Page 23 of Broken

“I know.” I dropped my head, hearing the longing in his voice, the pleading. I felt so bad doing this to him, to us, but something in my gut kept holding me back.

“Does she at least know that you broke up with Zane?”

My head snapped up. “Of course, she does.”

Tucker nodded, staring out the window. It stung that he wouldn’t look at me. Though it was probably in my head.

“Good. Glad you’re at least willing to tell her that.”

I flinched.Or not. Unbuckling, I crawled over the seat and put my hands on his cheeks, bringing his gaze back to mine. “It’s not you. I’m nothidingyouorus. I’m protectingher. As soon as I know she’s doing okay, Iwilltell her. I promise.”

I watched some of the hurt dissipate in his eyes, and he pressed a kiss to my lips, this one so gentle compared to what we’d just shared in his truck minutes before.

“I love you,” he murmured against my lips.

“I love you, too.”

Chapter 8

ISABEL

I’d been right to hold off on telling Mom. After getting home, I stopped by the kitchen for a snack and heard tears through her bedroom door, my heart aching to hear her grief. I quickly texted Annie and went in to check on her, but after seeing her so upset, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her. Tucker would have to understand.

What he definitely didn’t understand was all of the flowers Zane kept leaving in my locker again when we got back to school.

“Crap.” I slammed my locker shut only seconds after opening it, and Emma jumped.

“What? Wait, don’t tell me he did it again.”

“Yes.” I groaned. “I’ve been throwing them away so far. I don’t know how he’s not getting the message.”

“What was it this time?”

“A sunflower. Which is actuallyAnnie’sfavorite.” I laughed.He’d love to know that.

“Give it to her then.” Emma shrugged.

“Something from Zane? Annie would kill me. Metaphorically, of course, but she can’t stand him.”

“Then, here.” Emma opened my locker and handed the flower to some random guy that passed. “Give that to your girlfriend.” She swung my locker closed and clapped her hands together like she was brushing off dust. “There. Problem solved.”

“Oh, my God, I love you.” I half-laughed, shaking my head.

“Well, duh. Now, grab your books so we can get to class.”

Still laughing, we headed to sixth period and took our seats on the right side of the room near the middle, chatting with a few other friends until the bell rang for class to start. But about halfway through class, I got this weird sense that something was wrong. Still thinking about Mom from the other night, I got a pass to go to the bathroom, wanting to give her a call, and rushed down the hall, my heels clacking on the linoleum in the mostly deserted hallway. I hurried past a few people huddled around a locker as I turned the corner and ran smack into someone’s chest.

Why does that keep happening to me?I reached up to rub my nose, and my eyes widened as I finally took in the familiar chest and shoulders in front of me.

“Whoa, you okay?” Zane grabbed my arms like I needed steadying.

“I’m fine.” I stepped back, my nerves now alert, only the two of us in the hall.Andwhoever had been around the corner. I wondered if they’d come if I called out.Yeah, don’t overreact, Isabel. You’re at school. What’s he going to do?

You didn’t think he’d do anything that other night either…

Crap. My fingers found the bottom of my top, rubbing along the hem as my other hand reached for my phone I’d tucked in my back pocket.

Zane’s gaze followed my movement, and he frowned. “You don’t trust me, do you?”

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