he’s thinking about fucking Gray up anyway, but I catch his gaze and shake my head. “Listen to him. Just listen, okay?”
Tension lingers in the air as Gray explains everything he already told me—how Cliff threatened to ruin me if I didn’t leave, how he’s been building fabricated evidence against me to link me to Melissa McAlister’s death.
“I knew Cliff was being weird about Sparrow all last semester,” Gray continues, “but since she beat the shit out of him, he’s really had it out for her. I don’t know if it’s wounded pride or what, but he’s fucking obsessed with her, with making her pay—even though he’s the fuckwad who attacked her. The deal I made with him was to keep Sophie safe, and only that.”
For the first time since Gray told me the truth about Cliff, I start to feel sick. I already knew Cliff is an asshole, but up until now, I didn’t think he’d actually try anything else after our fight in the alley. I thought that he’d back down after that. I didn’t think he’d actually be so pissed that he’d form some kind of sick vendetta against me.
As if I’m the one who had tried to assault him, to fuck up his life. As if he’s the one who deserves justice and vengeance.
He attacked me, but I’m the one who might end up paying for it. All because he has money and power, and I don’t.
“Maybe I should go. Leave Hawthorne.”
The words are past my lips before I realize I’m speaking my thoughts aloud, and all the guys turn to look at me. Even as I say it, I hate the way it sounds, hate the way it feels.
It makes me feel weak, like a fucking coward. I don’t want to run just because Cliff thinks he can boss everyone’s asses around with his daddy’s money. I don’t want to slink away into the night and make it seem like it was my fault that Cliff assaulted me.
I don’t want to back down, but I might have to. My life may depend on it.
“Absolutely fucking not,” Gray says emphatically, and three pairs of eyes snap toward him at the declaration. “I made the wrong decision before. I swear to fucking god, Sparrow, I was only trying to protect you. I was an asshole. I tried to push you away to keep you safe—when all along, it was Declan and Elias who had the right idea. Instead of pushing you away, I should’ve pulled you closer. I should’ve told you every-fucking-thing so we could deal with it together.”
Together.
I nod slowly. I don’t know how exactly we’ll deal with Cliff and this new threat from him, but I have to admit, I like the idea of staying a lot better than I like the thought of slinking away and letting Cliff win.
Gray was right. I am a fighter.
“Those are pretty words. But you’re still a fucking asshole.” Elias’s eyes are narrowed, watching Gray.
“I fucked up,” Gray admits. “I am an asshole. I know that. I shouldn’t have pushed things so far.” He turns to Declan. “And you were right. Beth would be fucking disappointed in me if she could’ve seen how I was acting. That shit messed me up. I tried to justify it, knowing that if she knew why I was doing it, if she knew that I was trying to do the right thing, she’d understand, but you were right. I needed to man up, and I didn’t do it.”
“I was out of line with that one,” Declan says, lifting a shoulder as he studies his friend. “I was pissed as hell at you, but that was too far. Beth loved you, man. And even if the rest of us sometimes think you’re a fuckhead, that won’t change. You were her fucking idol. It’d be great if you could act like it.”
“I’m trying to.” Gray clears his throat. I can tell that talking about his sister has reopened old wounds, but he doesn’t shy away from it like I’ve seen him do before. “And if I ever forget that, you’ve got my permission to deck me again.”
“I will.”
There’s a promise in Declan’s voice. I know he means it, and I don’t doubt that he’d take a swing at Gray if he thought his friend was going to hurt me again. But his shoulders relax a little, and some of the tension in the room clears.
“So, what do we do?” I ask, filling the silence. “Now