Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Neither Jace nor Steve said a word. They just stared of me.

I lifted my head slowly and asked in a daze, "You don't know?"

I tried to sit up. "Then I'll go find him."

"Rea." Steve pressed me back down. His eyes were red.

I blinked. "What's wrong?"

Jace's voice soft. "Hayden's already gone."

I nodded, "I know..." I forced a weak smile. "I know he's gone... that's why I need to go be with him."

Steve's grip on my hand tightened-hard, almost painful. I looked at him. "You're hurting me."

"Rea..." His voice was rough. "You won't see him again,

I stared at him, something inside me twisting, clawing, breaking. But I shoved it back down. "I can. Just let me go.

"Rea," Steve said again, his voice desperate.

But I couldn't stop. I pushed harder against his grip. "Let me go."

That raw, desperate need bubbled over, burning in my chest. I had to see him. If I didn't, I'd lose what little was left of me.

Jace snapped suddenly. He hesitated, then added, "He's already... been

I froze.

stared at Jace, my mouth opening and closing, struggling to make sense of

Steve's hand tightened on my shoulder. "Rea, you... you

pleading with him. "What

eyes filled with sorrow. "Rea, if you need to cry... just

I couldn't cry. If I cried, it meant

thinking, I

lying! You're all

up and run, but Steve grabbed me again, his grip unrelenting. I thrashed, fought, clawed at

took over. I lashed out, punching

desperate move,

even flinch.

out of strength. My teeth loosened, my hands

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clutching his arm. "Please don't be so

to accept

could I

balls from Bruno's men, his breath warm on my skin, his heartbeat pounding in my ears-how could he just be gone?

His words were too final, too devastating, shattering the last bit of hope I