Page 44 of Unloved

I finally take him in, only now realizing there’s a wide-eyed pretty blond girl with dip-dyed tips of blue standing next to him, looking at me worriedly.

“Oh my god.”

Now I’m really crying. This is truly the most embarrassing moment of my life.

“You—I’m… Freddy, I’m so sorry—”

“Rosalie,” he says again, his hands framing my face, tilting my head up until my eyes lock on his. “What happened? Why are you crying?” His face suddenly changes. Anger crawls across his usually jovial features and leaves something harsh and fearsome behind. “Ro, did someone hurt you? Who—”

“No. No, I’m fine.”

“Where’s Tyler?”

I shake my head silently because Ican’tget the words out. I can’t bring myself to admit my boyfriend stood me up and left me here, especially to Matt Fredderic of all people, but to admit itwhileaccidentally crashing his date? Absolutely not.

“I’m sorry,” I say again. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just—I’m gonna call an Uber—”

“No, Rosalie.” Freddy runs a hand down his face. “And don’t apologize anymore. I’m giving you a ride home.”

The girl with him doesn’t look angry, only confused and concerned.

“Can you guys wait in the car for a minute? I…” Freddy steps away, muttering about grabbing something he left behind in the restaurant they just came from, before leaving his date and me to stand and stare awkwardly at each other.

Well, awkward for me, at least, considering she immediately sidles up to me.

“Are you okay?” the girl asks softly.

“Yeah. I’m so sorry.” Taking a shaky breath, I wipe away the rapidly drying tears, trying to salvage the mess of mascara I’m sure is caked under my eyes. “I’m Ro.”

“Nice to meet you, Ro. I’m Sarah.” She hesitates before asking, “Would you like a hug?”

I snort out a wet laugh and concede with a quick nod. “Yeah, actually.”

Sarah wraps her arms around me, squishing her head into my collarbone. I’m tall for a girl, even more in the kitten heels that I know Tyler would’ve complained about if he were here, considering they’d make me his height. Not something I’ve ever cared about, but it bothers him.

The physical contact is comforting. I like to be touched, to be hugged. And it’s not often I really get that anymore, except from Sadie and her brothers. But she’s been gone more often than not lately.

Sarah releases me and walks us to Freddy’s car, which looks a little worse for wear. I grab the handle on the back door and slide in before she can offer me the front, because I canfeelthat she wants to.

“You two are close?” Sarah asks, sitting in the front seat reluctantly. We both wince as the door squeaks loudly when she pulls it closed. I slide to the middle of the backseat.

“I’m his tutor.”

“Oh.” She smiles conspiratorially. “Fair trade, huh? He’s amazing, right?”

I get the feeling we aren’t talking about his hockey skills, which I have yet to see in person, nor his pedigree as a student, and it causes an uncomfortable twist in my gut.

“We’re just friends.”

Her brow wrinkles and she turns in her seat, flinging her long hair back behind her. There’s a dark red spot on her neck that looks fresh, like someone has been sucking on it, and I have to look down at my lap to stop myself from imagining Freddy giving it to her—how his lips might tease and play along her throat. The idea of him biting down to mark her pale skin makes my skin feel tight and overheated.

Inappropriate. Stop being so desperate.

“Freddy doesn’t have ‘just friends’ who are girls,” Sarah says, but it comes out like a question. Like she doesn’t quite know him enough to say whether it’s true or not.

My shoulders bunch. “He is with me.”

Except… that’s not really true, is it?

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