Page 150 of Dare To Break

“No, I want to stay here.”

I duck my head and brush my lips along her jaw. Her head turns, and I know she’s seeking out my mouth to kiss me. But I can’t risk that. She might guess who I am, so I catch her chin between my finger and thumb and exert gentle pressure until she turns away. I kiss a leisurely path to her ear.

“Fight the world tomorrow, Kitten. Tonight, do as I say,” I whisper.

I take a step backward. “Give me five minutes. I’ll text you.”

I drag my hood back up, and ease open the door. Moonlight spills through the gap and I slip through before she can see too much of me and close the door. I don’t wait around and set off at a jog through the cemetery. But I don’t want to leave her to go back alone. Not after the last time I left her, so I duck down near the bench and then text her.

Me: Time to go, Kitten.

A slim figure appears and moves past me at a slow jog. When I’m certain she’s out of sight, I set off in the other direction toward the secret entrance that will take me back to the dorm. I pull off my hoodie once I’m inside, just in case anyone sees me, and I leave it near the entrance that’ll bring me out in the boys’ restrooms in the main school.

An alarm goes off on my celI as I move through the hallway. Fifteen minutes until curfew kicks in. Time enough to call in a favor or two. I navigate through the apps on my cell, find a local pizzeria and order a selection of pizzas with basic toppings, three sides and four drinks—Coke, lemonade, coffee, and hot chocolate—times three. Then I take a slow stroll down to the main gates, where there are two security guards.

“It’s too late to be going out, Eli,” one of them says.

I smile. “I’ve ordered food. A couple of us missed dinner. I was working on my sculpture and lost track of time. There’s a pizza delivery coming. Three of everything. Keep one set for yourselves, and bring one to me and the other to this room, if you wouldn’t mind?” I give him the floor and room number I want it delivered to.

“Don’t make a habit of it.”

“No, sir.” I tip him a salute and head back to the dorm. Arabella should be safely in her room by now, with no risk of crossing my path.

I ignore the looks and whispers from other students as I walk through the building and up the stairs to my floor. The door to my room is unlocked when I get there and Kellan is sitting on his bed, eyes trained on the television on the wall as he grips a games controller in both hands and swears at people through the headset.

He throws me a smile, but doesn’t speak, and I wave as I pass him, grabbing fresh clothes as I go, and head into the bathroom for a shower.

I’m back out just as there’s a tap on the door. “I ordered pizza,” I explain in response to Kellan’s frown.

“Oh. Guys, I’m out. Food’s arrived.” He switches off the game and tosses the headset and controller to one side.

***

I’m up with the sunrise and sneak out without waking Kellan so I can take my run without being disturbed. Earbuds in my ears, I follow my usual path through the woods, through the cemetery, where I pause to lock up the tomb, and then around the back of the school. The entire route takes about an hour, and students are starting to appear when I finally get back to the dorm building.

Even though I took a shower before bed, I take another one and then join Kellan for breakfast. As we walk down, I pull out my cell.

Me: Ready to go to war, Kitten? Today’s dare. No more hiding behind hoodies and yoga pants. I want to be able to see your figure when I catch sight of you. Give me something to look forward to. Red or green?

I don’t bother waiting for a reply. I’ll get my answer when I see her today. Anticipation zips through my veins. What move will she make today? Will she stand up and fight like she said in the dark of the tomb? Or will she change her mind and cower like the prey I thought she was when she first arrived?

For the first time in longer than I can remember, I’m eager to walk into the room where all the other students are milling.

Kellan veers off when we enter, and heads into the line to pick up breakfast. I walk across the room to our table and drop onto a seat to wait for him. I scan the room. No sign of her yet, although her roommate, Lacy, is there holding court with the rest of the cheer squad. She glances over at me, catches me looking and looks away quickly, only to look again a few minutes later.

Kellan takes the seat opposite me, blocking her from my view and I reach for my coffee, only to freeze when Arabella walks in, Miles beside her.

Chapter 97

Arabella

“Your moods have changed so quickly over the last twenty-four hours, I think I have whiplash,” Miles says in a low voice, as we walk toward the cafeteria. “I’m not sure I can keep up, but I do like your change in wardrobe. You look less like a homeless person, and more like a college student.”

My hair is loose around my shoulders. I’ve brushed it until it shines. The faded skinny jeans are something Amanda talked me into buying just before my life was turned upside down. Hidden in the back of my drawer, I hadn’t gathered up the courage to wear them until now. I’ve matched them with a tight pink t-shirt that shows off the curve of my breasts. It’s a far cry from my hoodies and yoga pants.

Squeezing Miles’ hand, I breathe through the butterflies doing somersaults in my stomach.

“I can’t change what’s happened. I just need to keep going forward. I need to act like I don’t care.”

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