Page 171 of Tainted Romance

“Yes, and this time he sounded serious,” Allie snapped. “So, don’t even start the jokes.” She frowned. “I think I will fail anyway. This shit doesn’t make sense to me.”

“I’ll help you.” Chase pulled his books out. “Unlike my dumb wit brother, I’m actually good at my studies.”

“Thanks, Chase.” Allie took a reassuring breath in, like the Math really was getting the best of her and she needed help.

“Hey, Allie, I’ve got something for you.” Blake ignored his brother’s remark and pulled something out of his pocket. “Hand out.”

“Do I have to close my eyes?” She grinned.

He put it in her hand, and she looked down. Her face lighting up.

“Oh my God Blake, you are incredible, you know that?” She looked so fucking happy and it wasn’t me making her happy, it was all him.

“Well, you were going on about how much you missed it.”

She held the necklace out. “Where did you find it?”

“Under my bed.”

“You can’t see under your bed.”

“I cleaned.”

Her grin got wider. “You cleaned your room? For me? Seriously?”

“Anything for you, Winters. Turn around, I’ll clip it on.”

She pulled her earbud out and pulled her hair up. It was when he was clipping it on, it occurred to me I hadn’t given her anything. Apart from my mark. She wasn’t wearing anything I gave her. Well, maybe it wasn’t a present from him. Maybe it was just hers.

Her hair was blonde now. I didn’t know if she dyed it because I told her to, or if she had done it for a change. I doubted she would dye it for me. After what happened, it made more sense that she had dyed it for a change.

“I still remember when you gave this to me,” she gushed and played with the pendant.

My heart sunk and my glare on them narrowed. So, he had given it to her. So now she was walking around wearing something he had given her. I didn’t think it was possible to hate their relationship anymore, but I had been wrong.

“Yeah, so do I. Talking about memories, are you ready to make a new one?” Blake smirked at her, and she narrowed her eyes.

“What are you on about, Falcon?”

“The festival this weekend. I got us tickets.”

“Every time we go, you end up cracking jokes about me because I complain about camping.” She put her pen in her mouth looking at him.

“That’s why I’m borrowing my parents’ Winnebago. We’ll pick it up on the way.”

“You know what the festival does to me.” She gave him a pointed look. “You know too well what happens when we go to a festival together.”

He leaned in, his arm still around her. His mouth went to her ear. “I’m planning on that.”

“I’ll come,” Chase said, looking up from the textbook.

“Not happening,” Blake snapped.

“Why can’t I come?”

“Because I’m not fucking Allie with you listening in the other room!” Blake said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You aren’t going.”

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