Damaged Love - Jaxson Kidman Page 0,30

think they feel the same. Like they’re being watched and followed.”

“And messed with?” Gia asked with her eyes excited.

I laughed. “Yeah. Exactly.”

“So they think someone is after them and you,” she said.

“Because I hang around with them,” I said. “This is perfect. Right?”

“Yeah, it seems that way.”

“So they want to talk to me tonight,” I said. “They want to have a meeting.”

“Maybe they want you.”

“Stop.”

“What? Can’t a girl dream?”

“You’re the one… never mind.”

“What?” Gia asked. “Oh, because they tried to kill you? Well, that’s your problem.” She laughed. “They’re still hot.”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” I said. “You’re going to end up confusing me.”

Gia laughed again. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I get it.” I sighed. “So now I’m just waiting for someone to text me or call or throw a brick through my window… you know, a normal night for me.”

“Your life is something else, Winter.”

“You sure you want to be my best friend?” I asked.

“I like you better like this,” Gia said.

She smiled.

I frowned.

I hated everything about the way things used to be.

The way I acted. That I thought it was okay to compete with Evie and Darcy to be top asshole bitch in BFH.

I picked up the bottle of nail polish and looked around my room.

“My life is crazy,” I whispered.

“That it is,” Gia said. “But at least it’s thrilling. You never have to worry about being bored.”

“Oh, I wish I could be bored,” I said. “I would love to just sit around and…”

The screen on my phone lit up next to me on the floor.

It was a text message.

I read it and looked at Gia.

I nodded.

“Fuck,” she said.

“Fuck,” I said.

“Just please text me when you get back home safe. I’ll be worried out of my mind. And if I don’t hear anything by… I don’t know… two? I’m going to call the police.”

I hadn’t told Gia about what happened with the police.

I wasn’t going to either.

My life was crazy and those around me could only handle so much of that crazy per day.

I grabbed my phone off the floor.

“Wish me luck,” I said.

“No,” Gia said. “You don’t need luck. You’re in control.”

I nodded.

I walked out of my bedroom and paused to lean against the wall.

I looked down at the text from Easton.

It was time to have that ‘meeting.’

Chapter 11

this fancy thing

I walked the beach alone.

I took comfort in a hoodie - not Xavier’s hoodie, no way - and wrapped my hands around the bottoms of the sleeves and hugged myself.

The beach air tickled my bare legs as my toes dug into the soft and welcoming sand with each step I took.

In all honestly, it was a beautiful night.

Nice and cool, comfortable, the sound of the waves, the clear sky and all the stars…

I heard a whistle and my heart sank.

I stopped walking and saw the three silhouettes in the distance.

Noah. Easton. Xavier.

Standing side by side.

Each with their own look. Each with their own attitude. Each with the same truth of what happened to me the night of the accident.

Most of all, they each had their own insecurities.

Soon, Winter. So fucking soon.

I took a deep breath and started to walk again.

Because, you know, they weren’t going to walk to me.

I had to walk to them.

Once again, just another little showing of what they felt was their power.

I didn’t mind.

They had no idea who I really was or what I was going to do to them.

They were rattled from what Talon and Gia had helped with.

Now I was going to up the stakes.

“Okay, I’m here,” I said when I was close enough for them to hear me.

“Yeah, you are,” Easton said. “You’re bundled up like it’s cold out. Or you’re afraid.”

“It’s dark out.”

“You’re afraid of the dark?” Noah asked.

“No.”

“Do you think someone followed you?” Xavier asked.

He inched closer to me and was the first to touch me.

His hand to my arm.

My eyes to his eyes.

Showing just the smallest crack in the shield he put around himself.

Do you care? Or do you just feel guilty?

“Happened today,” I said.

“What did?” Easton asked.

I looked at him. “Did you not hear what I said? Are you stupid?”

Winter, Noah is the one…

I moved my eyes to Noah. “Right? Did I not just say it? Can he not listen to me? I can’t stand that. Focus. Listen. Right?”

Noah looked surprised at me.

I had to ease back a little.

But I just wanted to get to them.

Right now.

Make them fall to their knees. And then I could walk away and be normal again.

Then again… what is normal?

“You’re