Page 157 of Composed
“But we were meant to hang out,” he says. “Just us.”
“It’s a bit too late in the day for that now.”
“I’m sorry, Rix.”
I pause in the doorway, my hand tight around the handle.
Twisting my fingers together, I glance over my shoulder.
“Yeah.” A short breath puffs from me. “Me too.”
I tug the door open.
Bitter air smacks me in the face, sinking into my already ice-filled veins.
My knees are heavy as I trudge through the now-quiet garden, and out of the side gate. The last thing I want is to deal with the disappointed faces of all my friends when they realise I’m dipping out before the night is over.
I’m already halfway down the street when I hear my name called from behind.
I spin, hugging my arms around my middle as Axel races after me.
“Hey, where you—” He halts, glancing over my pale, wind-blown face, my pebbled arms. “Fuck, Rix.You’re frozen.” He peels his zip-up hoodie off and drapes it over my shoulders. “Why are you leaving? The party’swrapped up now. Cole’s just ordered pizza and we’re gonna watch a film or something.”
“I need to get home.”
“You never go home.” He frowns and wraps an arm around my back. I flinch. He looks down at me, his eyes creasing. “Did we do something?”
I shake my head. “Never.”
Unlike Carter, Axel can’t handle the fight simmering inside me. Not that any of them deserve my ire. It’s just easier to sit in anger than any of the other unspoken emotions swirling constantly through me.
I shake Axel off and press a kiss to his cheek. “I gotta go.”
He watches me for a long, silent beat.
Then, he drags me into his chest in a suffocating hug. “We love you.”
“I know.”
“You’re coming back to say bye before you leave tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, of course.” I force a smile as I step out of his reach. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
I’m gone before sunrise without saying goodbye.
Chapter forty-nine
Cole • Now
The Best Of Me – The Starting Line
Thedoorclicksshutwhen Saint shuffles back inside.
I shoot a glance at him.
His face is hard and he shakes his head.
My gut sinks.
