Chapter 19

tecili perkelahiraghi his mirk, flashing Imove my eyes wy from him, knowing I had been staring for too long i bit into my plump bottom lip to suppress a smile. “Your promises don’t count Cross.

From my peripheral vision, I whis head whip to face me for a second only to draw back to the road. “My promises are my word Bella. Carved into store that cannot be lifted and broken.”

I grip my bag, hoping he hadn’t noticed m. y nervous habit when he turns to face me again, this time lingering his eyes a little longer than last. “When I promise something, I mean it with every fiber of m y being.”

There was something hidden in his tone. Something deep that he had buried. And a SI took a quick peek at him from the corner of my eye. I observed how lost he looked. He seemed to be in his head, gaze going cloudy.

“Nice mutfie.” His voice brought #backt thoughts of me jumping out of the maving truck just to get away from the cuibarrassment I was very thankful that he didn’t mock mm e like normal guys at his age would. But However, Halden was far from normal I looked down at my ripped jeans and black t-shirt with the word fearless printed on it in bold cursive letters. I lit my head to give him a side-eye, rolling in y eyes as I spoke. “Well, I didn’t have ani. asshole dirtying me today so._…” I drawled, smiling slightly when he chuckles.

“I apologized for that didn’t 1?’ He faked a confused look, brows drawing together as one of his hands come to rub his chini n thought All’m so sorry that I did you lid bry gly and there was nothing much to see Anyway’ an apology? Do I need to lind you a dictionary Weindly, having a conversation with Haiden selt normal. Like we were long lose friends, catching up on some good old times. Hut we weren’t We were Certainly not friends.

Why was conversing with him, case my usual tense for exceptionally?

He spares mne a quick glance where I instantly saw the flash of amusement in his eyes before he brought it back to the road. “First of all. Those weren’t my exact words. Second, I swear I hadn’t Sten the puddle of water. And third. You were the one who insulted me first.” He pointed out.

“Oh so we’re counting excuses now?”

“And for the record, saying that I didn’t have a good view wasn’t an insult directed to you.” I defended.

“The Holy ve Y ee my num Sen Flanelle oudio Halden” 1 COUNCER.

Haiden snorte. – Well, I’m sorry that I only serin toatch you staring inside my Four princess, so I just presumed that it’s the only view you latch your cyes ento.” He shruused, biting down on his Tip to stop 11 smile from emerging “You’re so full of it.” I hulfed tuming away with a tiny hint of a smile on my lace Maybe people judged him too soon. Maybe Haider Cross wasn’t as bad as they dermed him to be.

Peeking at him under my lashes through the corner of my eye, I saw how relaxed h e seemed to be. So different from how he painted himself to be. Seeing how calm h e was, led me to believe that my next Words wouldn’t upset him.

My woke us on most unibeard and for a quick second Thought he hadn’t home but by the tensingoli shoulders. I knew he did.

Perhaps the man’t the right time to qaton himabut Hm.

Twatch as the relaxed Haiden morphi into of t he cold mistaken as steel. The Crown on his face sketched his features so differently than before that I questioned the resim After a couple of awkward silence that threatened to consume us, he answered curtly. “Only met her yesterday.”

His voice had grown so coldly that the morning heat could not be felt anymore. His words held a silent warning about not dragging the topie further. But me being me, needed to know more. Especially if it:

involved me, somehow.

“Yeah, everyone saw what happened in the cafeteria. Did she say anything to upset you? Gwen can be a little bit pushy Sometimes- I began to giggle only for you or anyone an explanation.” As his harsh ne spat out the words, I noticed that we were pulling up in the school’s juridnglot I try not to let him alfeci me too much. It Was Haider for crying out loud. His anger and temper were to be expected. Yet somehow, my heart felt constricted, like a heavy weight was pushing down on the Swallowing the burning lump in my throat, I nodded tightly.” You’re right, w e aren’t.”

When he parks the truck and turns off the ignition, I quickly opened the door. I could definitely feel eyes on me but somehow I didn’t care at the moment. What I cared about right now was to get a s far away from Haiden as possible.

“Bella-” He called out, voice growing soft and apologetic.

Olapologetic.

“Thanks for the ride.” I slammed the door of the truck with not needed force which silenced his words. I could hear the murmurs as I made a bee-line for the school.