“I wasn’t really worried about that.”
“Devin showed up and he was disgusted with Ayden which is funny considering it’s usually him in that condition.”
“Was Becky with him?”
“No. He was alone. He was sprawled across the couch, snoring his head off when we left.”
“Did he … was he with anyone?”
She shakes her head, pausing momentarily before speaking. “You still have feelings for him, don’t you?”
I nod. “I feel so guilty over that, but I can’t help how I feel.”
“What about Ayd?”
“I have feelings for him too, but I don’t think he’s really into this. I’m not sure he ever really was.”
“What are you going to do?”
That’s the million-dollar question. “I honestly don’t know.”
Ayden finally surfaces Sunday night, groveling and promising faithfully that he won’t let me down again. He showed up with three bunches of lilies, and my room smells like a florist shop now. I know he’s pissed that Dev ended up making sure I got home safely, but he’s not stupid enough to criticize me for accepting the ride. He’s still insisting nothing’s wrong, just that he feels like blowing off some steam, and I let it drop because it’s not like I can coerce him to be honest if he doesn’t want to.
I endure a sleepless night, my thoughts consumed with how much things have changed between me, Ayden, and Devin.
The whole school is buzzing with the news on Monday, and I scan the hallways looking for Devin but he’s nowhere to be found. The more stuff I hear, the more concerned I become.
“I’ve heard that Becky’s minions are pointing the finger of blame at Devin,” Gabi is telling the others as I drop into my seat in the cafeteria at lunchtime.
“He wasn’t involved,” Mariah pipes up. “He was at Zach’s when it’s alleged to have happened, and he crashed there all night. Those bitches just want to cause trouble for him.”
“What exactly are they saying happened?” I ask, picking at my chicken salad. “All I’ve heard are unsubstantiated rumors.”
“Well,” Madisyn leans across the table, lowering her voice. “According to my uncle, it was Lucas Morgan who called it in.” Madisyn’s uncle is a cop in the local station. “Apparently, he was at a friend’s house overnight, and he found Becky unconscious at the side of the road yesterday morning, not far from his house.”
All the blood drains from my face as I recall the arguing in Devin’s driveway the night before and the broken kitchen window.
“Do you know what exactly happened to Becky?”
Madisyn glances around to make sure no one is listening. “You can’t repeat this, or my uncle’ll get in trouble.” We all nod, leaning toward her expectantly. “She was beat up pretty bad, like she has bruises everywhere, and the sick fuck stubbed ciggies out on her arm and her tits, and it looked like someone had tried to strangle her.”
Mariah eyeballs me over the table as nausea swims up my throat. I push my uneaten salad away.
“And that’s not all.” Madisyn’s eyes flash to mine. “When she came to, Becky was hysterical and really frightened, and she’s refusing to say who did this to her or why.”
I stand up. “I have to go.” I turn to Mariah. “Any chance of a ride?” I rode with Ayden today, but I don’t want to ask him to drive me, because I know he won’t approve of my plan to ditch school and hunt Devin down.
She nods in silent agreement, grabbing the apple and bottle of water from her tray and walking out with me.
“Devin’s place?” she asks, correctly guessing where my head is at.
I bite down on my lip as she maneuvers the car out of the parking space. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“You’re thinking he’s involved?”
“He didn’t do this.” I shake my head resolutely. I know Devin has publicly threatened Becky but he wouldn’t do this to anyone; however, I know something went down at his house Saturday night and I need to find out what.
“But Becky was at his house that night so …” Her voice trails off.
I lean forward in my seat. “You can’t tell anyone that. Half the cops in this town would arrest Devin if they knew purely based on his rep.”
“I know, and I haven’t mentioned it to anyone nor will I. Devin’s a lot of things, but I know he isn’t capable of something like this.”
I visibly relax. “Thanks, M. I need to talk to him to find out what he knows, but he’s innocent of assault. I don’t need anyone to tell me that.” I tap out a quick text to let him know I’m on my way.
She pulls the car alongside the curb outside my house, killing the engine. “What do you want me to tell Ayden?”
“You don’t have to lie,” I say, opening the door. “Tell him you took me here if he asks.”
“Okay. Call me later.”
“I will. Thanks for the ride.” I shut the door, and walk around the front, bypassing my house and heading straight for Devin’s.
He opens the front door, quietly watching me stride toward him. He’s dressed in low-hanging gray sweats and a white tank with his feet bare, and he still manages to look completely drool-worthy. Worry lines crinkle the corners of his bloodshot eyes as I approach. “Can we talk at my house?” I inquire.
“Dad’s not here.” He steps aside, and I enter his house for the first time in years. It’s almost exactly how I remember it, and it’s a bit like stepping into a time warp. Although the furniture is the same, the years of wear and tear have taken their toll. The fabric couch is ripped and torn in several places, and the mahogany coffee table is scratched and chipped. The faded hardwood floor creaks as I follow Dev into the kitchen. “Coffee?” he asks, looking over his shoulder.
“Please.” I remove my jacket, dropping it and my bag on the floor.
“Does Ayd know you’re ditching?” he asks while pouring two cups of steaming-hot coffee.
“What do you think?” I pull out a chair and sit down. I look around the kitchen, noticing the tired cupboards, broken appliances, and the taped material over the broken window. The place might be in need of some TLC, but it’s clean and tidy, and it’s obvious someone has been taking care of basic needs. I’m guessing that someone is the boy advancing toward me. I take the cup from his hand with a grateful smile.
Dev sinks into the chair across from me, smirking. “I’m thinking right about now Ayd is blowing a gasket, and your cell’s gonna ping in about five, four, three, two—”
My cell vibrates, interrupting him.
His smirk morphs into a wide grin, and I smile as I shake my head, removing my phone from my back pocket. Ayden’s text pops into my inbox, confirming Dev’s inkling. I don’t open it up; I already know what it says.
Taking a tiny sip of the hot, pungent coffee, I look up at him. “The news about Becky is all over school.”
The grin slips off his mouth. “I figured it would be.”
The air is thick with tension. “I know this wasn’t you, but I also know something happened that night. What’s going on, Dev?”
He puts his coffee down, sitting up straighter. Propping his elbows on top of the table, he angles his body toward me, biting on his lower lip. “I don’t know exactly what happened. I took off in my truck and spent the night at Zach’s. Lucas was at Riley’s house. When I got back here, he told me about finding Becky, and calling nine-one-one. They won’t let me in to see her, so I don’t know what’s going on, only that my dad is gone, and that speaks volumes.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“He hasn’t been here since that night, and I got a call from the foreman at the plant today asking why he didn’t show up for work. I checked his closet and it’s cleared out. He’s left.”
I clear my throat. “You think … do you think he did this to Becky?”
Very slowly, Dev nods,
averting his eyes to the floor.
Silence engulfs us for a bit.
“Have the cops been round?”
“I took Lucas down to the station yesterday to make a statement, and they hauled my ass in for questioning, but they let me go after checking my alibi with Zach.” He scoffs. “Typical they’d instantly think I had something to do with this.”
I eyeball him. “You can’t really blame them. She’s your ex, she was found near your house, and you’re regularly in trouble for fighting.”
“I don’t fucking assault women!” He slams back in his chair. “Nice to know you hold me in such high regard.”
I stretch out my hand, touching his knee. “I know you didn’t assault her, but you’ve got to see it from their perspective. It’s not a surprise they’d want to question you is all I meant.”
He rests his head in his hands. “I could just do without this shit.”
I knot my hands in my lap. “Is she badly hurt?”
His pained eyes meet mine. “I believe so.”
I clamp a hand over my mouth. “Did he … did he …” I can’t even form the words. The thought of that man’s hands anywhere near me makes me want to puke. If he did this to her, I can’t imagine what’s she going through right now.
Dev shakes his head. “That’s not his MO. He’s all about control. He likes beating on people so they know he’s the boss.”
I jerk my head up, as certain things slot into place in my head. “Did he—”
He goes rigidly still, and his face shuts down. “I don’t want to talk about him anymore,” he snaps.
“Why do you keep shutting me out?”
His jaw stretches taut. “You can’t fix this. You can’t fix me.”
“You’re my best friend. I want to help.”
He harrumphs. “Am I really your best friend? The two of you just cut me off with no trouble.”
I swallow the bile in my mouth. “There’s been nothing easy about the last few months, believe me.”
He cocks a brow. “Tell me, how does superiority feel? I wouldn’t know, because my entire life has been spent at the bottom of the food chain.”
“Don’t be like that. Ayden and I have never treated you like you were any less than us.”
He snorts. “You fucking pushed me aside without any thought to how that’d make me feel!”
“You screwed that slut and then went exclusive with her! How the hell do you think that made me feel?”
His nostrils flare. “Why would you care? You’re fucking him now.”
I cradle my head in my hands, groaning as I draw a deep breath. A sharp ache prods me straight through the heart. Lifting my head up, I pierce him with an earnest stare. “I didn’t want for any of this to happen. And I miss you. So Goddamned much.”
He looks away, saying nothing, and a tense silence perforates the air again. “Say something,” I plead.
His face is impassive when he looks at me, completely devoid of any and all emotion. “You should go. There’s nothing left to be said, and your mom wouldn’t be happy you’re here.”
And just like that I’m dismissed. I could argue, but what’s the point. Devin’s hot and cold attitude is nothing new, and I’m getting sick of his mood swings. Whoever said teenage girls are the most dramatic has a lot to answer for. Lately, the boys in my life are definitely giving me a run for my money in the drama stakes.
And, for whatever reason, both Devin and Ayden seem determined to keep me in the dark. Not for the first time, I wonder where those two cute, adorable boys I used to know have disappeared to.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When we go back to school after spring break, Becky still hasn’t returned to school. Devin shows up sporadically, but he’s back to blanking me, and I don’t have the energy to fight for him anymore. Ayden is still acting weird, and we’re spending less time together than we ever have. My life as I knew it has fallen apart, before I even realized it was happening.
I’m driving myself home after my shift in the diner Thursday night when I spot a familiar figure sauntering up the road. I slow down alongside him, rolling the window down. “Howdy, stranger. Need a ride?”
Cameron Morgan leans his elbows on the lowered window, grinning at me. His dark hair is cropped close to his head, showcasing his beautiful face. Where Devin and Lucas share the same sea-green eyes, Cameron’s are more of a gray-green but no less spectacular. “Hey there, pretty lady. You going my way?”
“You betcha, marine. Hop in.”
Tossing his duffel bag into the back, he climbs into the passenger seat, adjusting it so it can accommodate his longer legs.
“I didn’t know you were coming home,” I admit as the car moves forward.
“Me either.” He scratches the back of his head. “I’ve taken a leave of absence for a while. My brothers need me.”
“This is because of your dad?” I guess.
“Mainly, yeah. I couldn’t leave Lucas and Devin to fend for themselves, especially with Dev talking about quitting school and working full-time at the gas station.”
I almost crash the car. “What?”
He sits forward in the chair, pinning me with a strange look. “He didn’t tell you?”
I haven’t seen much of Devin since our conversation in his kitchen—he’s been keeping a low profile. Mom and Ayden’s mom have been checking in on them, but it’s good that Cameron is back. They need him. “No. We’re not really speaking anymore.”
Cam’s eyes pop wide, and he just stares at me for a couple seconds. “What the hell?”
Crunching pain rattles through my chest. “It’s a long story. No doubt he’ll fill you in.”
He purses his lips, shaking his head sadly. “He fucked up, didn’t he?”
I almost laugh at that. “Yeah, he messed things up pretty bad.” That image of Becky riding Devon at the party swims to the forefront of my mind again. Tears well in my eyes and I hate that it still upsets me months later.
Cam squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ange.”
“Yeah, me too.”
We’re both quiet for a little bit. “Any word on your dad’s whereabouts?”
“Nope. Good riddance I say.” He grinds his teeth.
“You think he’s ever coming back?”
He barks out an embittered laugh. “He won’t show his face around here again.”
“Maybe it’s for the best.”
He nods. “No maybe about it. I’m glad he’s gone, and I hope he stays the fuck away.”
March turns into April, and I welcome the warmer weather and longer nights. Mr. Morgan hasn’t reappeared, and Becky didn’t return to school either. Apparently, she’s left town with her mom for her aunt’s house, and she’s going to finish senior class there. While it seems wrong to feel relieved given what she’s gone through, I’m not going to lie and pretend I’m upset over it. Becky being gone is one less thing for me to worry about.
It’s Saturday night, and we’re at Mona’s celebrating Josh’s eighteenth birthday. Ayden’s happy, which is a rare occurrence these days, laughing and joking with his buddies while keeping me tucked protectively in to his side.
“Sorry I’m late,” Gabi informs us, scooting over in the other side of the booth alongside me. “Mom’s car broke down, and she was late getting home. I couldn’t leave the two nightmares by themselves.” Gabi’s mom remarried a few years ago, and her twin brothers are only two. She places her order quickly and then turns to me with a sympathetic smile. “How are you feeling?”
My forehead creases in confusion. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Ow!” Gabi bends down, sweeping a hand over her shin. “What the eff?” She glares at Mariah, and Mariah sends daggers across the table.
All the tiny hairs on the back of my neck lift. “What’s going on?” My eyes jump betw
een Gabi and Mariah, and by the way Madisyn is staring at her feet in fascination I’m guessing she’s in on the secret too.
“Nothing.” Gabi gulps, gratefully accepting her soda from the waitress and sucking noisily on the straw.
I eyeball Mariah. “Just tell me.” Her eyes flit to Ayden, and I look up. He’s scowling at her, shaking his head, and mouthing something. My eyes narrow to slits. “What is it? What are you hiding?”
“Nothing, babe.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “Chill.”
The waitress arrives, distributing our food, and all conversation is temporarily halted. The guys start eating, but over on our side of the table it’s still deathly quiet. Easing out from under Ayden’s arm, I cross my arms, glaring at my friends. “Unless you’re planning on never speaking to me again, I’d suggest someone tells me what the hell is going on right now.”
Mariah drills a look at Ayden, lifting her shoulders, and tossing her hair back defiantly. “She deserves to know.” Her expression softens as she faces me. “Devin’s gone.”
A messy ball of emotion lodges in my throat. “What? What do you mean gone?”
Ayden curses, throwing down his napkin. “For God’s sake, Mariah, I told you I’d tell her later.”
I elbow him in the ribs. “Let me out.”
“Babe.”
“Don’t babe me,” I yell. “Let me out. I’m going home.”
Josh and Cody slide out of the booth, leaving room for Ayden and me to get out. They shoot him concerned looks. I stomp out of the diner without looking back. Ayden chases after me. “Lina, wait.”
“Screw you, Ayden.” I wrestle my arm out of his clutches, rounding on him. “You knew about this and you deliberately weren’t telling me?”
“He didn’t want me to tell you.”
My face drops. “What? You spoke to him?” He nods, and my heart throbs painfully in my chest. “Where’d he go? And for how long?” I whisper.
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