Chapter 85

Harper

"But I didn't fuck her, baby,"

Easton says, his hand moving to my face.

“I didn't touch her at all.” I want to push him away, but the sound of his

voice is what I cling to.

The softness, the rawness, the truth I see in his eyes.

"I couldn't do it,"

he continues.

"I got to her house, I told her how much you mean to me, and that I'm

willing to take whatever punishment comes my way but to leave you

out of it.” The ache in my stomach turns to something else.

Relief? Tingles? There's so much emotion running through me, I'm not

sure I can differentiate my feelings anymore.

But I know I need to hear something again, I need to hear it over and

over until it sinks in.

"You really didn't have sex with her?"

He shakes his head.

"No, baby."

His other hand joins my face.

“I didn't kiss her, I didn’t touch her—nothing happened between us.”

His stare deepens.

"I care about you, Harper, more than you think I do.” I fall against his

chest and his arms wrap around me, his scent, his warmth, his breath—

all giving me so much comfort.

This morning, I didn't know if I'd be here again with him and now I can't

imagine being anywhere else.

My eyes close and after a few seconds I ask, "How are we going to get

out of this mess?"

“It's my mess, not yours."

I squeeze him tighter.

"You're not in this alone."

"I am because there's no way I'm dragging you into it.

You got enough shit from WHGOSSIP, you don't need anymore."

I bury my face in his neck.

"What's going to happen?"

"Mrs.

Scott called me this morning and told me she has a meeting with the

school board.

I'm sure they're going to drag me in and ask all the questions, but I'm

not going to rat her out for anything.

The last thing I need is for anyone to press charges and for this to go to

court.” "Does that mean things between you two will go back to the

way they were?” He kisses the top of my head.

"After this is over, things will be cordial, but I assure you I won't be

asking for any more favors

Which means, we're definitely getting detention for being this late to

class.” 1 tilt my neck back to look at his face, more relief flooding

through me.

"I can live with that."

He scans my eyes, back and forth, his hands holding my face steady.

"We all have skeletons in our closet, Harper.

You've just met one of mine.”

I hated hearing that he slept with Mrs

Scott.

She's so much older than us and married and all the guys think she's so

hot—things I'm trying not to focus on, those layers will only make me

feel worse.

But we all have a past and his is just much more sexual than mine.

"It doesn't change how I feel about you, but I'm pretty sure you're

going to have to explain this all to my brother.”

I wince at the thought of Ryan's face this morning on the way to school.

"He wants to kill you— again.”

"I need to talk to Blake, too.” My eyes widen.

"Blake?"

"Every time I turn around, he's there, trying to get with you.

I've had enough of it, it needs to end or we're just going to keep

fighting.”

"He does seem to always be there.”

His hand lowers to my hip.

"He wants you, Harper, and I can't blame the bastard, you're the hottest

girl in our school.”

He kisses the end of my nose, a gesture so sweet it makes my chest

pound.

"But no more games with him, I'm putting a stop to it, he needs to set

his sights on a new girl."

"Is that conversation going to involve fists?"

He smiles.

"I'l be good.

Promise.” I feel so much more settled than when I was walking up here

to the roof, but there are still things I'm worried about.

"Do you think Mrs.

Scott or the school board will notify my parents about the day we left

school? I know that sounds so trivial considering what you're about to

face, but I want to prepare myself for what's to come.”

I sigh.

"I hate surprises, Easton, and I feel like there's a new one every second.”

"I don’t think you have to worry.

I think she’s more focused on me right now.” His face moves closer.

“But if I hear something, I'll give you a heads up."

He comes even closer.

"Now, kiss me before I fucking explode.”

His lips crash against mine and my body lights on fire.

His scent, his touch, his all-consuming presence—it surrounds me and

pulls me in and I'm completely lost.

"Harper,"

he moans.

It's a sound I can't get enough of, a security I've needed since the post

was released.

His tongue slides out of my mouth, and he separates us.

"As much as I don't want to ever leave, we have to go to class.” "I

know."

My stomach leaps as I think of all the stares I'm going to get, the rude

comments, the assumptions that are so far from the truth.

"I fear there's going to be a lot of drama today."

I swallow, the tightness returning to my chest.

"Everyone is going to be talking about you and Mrs.

Scott and you cheating on me and—"

"Fuck what they all think.

This is about us and only us.”

His thumb grazes across my skin.

“Don't listen to them, promise me."

I want to be able to ignore everything I'm going to hear, but if it

continues like the nastiness I heard this morning, I just don't know if I

can.

"try," [tell him.

He gives me a small kiss again, and then he takes my hand and brings

me back through the door that leads to the stairwell and down a flight

to the hallway where both of our classes are located.

He stops outside my classroom door, our fingers linked, his eyes fixed

on mine.

"I need to hear you say we're all right.”

He brings our bodies together.

"I need to hear it one more time before I go to class and not see you

for another hour."

I know that feeling

That need for reassurance.

"I'm yours, Easton."

I smile, something that feels so good after so many tears.

“All yours.” He gives me the quickest kiss and I hurry inside my

classroom, apologizing to the teacher as I take my seat.

Sadie is sitting in the desk next to mine and looks at me and mouths,

"Easton?"

I nod and mouth back, "We're all good.”

Her grin tells me she's just as relieved as I am.

But there's still something off.

Something that's bothering me.

Something I just can't put my finger on.

I glance to my right and I catch Aisha's stare, a tightness in my stomach

immediately erupting.

It only gets worse when that bitch smiles at me.

Because I know that gesture is a warning and something terrible is

about to go down.