“It’s only for self-defense and it would make me feel a damn sight better.”
“Fine,” I conceded.
“I’ll arrange it and spend some time showing you how to—”
“I think I get it.” A shudder ripped through me. “Can we go now?” Between my visit with Nicco and then Tristan, I was emotionally spent.
“As you wish.” Luis guided me over to the SUV, holding the door as I climbed inside. Scott was still standing there, staring in my direction. His eyes saying a hundred things I didn’t want to see.
There was no escape.
No way out.
I was his.
And he fully intended on making me realize that.
It was easy to avoid Scott at school. We shared none of the same classes, and he was a god on campus. Worshipped by the masses, it gave me a break from him while he soaked up their adoration. It should have made me feel a little better.
It didn’t.
I was restless.
I missed Nicco. Despite all the questions I had about Tristan. About what happened between them. Then there was the fact I felt like I was waiting.
Waiting for Scott to make his next move.
“Ari?”
“Sorry?” I blinked over at Nora. It was Wednesday and we’d had to concede and eat lunch in the food court because of rain. But we managed to find a seating area away from everyone else. Away from the football team and their groupies.
“I said, what’s up with that?” She flicked her head over to where Scott was sitting with his teammates. A girl was looming over them, her hands planted on her hips. Even from a distance, I could tell she was pissed.
“Is that Emilia?”
“Yep,” I replied, watching as Emilia jabbed her finger into Scott’s face.
“Man, she’s really giving him what for.”
Scott looked up at her, smirking. Laughter shook his shoulders as she continued her tirade. Emilia stormed off, rubbing at her eyes.
“I’ve got to go.” I grabbed my bag and stood up.
“Go? But we only just got here.” Nora stared at me like I’d lost my mind, and maybe I had.
“I’ll see you later, okay? Feel free to eat mine.” I nodded to my tray of untouched food.
“Should I come?”
“No, it’s fine. Luis will be with me.” He nodded before I took off across the food court, careful to avoid Scott and his friends.
“Emilia, wait up,” I called to her retreating form.
“What?” She stopped, turning on her heel. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Can we talk?”
“What could we possibly have to say to one another?”
“Please?”
“Fine, five minutes. Come on.” She motioned to the pergola beyond the doors. It was one of five dotted around the lawn. The rain beat down on us as we hurried to it. Luis stayed close but didn’t follow us underneath the shelter.
“You have four minutes, forty seconds left,” she sneered.
“Emilia, please...”
“I love him.” She sighed. “I’m in love with him.”
“You don’t love him.” She couldn’t. He was a monster.
“How do you know what the hell I feel? He was mine before you came along and—” She smashed her lips together, shaking her head.
“Trust me, I wish things were different. I don’t want Scott. I don’t want any of this.”
Emilia’s brows furrowed as she studied me. “He told me you know? Taunted me about your engagement.”
My heart skipped a beat. If she knew, others might. Everyone will know soon enough. I let out a weary sigh.
“Listen to yourself. Scott isn’t a good person, he isn’t...” Inhaling deeply, I chose my next words carefully. “Has Scott ever hurt you, Emilia? Made you do something you didn’t want?”
“He would never... I love him. We were going to be happy together. We were going to...” Her bottom lip trembled, and I saw the realization in her eyes. Scott had hurt her; she just hadn’t separated fantasy from reality yet. Maybe it was her coping mechanism, or maybe it was her way of making sense of everything, or maybe she really did love him.
But it didn’t change the fact that Scott was a monster.
“You can do so much better,” I said.
“Please.” She rolled her eyes, indignation glittering in them. “Next to Tristan, Scott is the most eligible bachelor in MU. And he was mine.” Her frown turned to a glower.
“I am not your enemy, Emilia. But I could be your ally.”
“What the hell does that mean? You’re engaged to him... you’re going to be his wife, and you’re what? Plotting some crazy revenge plan? I don’t need to listen to this. Just