I Have Lived and I Have Loved - Willow Winters Page 0,13

the fuck up.”

“What?” Tom gazed around, blinking. “What’d I say?”

Cora shook her head, trying not to laugh. “You honestly need to get a clue one of these days.”

Tom looked mystified. “Huh?”

Nick pulled into the movie theater’s parking lot. We all piled out of the car, and the guys headed in first. Cora fell back to walk next to me. She looked up, tucked some hair behind her ear again, and dropped her gaze to the cement.

Her hand touched the back of mine lightly. “Can you hold back a second?”

I stopped.

Ryan and the guys were going inside, and he glanced toward us. Holding the door open, he stood there, waiting.

I saw the question in his eyes and had to pull my gaze away. Cora was saying something. It seemed like something I needed to pay attention to, but all I wanted was to be next to Ryan. I didn’t care about this Erin girl. I probably should’ve. My brain was telling me to be smart. I was entering high school drama. Ryan was wanted, but I wasn’t surprised. He had that look—dark molten eyes, broad shoulders, trim waist. Both of those dimples. Lean, but muscled. His shirt rode up once, and I saw the six-pack there.

I’d noticed all this on day one.

He was going to have girls after him. Of course.

Willow would’ve been after him.

I blinked a few times, shocked at that thought. Yes. She would’ve. And I would’ve done nothing. After seeing that she’d claimed him, I would’ve melted into the background, found my own group of friends, and I would’ve had no problem in school. All these issues—Cora and the ex—these would’ve been Willow’s battles.

Was I taking her stuff on?

“So, you know.” Cora had finished whatever she was saying.

I cringed, but I had to ask. “Sorry. I spaced for a bit there.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “You lost your sister, right?”

I nodded.

“Look, maybe it isn’t my place, and I know we just met, but people have been talking about you. They don’t know about your sister. I mean, I haven’t heard any of that. Ryan made us all promise not to say anything, and I’m guessing he threatened Peach too. She has a big mouth, so if it got out, it would be from her. But anyway, she told Erin you slept in Ryan’s bed when you were there, and Erin freaked.” She rolled her eyes. “Erin could be inside, which is why I’m saying all this to you now. Ryan doesn’t think things through sometimes. He doesn’t think Erin’s as bad as she is, but she’s evil incarnate. I swear.”

“Does she come at you sideways or straight on?”

“What?”

I wasn’t a fighter, but an eerie calm settled over me. “I need to know how to fight her, so how does she fight? Usual catty-bitch way? You know, saying shit behind my back and verbal jabs. Or is she a face-on bully kind of girl? There are all different sorts now.”

“Um . . .” Cora looked at the sky, her hands sliding inside her back pockets. “She has bleached blonde hair, and she’ll be surrounded by a whole bunch of girls. They all look the same. Glitter on their face, something pink. If she sees you inside, don’t go to the bathroom. She has a gang. They’ll come at you and try to hurt you but make it look like it was an accident.”

She was the type to sic her friends on me. I nodded. “Got it.”

“Wait.”

I had turned to go but looked back.

Cora seemed surprised. “Aren’t you scared?”

An image of Willow lying on the floor, her blood pooling around her, flashed in my head. “Not a goddamn bit.”

I started off. I was looking forward to this.

Chapter Five

I knew instantly which one was Erin.

She was the tall drink of water trying to cling to Ryan as they waited in line for tickets. She kept putting her hand on his arm, and he’d move it out of the way, shrugging off her touch.

It wasn’t working.

He was irritated, and he wanted her away, but his scowl and the way he kept messing his hair up were having the opposite effect on her. The blonde could-be-a-model only stood closer each time he rebuffed her.

Nick and Tom were already in line for snacks, along with a group of girls. I didn’t need two guesses to know they were Erin’s friends. Cora was right. They all looked the same—with tight jeans and different shades of pink sweaters, glitter all over their faces and necks.

Cora came up next