Page 269 of Small Town Firsts

He only has power over me because I allow it. The problem is, I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t know how to wrench myself free from the hold he has over me.

But I will. If it’s the last thing I do,I will.

Finally, my tears dry and I force myself up from the bench. I shoot Stella a quick text asking her to meet me in our suite, if she can, before creeping out of my hiding place.

Except, before I can step foot back onto the sidewalk, I slam into a brick wall.

“Oof!” I stumble back, clutching my forehead.

“Sweets.”Okay, so not a wall... a Gabe.“We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”

“What do they feed you?”

He starts to flex, but something stops him. “Have you... have you been crying?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Zach!” Gabe hollers, and in the blink of an eye, he appears.

“Yeah? Oh, Emmy. Have you been crying?”

Gabe tips his head back, as if to saysee, I told you!

“I’m fine, guys.”

“Tell Daddy what’s wrong,” Gabe says, linking his arm with mine.

Zach takes up post on my other side. “Whose ass do we need to kick?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say her TA.”

I roll my eyes, but don’t confirm Gabe’s suspicions. “I’m fine. I promise,” I say, mostly meaning it. Something about being smooshed between the two of them has me feeling safe and secure.

“Where are you headed?” my blond giant asks.

“My dorm.”

The two men exchange a look before Zach says, “We’ll walk you.”

They pry for more information for the entirety of our walk, but my lips stay sealed.

It’s not that I don’t want to tell them, it’s just... as crazy as it sounds, I can’t help but feel like Sterling has eyes and ears everywhere. The last thing I want is for anything to get back to him.

We slow our pace as my building comes into sight. “Thanks, guys,” I say right as a flying blonde ball slams into me, wrapping me in a frantic hug.

“Oh my God, Emmy! Where have you been? What happened? Did you let him have it? Who are these two hotties? Tell. Me. Every. Thing!”

“Well, hello there, sunshine,” Gabe murmurs as Stella releases me. “Who are you?”

My roomie’s big, blue eyes flit between my two escorts. “I’m Stella, Emmy’s roommate, and y’all are?”

“Her daddies,” Zach says with a twinkle in his eyes.

“What my lovely boyfriend meant to say is we’re her friends. I’m Gabe, and that fine piece of meat is Zach.”

I zone out, my mind drifting back to the way Sterling played me like a freaking fiddle.

How on earth am I supposed to face him Thursday morning?

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