Page 95 of Broken

They shared a look before Stef nodded. “That’s fine, but we’ll want y’all back before it’s too late. No more than an hour, hour and a half.”

“Deal,” I agreed, bouncing slightly on my toes.

“So, where’s Mateo at?” Tucker asked once our families had gone.

“Emma actually wants to meet up, too.” Izzy looked between us. “I saw her when I went to the restroom earlier. Her family’s at the hotel next to ours.”

“Cool. You call her, and I’ll call Mateo.”

Izzy reached in her bag for her phone, and she froze. “Crap.”

“What?” Tucker frowned, and she looked up, an apology in her gaze.

“I think I left my pom poms in the stands. I need to go back for them before they lock up. Can you call Ems instead, sis?”

“Yeah, sure,” I replied, taking her bag when she held it out. “Hurry back!” I called over my shoulder.

Chapter 25

ISABEL

I hurried down the hall and back up the ramp to the stands, rushing along the walkway, my hand trailing along the railing as I counted off the sections. The dance team had been across from the thirty-yard line way on the other side.

A few people lingered, doing some last-minute chatting, their conversations upbeat and lively thanks to our win despite the late time. I was exhausted myself, but after hearing Jet’s news and winning the championship, I was completely jazzed. Not to mention such an amazing start to my day with Tucker. I couldn’t wait to update everyone tonight. Or maybe I’d wait until the morning. Let this night beJet’s.

He so deserves it.

It was theperfectending to our senior year’s season. And my Baste Academy audition was now just days away.

I felt like I was flying almost, flitting along past the last of the remaining people. It was the happiest I’d been since this whole pregnancy thing came out, and I just knew it would be one of those nights, one of thosedays, I’d never forget.

I hurried up the steps when I reached the right section, having to go several rows up, nearly to the top before I found where I’d been sitting, and my breath puffed out in huge sigh of relief when I saw the shiny red and black of my pom poms tucked under the bench. Grabbing them, I spun around and then reeled back a step when someone moved in front of me. Not like they hadn’t seen me there. It was deliberate, their body coming full stop in front of mine.

I looked up, confused, and then gasped at who it was, every nerve in my body instantly on alert. My reaction honestly surprised me. It wasn’t the first time Zane had managed to corner me when I was alone. Like he was waiting and watching. I shuddered.Or he just has the most impeccable timing. Yeah, I’d go with that.

“Hey, Izzy. I was hoping to get the chance to talk to you. You look gorgeous tonight.” His voice was smooth as he flashed me that sexy grin I’d come to hate. I did my best not to cringe. Looking around and peeking past his shoulder, I could see the stands were mostly deserted now, and a flare of unease settled in my middle.Why did I leave my phone in my bag?

“Are you looking for someone?” Zane asked, now looking amused.

My eyes shot up to his. “Just seeing if Tucker was on his way over. He said he’d follow if I wasn’t back after a few minutes,” I lied.

Zane’s expression shifted, one of his brows lifting as his mouth went flat, though there was still a glint in his eye. He loved this. Loved having me alone. And he knew I was lying.

“I better make it quick then, huh?” His smile turned into more of a devilish smirk, and he reached out, running his fingers through a lock of my hair that was blowing wildly about in the cool wind, thanks to the open retractable roof.

I didn’t flinch this time, refusing to let him get to me like before, but inside, I was screaming, putting everything into the twin vibe that linked my sister and I and praying for someone to come.

Forcing the tense fear from my throat, I shifted it to the pit of my stomach so I could speak in the unwavering tone my gut told me I needed to use. “I really don’t have time, Zane. My friends are waiting. If you want to talk so badly, how about you try finding me when I’m not alone for once?”

I pushed past with my shoulder, just making it to the steps, when Zane reached out and grabbed the railing, blocking me again.

“Don’t be like that. YouknowI can’t talk to you with the others around. They guard you like you’re precious metal. Which you are. Precious by the way,” he said as he stepped closer, his voice calm in his familiar persuasive tone. The old me, the me from last summer, would have found it alluring. The me from now knew far better. I was sick of whatever games he was trying to play.

“I’d like to say thank you, but it honestly just confuses me to hear that, considering how you’ve treated me.”

“You mean like you’re worth groveling for? Because no other girl has ever gotten my attention the way you have. Is it really that bad that I want a chance to talk?”

“About what?” I tossed an arm out in frustration, forcing myself to sound confident even though nervous butterflies swarmed my middle. The baby gave a few strong kicks, and my hand moved to my stomach, hoping to calm my little girl.

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