Page 161 of Worthy

With her pearl necklace clutched tightly in her hand, she turns back to the window. “Don’t forget that we’re visiting your aunt later today.”

I can’t stop the smile from spreading on my face. “I remember.”

Epilogue

Melanie

The umbrella is barely big enough for us both. I pause at the bottom of the steps, staring up at the school building in front of us. It’s imposing, with its tall windows and large doors. Just inside the entrance, the bored guard talks to Mr. Keith, the history teacher.

“It’s okay to be scared.”

Swallowing thickly, I drag my eyes away from the doors. “I won’t lie, this is scarier than when we were in the back of that van.”

I’m not joking, either. I’ve always told myself I don’t care about other people’s opinions of me. And it’s true. I don’t. But I do care about Jessica, and I don’t want anyone to hurt her because of me. The fear inside me is very vocal, telling me it’s easier to keep Jessica and me a secret if it keeps her safe from cruel comments and sneers.

“I can see you thinking.”

Focusing on the soft, pattering sound of rain on the umbrella, I hold the handle in a fierce grip. “I might kill someone if they’re mean to you.”

“You’ve already killed one guy. Let’s not make it a habit.”

When I scowl at her, she fights to contain her laughter.

“Baby,” she inches closer, wrapping her hand around mine on the umbrella handle, “I know it’s scary. We will undoubtedly face ridicule. The students will stare at us and make cruel remarks. Some will be fine with us being a thing, and some won’t. We’ll face it together, okay? I don’t want to live small.” Her gaze lands on my lips for a brief second before skating back up to my eyes, where they implore me to listen. “This is me, standing up for myself. I want to shout from the fucking rooftops that I’m in love with you.”

“No, don’t do that,” I rush out, making her laugh. “You know I’m a wallflower.”

“Nuh uh.” She shakes her head, reaching out to tuck my hair behind my ear. “Not when you’re with me. I want to show my girl off.”

I blush on cue. It’s mortifying. I’m not fucking thirteen.

Seeing through me, her smile widens. “People our age—hell, any age—like to gossip. We’ll be big news today and tomorrow and the next day. Eventually, they’ll grow bored, and who knows? Soon something else will come along. Maybe Hazel will give a BJ to one of the basketball players again? You know how the footballers feel about their cheerleaders giving it to the basketball team.”

My head shakes. “I don’t. I really don’t. I’m not a jock, remember?”

Her eyes sparkle. Reaching for the clenched fist by my side, she pries it open before intertwining our fingers. “Are you ready?”

“I will kill people if they so much as look at you wrong! I swear to fucking Go—”

Stealing a quick kiss and effectively shutting me up, she laughs airily at the surprised look on my face. And then she pulls me along and winks at me over her shoulder. “Acceptance starts with a first step, babe. Let’s not live in the shadows anymore.”

The end.

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