cole’s text for the third time.
Cole: How would you feel if I asked you out to the movies this Saturday?
I slide my phone across the mahogany table and let my best friend catch it. Our cafeteria is so Hogwarts, I love it. Em’s eyes widen at the sight of my screen, and she looks up at me with a huge smile on her face.
“That’s two days from now. ‘Me, you should go!”
I shrug my shoulders and grimace. “I don’t know. I mean, yeah Cole is hot-”
“Uh, yeah he is. I can’t believe he’s hitting on you. I thought you guys were friends,” she whispers loud enough for me to hear but not the people at the table next to ours.
“It’s not the first time. We’ve been borderline flirting since the end of January. I just…I always retreat whenever we’re about to cross that line.”
“Damn, I didn’t know Cole was hitting on you on a daily basis.”
“Not on a daily basis,” I laugh. “We’ve always talked. Student body presidents and all. We were meant to go to the Christmas ball together then…” I trail off remembering the day Cole canceled on me and Jake insisted I go with him.
I was still with Nathan back then. Still with Nathan and dying to be with Jake. How wrong was it of me to like how possessive he was? That he wouldn’t let any other guy near me. So damn wrong. I’m selfish. So is Jake. We’re both so selfish and wrong and perfect for each other.
“Then what?” Emily insists.
“Then Jake happened,” I sigh.
“Fuck Jake. Cole is so nice! Andsohot.” She grins at me, but I shake my head again.
“I don’t know…My head isn’t in the right place and I…”
She senses my hesitation and pulls her chair slightly forward so she can get closer to the table. “What is it?”
“Is this really how things are meant to go?”
“Oh yes, my bad. You’re used to hating each other before fucking each other.” She straightens and imitates the voice of someone teaching a kid. “Well, when a guy doesn’t bully you into being his girlfriend, your thing with Cole is usually how it goes. Friends then more.”
