Page 67 of Liars

Poppy pinned me with a glare sharp and accusing, as if this was my fault. “You might be Nash’s best friend, but I don’t give a damn about your reputation.”

My brows raised. It made sense that Kaylor would gravitate toward one of the only girls at school who had a rebellious streak. What a pair of trouble they made.

Perfect. Just what I needed. Another goddamn headache.

My little raven attracted danger and disorder wherever she went.

The fuck? Why had I thought that? She isn’t mine. I don’t want her to be mine.

“You should,” I lashed back, my grip tightening involuntarily.

Poppy didn’t flinch. “I just want to make sure my friend’s okay.”

Kaylor wiggled her fingers in my grasp, forcing me to ease up. “Isn’t that why you came to get me? Because you knew I would put an end to it?”

“You went to Kreed?” Kaylor asked Poppy, something like shock lacing her words.

Poppy nodded. “Yeah. What better way to stop evil than with evil?”

“I’m not going to take offense at that.” My fingers curled tighter around Kaylor’s again. “But since you dragged me into this, I’m taking her home.”

“I need to hear it from her. Sorry, but I don’t trust you.” Poppy’s gaze flicked to her friend.

Kaylor swallowed hard. “It’s okay. Really. Kreed can take me home.” Her voice wavered, but her eyes didn’t. “I just…I need to get out of here.”

Poppy hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Or tonight, if you want.”

“Tomorrow’s fine,” Kaylor murmured.

I watched the exchange, something twisting in my gut. “Can you walk?” I asked her.

“I-I think so,” she stuttered.

Bullshit.

“Here.” I shrugged out of my hoodie and tugged it over her head before she could protest. “Put this on.” The sleeves hung over her hands, swallowing her up.

And fuck, if that didn’t do something to me.

Seeing her in my hoodie, wrapped up in something of mine, made my stomach clench in a way I didn’t like. In a way I didn’t want.

I stepped closer, torturing myself. The scent of us—her and me—mixed together, clogging my senses.

This night needed to end.

I had half a mind to drop her off, raid my dad’s liquor stash, and drink myself into oblivion.

Maybe then, I could clear my head. Maybe then, I could stop thinking about the feel of her skin against mine. The way her lips had lingered on mine hours ago.

Maybe then, I’d stop feeling like I’d just started a war I wasn’t ready to fight.

The ride home was silent except for the low rumble of the engine. Kaylor sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold everything in. Her head was turned toward the window, but I could see it, the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers dug into the sleeves of my hoodie like she was holding on for dear life.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles whitening as the weight of what happened in the cellar settled over me.

Maddox had crossed a line tonight. No surprise there. That was what he did best. Pushed people past their limits just to see what they’d do. And Bodie? He was going to wish he’d never so much as looked in her direction. I’d make sure of it. For now, the only thing that mattered was getting her home and stressing how important it was that she kept her mouth shut about tonight.

If my father got wind of this…

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