Page 83 of The Sweetest Revenge

Mila: We're at the front door. Let us in.

I started typing out a text telling her to go home, but an email chimed.

My heart knocked against my ribs when I spotted Dean Sweeney's name in my inbox. Already? The board never moved this quickly.

Mila: Okay, well, we are coming in.

I barely registered Mila's text. My finger hovered over the email, trembling slightly. One click separated me from knowing whether I'd be packing my life away or staying. I closed my eyes, drew in a breath, and tapped the screen.

The first line blurred as my eyes raced ahead, searching for the only words that mattered.

Ms. Ledger,

The school board has determined that your actions were in poor taste, however?—

My gaze stumbled, caught on the word "however." The kind of word that pivots futures.

—They do not call for harsh actions since the incident occurred off campus. Your spot on the dance team will be reinstated, and your suspension will be lifted.

I gasped, the air rushing from my lungs as if I'd been holding my breath underwater. Staying. I was staying.

But then, at the bottom:

We do apologize for misspeaking before we had all the details.

I froze, rereading the line. Dean Sweeney had never apologized to a student in the history of Westbrook. My eyes narrowed as understanding clicked into place—Zaiden. This had his fingerprints all over it.

My lips curled up into a grin. I didn't care as long as I could dance. As long as I didn't have to leave school and go back to my dad's.

"Ari," Mila burst through my bedroom door, freezing, as her gaze scanned the room. "Wow." She paused. "I haven't been in here since…" Her words trailed off.

"Yeah," I sighed. "It's a constant reminder that she's not here anymore."

She stepped into the room. "She loved you. If she would want anyone to move into her old room, she'd want it to be you."

I forced a smile as I nodded, my chest squeezing tightly as a hint of sadness hit me.

"Are you okay?" Journey asked, pushing past Mila. "You didn't show up to the meeting."

"It's a long story, but yeah, I'm good." I tucked my hair behind my ear, avoiding their concerned looks. "How was the meeting? Did they introduce a new coach?"

"No." Journey leaned against my desk, idly spinning a pen between her fingers. "They said they're working to find someone, but for now, they put the captain in charge."

My eyes widened as realization dawned. "You're the captain." I straightened, grabbing Journey's shoulders with both hands.

"Yep." Journey tried to look nonchalant, but the slight lift at the corner of her mouth betrayed her pride. She crossed her arms, rocking back on her heels. "And we're dancing at the home game this week."

"That's freaking awesome!" I bounced on the edge of my bed, my body automatically moving to an imaginary beat. Some part of me was already choreographing in my head.

Mila's smile faded as she sank into the desk chair. "As exciting as that is,” she leaned forward, voice dropping, "we may have a problem."

Something in her tone made my stomach tighten. "What kind of problem?"

"I was in the athletic building earlier." She glanced toward the open door and back. "EJ and some of the guys were in the weight room. They didn't see me."

I waited, the silence stretching uncomfortably.

"They were talking about revenge. For what happened at the party between you and Zaiden."

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