Page 120 of Tainted Romance

“Well, we better go.” I glanced at Jace. “It was, um, nice seeing you, Zane and Rebecca.”

I went to walk past Zane when his hands linked with mine, stopping me. “Are we ok?”

Oh, Zane, if only you really knew how far away we were from ok. “Yeah.” I smiled. “Of course.”

All these lies were going to kill me in the end. I was sure of it.

We were halfway up the block before Jace spoke. “Well, you two seem to be alright then.”

“Yeah, well there is a first for everything, and as long as I keep lying to him, everything just stays the same.”

“Then tell him the truth.”

I had toyed with the idea. I had dreamt about it; what it would be like to tell him I remembered him and then reality came crashing back, bringing me back down from the choice.

It wasn’t an option.

Chapter Fifty

I had tossed and turned all night just thinking of the what if. What if I told Zane? Would he believe me? Would it cost us our friendship? Not that we really had one to begin with, but still, what we had was something.

From the lack of sleep and the feeling of nausea, I really wasn't in any mood to be at school. Yet here I was because Jace threatened to tell dad it was getting too big for me to handle. I still hadn't shifted and, even though Jace remained positive, I knew he was losing hope too.

I closed my locker door and shifted my textbooks from side to side and then I looked up, and I wish I hadn't. There was Zane with Rebecca laughing and looking like they really were getting on. Great, more competition.

"Hey, Allie."

"Blake."

"You look like hell."

"Thanks." I turned and looked up at him. Something was different. What it was I wasn't sure, but something was so I couldn't stop myself from asking. "So, what's new with you?"

He scratched the back of his neck and slowly turned to face me. "Funny you bring that up. I sort of have something to tell you."

"And?"

"I kind of. Well, not kind of. I have. I mean."

"Spit it out, Falcon."

"Ebony and I are dating. It's official now so whatever we had can't happen anymore. Friends with no benefits."

That's what it was. He had mated with his mate. Talk about jumping in deep water. Going from fighting to sex, to now forever together.

"That's great, Blake, I'm happy for you." Was I lying? Yes. Ebony was a bitch, and Blake deserved someone better, but still, she was his mate, so he was going to love her unconditionally and she would love him unconditionally.

Blake let out a long breath. "You have no idea how nervous I was telling you."

"Well, I noticed you had a thing for her, so I was kind of expecting it." That was the honest truth because normally mates connect, and they can't be broken apart. Mates are meant to protect each other. The more I thought about it, the more sour I got. Zane didn't do any of those things for me. He let them wipe my memory.

I gripped my books a bit tighter.

"Well, I'm happy we are all good so wanna explain to me why you're giving Zane and the new girl dirty looks?"

"Just surprised to see Zane friendly with anyone apart from his two loser friends." Then I remembered Ebony is one of those loser friends, so I quickly said, "Sorry, no offense."

"It's alright, you don't have to like her." He winked at me, and we began to walk together through the crowded hallway.

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