Page 13 of The Vengeance You Crave
Holy fuck. That was close.
"Peyton, are you okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
"Oh, um… yeah, sorry. I just remembered something that I…" I trail off, not able to finish the sentence, not only because it's all a lie but because I literally can't form words as I watch his back retreat around the corner.
The realization that I need to man up and talk to him slams into me.
I'm two days into this new start and I'm already a mess.
I hoped that I'd be able to avoid him.
This campus is huge. We should be able to live entirely separate lives without ever bumping into each other. But of course that's not how this is going to work because fate is a bitch and for some reason the universe thinks that we need to be close once more.
They both look at me with concerned expressions while I fight to get myself under control.
"Everything's fine, I promise."
They both smile, but neither of them look like they believe me. Thankfully, though, they let it go. For now. I have no doubt that if this budding friendship continues then they're going to want to know more about me and if—when—Luca and I collide again, they're going to have even more questions about me seeing as he's the King of MKU. Hell, they've both probably already slept with him.
Once we've finished eating and thankfully started gossiping about things that don't involve me, my past or a certain quarterback, Ella excuses herself to her afternoon class, and Letty and I head for the library.
Thankfully, she seems to be as dedicated to her studies as I am and not much is said between us as we sit at a table together and tap away on our laptops. We work in comfortable silence and I can't help feeling more at home than I have in quite a long while, just in her presence.
I slump down in my chair, my shoulders aching from the position I'm sitting in and let out a sigh. The time is ticking by and it's impossible to forget that I've got another shift tonight.
And it's Tuesday. I silently groan. For some reason, Tuesday nights are the busiest of the week. But, while it might be crazy, it also comes with extra tips. Money is the reason I'm there, so I swallow down my dread.
"It'll get better," Letty says softly.
"Huh?" I ask, still lost in my own head about what tonight is going to hold to have a clue of what she's talking about.
"Starting over. It'll get better."
"Oh, yeah. I know. I've just got a lot of family shit going on right now. It's kinda dragging me down," I say, risking opening up to her.
"Ugh, that's the worst. Do you want to talk about it?"
The thought of telling my truths, exposing my pain is about as terrifying as looking directly into Luca's angry eyes again.
"N-no, not really."
"Okay. Well, if you do. We're here. I know how hard it is so if there's anything I can do."
"T-thank you," I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion.
I haven’t told anyone my reality. Everyone in my circle knows what happened because they've been a part of it. The thought of just saying the words shatters my heart, I can only imagine how painful it'll be when I finally run out of excuses and have to confess everything.
"I need to head out."
"Work again?"
"Always. Gotta pay for all this somehow."
"It'll be worth it in the end," she says, closing down her laptop to walk out with me. "I've got a shift tonight too while Kane's at practice.” Her entire expression changes when she says his name and I can't help but smile knowing she's found that.
There have been times over the years where I thought true love and happily ever afters were a myth. I thought I had it, but it was ripped from under me before I knew what happened. We might have been young but I knew. And what if that was my only chance? Am I now destined to a life as a spinster?
I shake my head, pushing away my insecurities about my life and my future.
