Page 15 of Unpredictable

I arch an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

“It’s a milestone I honestly didn’t know if we would reach. When you were a baby with colic, I dreamed of this day just so I wouldn’t have to hear you cry anymore. But I think I'd rather listen to you cry than know you’re an adult.” He shrugs.

“Uh-huh.” I smile.

“Is she still here?” Sage calls out from the hall.

“Yes,” Mom and Dad say in unison.

“Oh, good. I thought I missed you! Happy first day of the last year of hell!” Sage says merrily while walking towards the coffee pot.

“Thanks,” I say dryly, looking at the clock on the stove. “I gotta go, or I won’t get a good parking spot. See you guys tonight?”

“We have reservations at Noble for six,” Mom tells me with a nod.

“Sounds good.” I give her a hug and then move to do the same to Dad and Sage. “Later, guys!” I holler on my way out.

“Have a good day, Miss Victoria,” Thomas, our family butler, offers.

“You too!”

???

I’m leaning against the hood of my car staring up at the dark stone building.

Brighton Academy.

Keaton pulls into the parking lot and takes the spot next to me, but I don’t turn to look at him.

“What are you doing?” Tinsley asks, full of energy.

“This morning, Sage told me happy first day of my last year in hell,” I muse. “I’m just thinking about how I never saw this place as hell, but I can see it now.”

“She sent me a text saying the same thing.” Keaton laughs.

“It’s not that bad.” Tinsley frowns.

“What’s not that bad?” Finley calls from behind us.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Tinsley stand up straight and paste on her best smile before greeting him.

She’s going to get her heart broken, just like me.

I shake away my wayward thoughts.

“Let’s head in,” I tell them, and they fall into step with me.

With Reed gone, Keaton has become the unofficial king of our school. Many look to me as their queen, but I think that had more to do with my relationship with Sterling rather than anyone else. Besides, everyone knows Keaton will never choose a queen.

Then again, we all thought that of Reed until he chose Sage.

Tinsley loops her arm through mine and takes a peek over her shoulder before asking softly, “So, how are you doing?”

“I’m good,” I tell her with a confident nod.

“Have you heard from Sterling?” she probes.

“He tried calling twice, but I didn’t answer.”

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