“Just tell me the truth, Kenny. Tell me what happened, please.”
The pain in his voice coils around my heart, sucking the air from my lungs.
He knows.
Conner knows what happened, but he needs to hear me say it. He needs me to trust him with my truths.
But I can’t do it.
I can’t admit it out loud.
Because admitting it means it happened.
Admitting it makes me a victim, and I refuse to be that girl.
We stare at one another, and I swear I can feel his warmth wrapping around me like a blanket.
Growing up, Conner was always my protector, my knight-in-shining-armor. There wasn’t anything his touch or smile or reassuring words couldn’t heal. But we’re not those people to each other anymore.
I’m not his.
And he’s not mine.
“Conner, I—“
“Shh, Kenny.” His hand curves around the back of my neck, pulling me down until our heads are touching and our breaths mingle.
“Con...” My voice wavers, and I’m not sure what I’m asking him.
“The thought of anyone hurting you... it fucking kills me, babe. But knowing he hurt you, knowing that I trusted him with you, and he—“
I slide a finger to his lips, forcing the words back in.
Because I can’t do this.
Not now.
Not ever.
“I’ll survive,” I whisper. “I’ll be okay.”
A shudder rolls through him as he inhales a ragged breath, screwing his eyes shut. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
The words reverberate inside me.
Words can’t fix this.
They can’t fix us.
“Yeah,” I reply as I start to pull away. “Me too.”
“Kenny, don’t.”
“You should get some rest, Conner,” I say, fighting back the wave of tears threatening to fall. “That’s going to hurt tomorrow.”
Abandoning the soda and chicken, I turn and retreat toward my room.
But as I reach the stairs, I’m almost certain I hear his voice.
“Not as much as losing you.”
“So, what do you think?” Hadley asks me as I take in the dorm room. Except, it doesn’t really resemble a dorm room at all. It’s more like a five-star hotel—not that I’ve ever been to one. The carpet is thick and spongy beneath my feet, and the furniture looks expensive and complements the pale beige walls.
It’s a far cry from Warren’s bedroom in his dad’s trailer.
“Kennedy?” she asks, and I blink over at her.
“It’s... nice.” The word comes out tight.
“You have your own bathroom, and there’s a communal kitchen down the hall, but I never really go in there.”
“Yeah, I’m not going in there either.”
She offers me a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay, you know. I’m right next door, and the girls aren’t that bad if you keep to yourself. At least you have a few days to settle in before school starts.”
As if I can forget.
The last place on Earth I want to go is Sterling Prep, but I don’t have much of a choice.
“Kennedy,” James Jagger steps into the room, taking the air with him, “this is Valerie Jones, the school guidance counselor and cheer squad coach.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Kennedy.” The woman steps forward.
“Hey,” I inch back. There’s something about the way they’re watching me that rubs me the wrong way, like I’m a caged animal about to bolt. Hadley moves closer to me, offering me another smile.
“It’s okay,” she says softly. “Miss J is good people.” Something passes over her face.
“I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know my door is always open. Principal Vager would have been here to welcome you, but he’s currently out of town.”
“I... uh, okay.” This is awkward.
I don’t want to be here.
But I don’t want to be back in the Heights, either.
“Well, I’ll let you get settled in. You’re in good hands.” She flicks her gaze to Hadley. “When the semester starts, I’ll check in again, okay?”
I nod. It’s all I can manage.
“You’ll be okay?” James asks.
“We’ll be fine, thank you,” Hadley answers for me.
“Very well. You’re welcome at the house whenever you like, Kennedy.”
“Thanks.”
Relief seeps into me as they leave, closing the door behind them.
“You okay?” Hadley eyes me carefully.
I give her a half-shrug. “Could be worse, right?”
“The Jaggers are... a lot. I learned that the hard way. But they mean well.”
“You’re telling me,” I grumble, running my finger over the sideboard.
“Shall we unpack and get you settled?”
My brow arches as I glance at the one bag of things I have, most of them hand-me-downs from Hadley and Remi. When I lift my eyes to hers again, a knowing smile tugs at her lips.
“Actually, I have a better idea.”
My brows pinch, and she chuckles. “Come on, trust me. It’ll be fun.” Hadley makes