a completely impenetrable wall. “Your future separate from my future, is that what you mean?”
I nodded slowly. “Yes, I guess, if that’s the way you want to look at it.”
Despite us being together for a year, we’d never made any declarations of devotion to each other. Had I been deluding myself about the level of his affection?
Digging my fingernails into the skin at my palms, I held my breath, waiting to hear what War would say, but dreading it. I didn’t have to wait long.
“So be it,” he said sharply, releasing me. “You go on and do what you have to do right now, and I’ll do what I need to do, separate from you.”
“War—”
“Done, Lace. We’re done.” War’s eyes sliced through me, severing all the previous ties that had bound us as effectively as a blade. “C’mon, Bry.” He jerked his chin in the air and turned to stalk away while I just stood there staring at him.
For once, I wasn’t distracted by what my childhood crush thought of me. Not when my boyfriend had just destroyed me.
Lace
Hurt and furious, I slammed through the door and stepped outside. Before I’d taken more than a few steps across the bar’s parking lot, my brother caught up to me.
“Hold up,” Dizzy said, and I turned to face him.
“I can’t stay.” Dropping my gaze, I wrapped my arms around myself and swallowed repeatedly. My view of the concrete swam.
Done. We’re done. War’s words echoed in my head.
“Just stay for a minute while I go back inside and talk to him.” Dizzy let out a frustrated exhale. “I’m sure I can—”
“Stop it, Diz. You’re not sure. And neither am I anymore.”
I’d thought War and I were tight, but I was wrong. Good that I’d held back a part of myself, knowing how he was. Sad, though, that part of the reason I’d held back was hoping Bryan would notice me. In the end, both had forsaken me.
Reeling, I was closer to tears than I’d been in years, but even reeling I didn’t want Dizzy involved. “Don’t jeopardize your position in the group trying to fix what’s unfixable.”
“I don’t care about that. You’re more important.”
“I love that you think that. But I care. Tempest is your ticket out of Southside, and you know it.” I had my own ticket, but just the one. The scholarship was more important now than ever. “Go back inside. Don’t make War your enemy because of me.”
The door behind us slammed open. Stupidly, I lifted my hope-filled gaze, only to be disappointed. Again. When was I finally going to accept that hope had forsaken me long before War or anyone else had?
“Hola, Lace.” King lumbered over to us, his expression gentle. “You okay?”
“Hola to you too,” I said, but I didn’t answer his question. My status was to be determined.
“You’re not okay.” Shaking his head, King stepped into the glow of the streetlight along with Dizzy and me. “War is an hijo de puta.”
A son of a bitch. Yeah, that was accurate.
“Let me take her home, ese?” King moved between me and my brother. “You need to go back inside. Represent with those reps. The shit they’re talking about seems serious.”
“What about you?” Dizzy asked him.
“Mi hermano Sager has my back.” My brother.
“All right, if . . .” Dizzy paused, glancing at me.
“Go ahead. I’ll be fine. King can take care of me.”
“I love you.” My brother threw his arms around me and hugged me tight.
“Love you too,” I whispered.
My throat was raw as I watched him go back inside. We rarely exchanged those three words. To us, love was important and not to be taken lightly. Our mother had been a wretched example, taking us for granted, rarely speaking of love, and showing it even less. Uncle Bruce never did. He didn’t even factor in my mind as family.
“Dizzy’s a good brother,” King said softly.
“Yes, he is.” I nodded, then shivered as a blast of cold wind sliced right through me.
“Here.” King unzipped his jacket, shrugged out of it, and draped it around my shoulders.
I tried but couldn’t avoid seeing the concern in his gaze. I also couldn’t avoid remembering my first walk with War, when he’d carefully placed his hoodie around my shoulders. He’d won my heart that night, sharing his secrets and being gentle with me.
Had I made a mistake? Had it all been a lie?
“Thank you, King,” I said, then cleared my throat. His kindness shone brightly in a night that had turned darker than