Page 18 of Keeper of Hearts
"You were definitely up to something, judging by the way you're squirming right now," he teases.
I just huff in response, refusing to even look at him.
"First time?" he guesses.
I shrug in response.
"You're allowed to panic." He hauls himself to his feet. "You're allowed to freak out, stress, and worry. That's natural, Troian. But do yourself a favor and don't shut him out. He's always the first one to put her in her place when she starts her bullshit because he loves you. And you only get so many chances with someone before things break in ways you can't fix."
I stare up at him, something in his tone making my heart clench. I see the same thing on his face—sadness. Grief, maybe. Like he lost something he can't ever get back. "Corey, did you…" I place my hand on his arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Nah," he says, shaking his head. "It wouldn't change anything. I ran a few too many times. Now, there's nothing to run back to. He moved on, said he couldn't wait around for me to decide if I wanted him more than I wanted to keep pretending I'm not what I am." A laugh rumbles from his lips, but there's no humor in it.
It makes my heart ache for him anyway.
I jump to my feet, wrapping my arms around him in a fierce hug. It catches him off guard, and he tenses for a minute before returning it.
"You're good people, Troian," he whispers, his voice rough. "You deserve happiness. If Gage is that person for you, reach for it. Fuck these bitches. They don't matter."
"You deserve happiness too," I whisper. "You deserve love and acceptance, no matter what. I hope you know that."
His lips curve into a tiny grin as he pulls back. "I'm finally figuring that out."
"Good."
"You going to be all right now?" he asks. "I can hang out if you need me."
"No, thank you. I think I'm good."
"Yeah, I think you are." He grins at me and then jogs down the bleachers.
I watch him until he's just a speck in the distance and then reclaim my seat, my thoughts loud. But, perhaps, they're clearer than they have been in a long time.
Chapter Nine
Gage
As soon as the last bell rings, I head straight for the gym, my thoughts churning in frustrated circles. I want to run straight to the parking lot to find Troian and ensure she doesn't try to walk home or catch a ride with someone else, but I need to take care of this first.
I find Victoria and her little posse of cheerleaders heading toward the locker room to change for practice.
"Victoria!" I shout, my voice echoing around the empty gym.
Her whole group falls silent, turning to face me.
I don't give her a chance to come to me. I stomp toward her, wanting witnesses for what I have to say to her. She won't be able to misconstrue it or lie her way out of it that way.
"I heard what you told Troian today," I say as soon as I close the distance between us.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She rolls her eyes at me. "I haven't even talked to your weird little stalker today, Gage. She's not worth my time."
"Right." I lean against the wall, smirking at her. "Kind of like how studying for the SATs wasn't worth your time either, right?"
"What" Her brows furrow, unease shifting through her gaze as she tries to figure out what I know. "You sound more delusional every day."
I don't tell her what I know right away, letting her stew in it as I take another step toward her, my hands shoved into my pockets. "I've warned you a thousand times to leave Troian the fuck alone, but you refuse to listen, so I'm not warning you anymore, Victoria. The next time you or a single one of your friends says a goddamn word to or about her, your parents, school administration, and the police will know exactly how you scored so high on the SATs that you bombed the first time."
"As usual, I don't know what you're talking about, Gage," she says. I can tell by the way her voice shakes that she knows exactly what I'm talking about, though. She didn't retake the test. Herolder sister took it for her, and they weren't smart enough to pick a testing facility far enough away to ensure no one from our school would be there on the same day.
