Stay With Me (She's With Me #2) - Jessica Cunsolo Page 0,102

was a miracle when I got him to tell me the most insignificant detail about himself, and that was when he liked me. Having a bunch of stupid teenagers openly staring at you and stage whispering as you walk by isn’t something I think he’ll especially enjoy. I haven’t seen him since the accident because he just got back last night, but I wouldn’t blame him if he decided to skip the next few days.

As I walk into the school with Annalisa beside me, I already feel the stares on me. I fidget with the necklace that Aiden got me for Christmas, feeling calmed by its weight. It’s a pocket-knife disguised as a necklace that has a secret button to press to release the blade. Obviously, I know I shouldn’t be wearing it to school, but I didn’t wear it the night Aiden and I went to meet with Vivienne Henfrey, and we were run off the road and almost killed. I could’ve really used it then, so I decided I’d much rather have it on me now, just in case.

Annalisa holds her head high, a scowl on her face, staring down the people who gawk at us without shame until they bow their heads in submission. If I wasn’t her friend, I’d be terrified of her.

We round the corner to get to my locker, and I stop short. At my locker waiting for me is Aiden. It’s been almost a full week since I’ve seen him in person, and a sense of peace comes over me at seeing him standing there, waiting for me, looking at me like I just made his whole week. Everyone else and their stares and whispers at seeing me or Aiden fade away as I walk over to him.

2

Aiden pushes himself off of the locker he was leaning on and studies me as Annalisa and I approach him.

“How’s your face?” is the first thing he says to me once we’re close enough.

Wow. He’s so romantic. The corner of my lip turns up. “Not as bad as yours.”

He smiles at me as he shakes his head, immediately pulling me in for a hug, and I melt as he rests his chin on the top of my head.

I’ve talked to him over FaceTime during this past week, but this is the first time I’ve actually been with him in person since that hectic night where we were in a car accident and almost killed by Andrew’s orders. Being in Aiden’s arms now, hearing his steady heartbeat and feeling the tight muscles in his back, I can say with absolute certainty that nothing can substitute for the feeling of actually being with him in person.

“Are you okay?” he whispers to me.

There’s something about sharing a traumatic, life threatening experience with someone that brings you immediately closer to them. When you think about it, Aiden and I kind of saved each other’s lives. Actually, not kind of. We did. Harvey’s gun was pointed at me when he pulled the trigger, but the shot went wide because of Aiden’s quick thinking. Harvey started slicing Aiden’s throat but stopped when I shot him, and I’m so grateful my aim was good that day.

Being with Aiden now, I instinctively know that no matter what happens in my life, he’ll always be close to my heart.

I nod to answer his question. “Are you?”

He pushes a piece of hair behind my ear and pulls back to meet my eyes. “I’m better now.”

My heart flutters, and I remember when he said something similar to me after we got separated at the Tracks when the cops busted the races, which seems like forever ago.

Annalisa clears her throat. “I wanted to know how you were, too, in case you were wondering.”

I laugh and pull away from Aiden so that Annalisa can have her turn with him.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she says when they pull out of their hug.

Just then, Noah and Julian come around the corner and pull Aiden into one of those bro hugs.

“I knew we’d find you here,” Julian says to Aiden with a quick glance in my direction.

“But would it kill you to answer a text message every once in a while?” Noah complains as he gives Aiden a shove.

Aiden rolls his eyes and steps aside so I can open my locker.

“Hey, how are the twins handling all of this?” Annalisa asks. “Have you explained everything to them yet?”

Aiden sighs and runs his hand through his hair, which I just noticed is getting