Page 15 of Forged in Rain

Looking into her dark eyes, I frown when she says, “Maybe it’s good that you’re stuck with him. He can protect you.”

“I’m not sure how protective he feels about me,” I say dryly.

Smirking, she says, “Not from where I’m standing. He’s been looking this way since I arrived.”

“Yeah, well, you said it. He’s always waiting for info on you,” I say, meeting Cyn’s calculating gaze across the way.

“Could be, but I doubt it. Just do me a favor, Rainy.”

“What?”

“Leave it alone, whatever it is, and let me handle it. This is my mess, not yours.”

“Iris,” I say with a pit in my stomach as she walks away before standing and following her around the bleachers.

“Iris, wait!”

Turning, she looks back at me, and I stop beside her. “What are you going to do?”

“End it for good.”

“End what?”

“The game. You and I both know Jagger is playing both sides, but why? And why did he approach me to begin with? I thought it was for info on Cyn, but what if it’s something else?”

“Does it matter? Walk away,” I say desperately.

Shaking her head, she smiles wanly. “Don’t be stupid. Nobody walks away once they’re in.”

With that, she leaves, and I stare after her, disturbed because if she can’t walk away, then where does that leave me?

∞∞∞

After school, I meet the guys in the parking lot. Jig smiles happily and pulls me into his arms, and I hug him back to his surprise, but I need this, and Jig gives good hugs.

“You look good in my clothes,” he leers, and I smile, ignoring Cyn’s cold expression as I slide inside the back and lean my head against the seat.

I’ve got a raging headache, and if I’m not mistaken, shark week, as Iris so eloquently put it, is well on its way. I only hope to tough it out because I don’t think Cyn will be cuddling with me this time.

A shame that because he was a good cuddler. Smiling at my thoughts, I flip my eyes open when Cyn says harshly, “What’s so funny?”

Surprisingly, he’s sitting next to me, with Jig in the front. Yawning, I burrow into Jig’s sweatshirt and say tiredly, “You wouldn’t get it.”

“Hmph,” he growls. “What happened with Iris?”

Bastion’s eyes rise to mine in the mirror, and I stare at him until he drops his gaze. “Nothing really.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

Rolling my eyes, I mutter, “She apologized. Insisted she didn’t know why Jagger was up my ass and informed me once you’re in, there’s no backing out.”

Hunching in on myself, I shudder at the thought. I can’t imagine being caught in this world forever. Why these guys ever chose to be is beyond me.

“Turn on the heater,” Cyn barks.

Glancing at him sideways, I ask, “Is it true?”

“What? You can never leave?”

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