Chapter 36
Jack
Packing up my things wasn’t as big of an event as I thought it would be. I never did get around to buying more clothes, and most of the ones I’d brought fit into one backpack. There were a few pieces I’d borrowed from Xinyi that I still hadn’t given back, and now, I wasn’t sure if she wanted them.
She was one of the ones I’d avoided since the big reveal and, after seeing how Kyren had responded, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to find out that I was, in fact, all alone in this school.
“Knock, knock.”
My head jerked up, turning toward the door where Xinyi lingered in the doorway. “Hi.” I twisted back, shoving a few books into another bag, hoping my nerves didn’t show in that one word.
“Are you leaving?” Xinyi stepped further into the room, walking up behind me.
I tensed. My mom’s warning about getting stabbed in the back by my best friend rang through me. “No… uh… my parents thought I might be more comfortable in a private room.” I let out a hard laugh. “They also weren’t too happy about the fact that I was rooming with a guy.”
“Right.” Xinyi bounced onto my bed. “Can’t have you mingling with the rabble.
I mean, I wouldn’t want to worry about someone trying to kill me in the middle of the night either.
Though, if I’d been hanging out with you for over a month and just found out you’d been lying about your identity the whole time, I might get testy, too. ”
“I’m sorry.” My lips twitched. “You know I’d have told you if I could have. But my parents wanted me to have the whole school experience without the… Durand of it all.”
Xinyi sighed dramatically. “Alright, I know. I get it. But still, you could have told me. I can keep a secret.”
I shot her a look.
“Okay, maybe not, but hey, this is so cool.” Xinyi leaned toward me with a wide grin. “I know a celebrity.”
I snorted. “I’d hardly call me that.”
Xinyi was quiet for a moment, then spoke a bit softer. “What about Kyren and Tate?” She gestured her head toward the other side of the room where Tate’s bed sat. “Have you talked to them?”
“No, she hasn’t.”
My back stiffened, pulse taking off on a gallop.
Xinyi pressed her lips together with a knowing smile before hopping off the bed. She pressed a hand to my shoulder. “I’ll let you two talk.”
The sound of her footsteps retreating barely registered with Tate’s pine fresh scent filling my lungs. I couldn’t look at him, so I forced my hands to continue folding clothes. If I looked at him, I’d likely throw myself at him and beg him not to leave me.
His footsteps moved closer, the heat of his body pressing against my back. “So, is this how it’s going to be? You’re just not going to talk to me.”
My hands paused, my voice small. “What’s there to talk about?”
Tate moved in closer, his front brushing against my back, his breath on the side of my forehead. “You could have told me.” His hands came up and cupped my shoulders.
For a moment, I let him hold me, just touch me as if nothing had changed. It made my throat close up and my heart ache. Unable to handle it, I pushed out of his grasp, swinging my bag over my shoulder.
“I’m not your enemy, Jack,” Tate called after me, making me stop at the door. “Neither is Kyren. Not that he would listen to me right now, but if you two would just sit down and talk about this —”
My eyes locked with his, burning with unshed tears. “No, Tate, we can’t. Kyren made his feelings quite clear.”
“And what about me?” Tate stepped toward me, his face so full of desperation that I wanted to say fuck it and throw myself at him. “You and Kyren can’t get along, so you’re just going to toss me aside? How is that fair to either of us?”
“It’s not,” I snapped back, hand tightening on my bag. “But you’re his human servant, Tate. You’re a package deal. And Kyren and I…” I swallowed, looking down at the ground. “We’re just not going to happen.”
“But I…” Tate reached out to touch my face. “I love you.”
The tears fell before I could stop then. His words made the ache in my chest even worse than before. Which was hilarious since it was supposed to be a happy moment — hearing someone tell you they love you.
Except for me, in this moment, it was the worst possible thing he could have ever said to me.
Sucking in a shaky breath, I stepped back from him, his hand falling from my face as I hardened my eyes on him.
“And I’m a Durand.”
With those parting words, I walked away from him. My first big step out into the world, and I not only broke my heart but two others. Who knew being a regular girl could be packed full of so many thrills?
Still, I’d have given up my whole hunting career in an instant for that one moment in time I was happy with them.
But that would require Kyren and me to both get over our pasts — and the truth was, our past wasn’t done with us yet.