Page 21 of Broken

ISABEL

I was lost in the song, my hips swaying to the music, when Tucker squeezed my ribs with his fingertips. He leaned down, the tips of his blonde hair falling by my eyes as he half-yelled in my ear over the music.

“I’ve got to find the bathroom.”

I nodded, and he laced his fingers through mine as we weaved our way through the dance crowd.

“Shit,” he muttered when he saw the line.

“It’s fine. I’ll just wait with you. Not goinwith you. I don’t think we’re there yet.” Tucker smirked at that as I flushed. “But I’ll live for a minute while you go in.”

“You’re sure?”

I nodded. My luck at parties had sucked, but I wasn’t some pathetic damsel in distress. We joined the end of the line, waiting for what felt like ages before Tucker was finally the next one.

“Hey, Mateo.” He grabbed our friend’s arm as he was passing by. “Stand with Izzy for me while I’m in there?” Mateo looked at him like he was crazy. “I don’t trust any of these fuckers we don’t know,” Tucker half-lied, saving my secret. I still hadn’t figured out how to deal with my possible PTSD, but it wasnotsomething I wanted the basic population to know.

“Uh, yeah.” Mateo shrugged, scratching the back of his head.

“It’s okay.” I lifted a shoulder, looking up at Mateo when Tucker finally took his turn. “You can go if you want.”

“Are you kidding me? Pierce would have my ass if I left you n…” His voice trailed off as a couple of girls ran by the window, topless. “On second thought, you sure you’re okay?”

I nodded, grinning even as I held back an eye roll.Boys.

Mateo took off, and I pulled out my phone, using it as a welcome distraction from all of the people clustering nearby. Someone leaned against the wall beside me, and I shifted a couple of inches over for space, but they just inched closer again. Doing my best to ignore them, I failed when I felt their arm press against mine.

I glanced over, and my breath caught in my throat.

Zane turned, leaning against his arm on the wall so that his body was suddenly blocking me in. Not so I was pressed where I couldn’t move, but enough that I couldn’t escape.

“Don’t freak out. I just couldn’t resist coming up to talk to you. Now that your guard dog is taking a break.”

My stomach sickened.

“What do you want, Zane?” I tried to raise my voice enough so that Tucker would hear.

“Did you catch my kiss earlier?”

“If you were watching, you know I didn’t. We’re broken up. Why is this so hard to understand?”

“Exactly why I told you last time. You’re mine. I fucked up, I know, but there’s no denying the connection between us.”

I was about to deny it, even knowing it was a lie. There was a connection between us. Or at least therehadbeen before he’d ruined everything. But before I could open my mouth, Zane was yanked back.

“The hell are you doing?”

“Talking to my girl.”

“The hell she’s yours.”

“The hell she’s not.” Zane yanked his shoulder, pulling it from Tucker’s hold. “You can’t take the truth, Pierce. Izzy belongs to me. Iwillwin her back.”

The fuck you will!” Tucker bellowed. “Izzy, come on.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts, Pierce! I’m telling you, she’s mine!” Zane called out as Tucker pulled me through the crowd. Jet and Annie ran up seconds later.

“Everything good?” Jet asked just as Zane yelled again.

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