Page 38 of Love Me

“I am happy for you. If he makes you smile, that’s all that counts, but be careful,” I say.

“That’s all, huh?” Celine pins me with a death glare and stands up. She hugs Bailey.

“I will break every limb in his body if he hurts you,” she says resolutely, sounding more like her new self.

“YOU HURT ME. What about an apology?” Abigail yells.

Celine sticks out her middle finger, and Blake says, “I trademarked that.”

Celine bends over him. “Not drinking looks good on you.”

She leaves, and a surprised look takes over his face. She’s nice to them, except for Abi, apparently. Then, that leaves only one answer. She’s jealous of Abigail. What if I tell her the truth? Because I need to stay focused, and these two need to make peace.

I am the last to step outside our house when I see Blake is bent over, laughing. Abigail wraps her hand around my elbow while the vein in my neck threatens to explode.

Celine fucking hit my car.

“Like I said, unhinged,” Abigail says.

I caress the dent. “I’m sorry.”

“Did you just apologize to your car?” Bailey asks.

“Shh, she can hear you.”

“If she hears you talk to your car like that, next time she will wreck it.” Abigail gives.

I chuckle. Celine being jealous elevates my spirits like nothing else.

After I park in the lot, my eyes sweep over the campus in search of Celine when I do a double take, thinking I am hallucinating. Dane is here. Fuck. Exactly what I fucking needed. Abigail climbs out of hers, still unaware who has made a reappearance. When she’s by my side, Celine and Dane glare at us. Abi must sense that we’re being watched because she gasps when she looks in their direction. The color drains from her face and she stands so still she resembles a damn statue. Celine takes off, carrying that pissed off vibe that seems an integral part of her now.

“Oh my god. Is he here or have I conjured him?” she whispers.

We exchange a look brimming with the secrets we share. Protecting them cost us everything, and both of them being here threatens to negate our sacrifice.

She starts moving in his direction and I get in step with her.

“Abi…”

“Not now, Kaden.”

When we reach him, Abi asks, her voice shaking, “What are you doing here?

While their eyes lock, I say even though I know he won’t care about my threat, “The rule you should have respected the first time around still goes. And this time, if you don’t follow it, there will be consequences.”

“So you say,” he replies, the challenge clear. And I have no fucking energy for him as well.

“Give me a moment,” Abi says.

“Are you sure?” What I don’t say rings louder. You barely survived the first time.

She nods and I walk away. It’s barely morning, and I want this day to end already. Dane’s presence will complicate everything. No wonder she’s my best friend. It’s as if we share the same curse of not being able to live our truth and be with the people our souls hunger for.

With things getting out of my control, I opt to do something more productive than pretending to pay attention in classes. Skipping them, I get my car fixed. By the time I return only her Mercedes is parked in the lot for our house. Here we go again. Another round of push and pull.

I sneak inside and up the stairs. It’s no shocker that I find her in my room, returning what I assume is my key.

“I’ve missed that.”

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