HAPTER 43 JESS

I stormed into the house to find Josh on his way out. His face mirrored shock for a split second, but it was so fast and then replaced by boredom.

"Where are you coming from?" he asked, scowling at me like I was the shunned family member who ruined the few days we had with our parents. But I couldn't help it; it all just came flooding out of me at once, and I was sorry for it.

"None of your business," I challenged him. "Just like you're not telling me where you're going in the middle of the night." I saw the defiance in his eyes, and I knew he wouldn't tell me, so I stalled past him, up the stairs, and dropped myself onto my bed face- first, wishing the bedding would just suffocate me because facing the world tomorrow seemed impossible.

Sleep didn't come until past 4, and when it did, my alarm blared so loudly it split straight through my mind. "Ugh," I groaned and flipped over. The night was hot and sweaty, and my air conditioner wasn't doing anything to help.

I dragged myself through a shower and lugged my heavy limbs. down the stairs to the kitchen, where my parents no doubt waited to scold me.

I peeked around the corner and saw my mother and father sipping coffee. My soul craved caffeine.

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CHAPTER 13

in sheepishly. "Morning," I squeaked, and my

shouldn't have just sprung that on you last night. I know we travel a lot." I nodded, swallowing hard to keep the tears away. "Anything else bothering you dear?" My mother asked, the motherly bond somewhere

stayed inside, locked down, eating away at me bit by bit. "Nope. All good." I heard a car honk outside and internally

fruit, and hurried out of the house before my mother prodded me any further. I skipped a few steps and smiled when I saw

Sam chimed and looked at me

my eyes. "Gee, thanks," I groaned.

dark and broody linebacker has anything to do with that?" I slapped a palm

not in a good way,"

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to look at

I still needed to say thank you for because, well..." Laura's cheeks. flushed. "No! Shh. I don't want to hear anything else." Laura's face

we didn't cross the line," I folded my lips inwards, avoiding their heated stares for details that I wasn't willing to share. "Then suddenly, he dismissed me

know. He's had his shot, and Luke is not in the past. We don't care about him. Let's focus on Tom. Tom is sweet and caring and cute, and the quarterback, who is actually the better player," Sam offered, and I laughed at her optimism. "He'd be so gentle

We pulled up to school, and as we drove past the fountain, my heart

his chest. Luke had his hand on her thigh, fingers dipping beneath her skirt. He was smiling at her, and when she leaned in, he grabbed her mouth with his teeth before

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