Chapter 28
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to step out of my little hidey hole along the wall. I wouldn’t let Trace make me feel embarrassed or ashamed. “More like I got assaulted with something I never needed to see.”
Trace’s violet eyes swirled and sparked, but there was something beneath it all. A deadness. Everything about it was wrong, and I had the sudden urge to hug him and never let go.
What the hell? I’d just seen him hooking up with one of the worst girls at school. Yet something about that wasn’t exactly right. Whatever I’d just witnessed wasn’t a give and take between two people. It wasn’t passion. It was clinical.
My brow furrowed as I studied Trace.
He shoved off the wall. “What’s the matter, Little Bird? Never seen a little hallway hookup?”
My cheeks flamed. There was nothing I could do to stop it.
Trace laughed. “God, you should see yourself. I’d almost think you were a virgin.”
My expression blanked. I wanted to hide the embarrassment, but wiping every hint of emotion from my face gave me away.
Trace’s jaw went slack. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
I lifted my chin. “What I am or am not is none of your business.”
A muscle fluttered along Trace’s jaw, and his nostrils flared. “Do the smart thing and keep your distance from me, Little Bird. It’s what’s best for both of us.”
And then he was simply gone.
I blinked against the shadows in the hallway. I had the sudden, bizarre urge to cry. It wasn’t even because Trace had made his dislike of me known yet again. It was more. It was a bone-deep knowledge that Trace hated himself. That understanding made me feel sick to my stomach.
Forcing my legs to move, I wandered deeper into the building. One hallway led to another and another until, finally, I found my place. The warm glow of the library lights welcomed me in.
Tiptoeing inside, I looked around. I didn’t see any sign of students or even faculty. And when I caught sight of an outdoor patio, I grinned. The temperature today wasn’t too cold, so I slipped outside and sat at the long table.
As I unpacked my lunch and bio book, the image of Trace’s dead eyes flashed in my mind. I bit the inside of my cheek. I didn’t need to feel any sort of sympathy for him. Shouldn’t want to understand him more. But somehow, I did.
I dug my fork into the leftover pasta and tried to focus on the human respiratory system, but I kept having to read the same sentences two and three times.
The sound of a door opening had my head jerking up.
Declan’s concerned face filled my vision. “Are you okay?”
I blinked a few times. “Sure, why?”
“You weren’t at lunch, and those idiots wouldn’t tell me a damn thing.”
I winced at the ‘idiots’ remark. “I’m not really into crowds.”
Declan nodded, shuffling his feet. “Can I sit with you?”
“Sure,” I mumbled, confusion washing over me. It wasn’t as if Declan and I were friends. The fact that he seemed so worried about me didn’t make any sense.
A smile curved his mouth, and when he sat, he inhaled deeply. A look of what I could only describe as peace filled his face. When he opened his eyes, he studied me. “Something happened.”
I sighed. “Nothing really. It’s just going to take some time for me to find my place here. Emerald Bay is pretty different from where I lived before.”
Declan leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Where’d you live before?”
This was the problem with having people in your life. They wanted to know things. “A small town in Louisiana.”
He nodded, frowning. “And your parents were okay with you coming to live with Colt?”
I worried the corner of my lip. “My dad passed away years ago, and my mom…she doesn’t care much what I do.” Although I was sure she was pissed about losing her housekeeper.
Pain flashed across Declan’s face. “I’m so sorry, Leighton.”
It was the first time he’d said my name. It was as if his tongue stroked each syllable, pulling me closer. I struggled to keep my breathing even. “It was a long time ago.”
“That doesn’t erase the pain. Not when you truly loved someone. That mark is with you forever.”
I stared at Declan, his white-blond hair sweeping across his forehead and his gray eyes so earnest and understanding. “Did you lose someone, too?”
“My mom. It was a long time ago, but there are still days where the pain steals my breath.”
I moved on instinct, laying my hand over his. “I’m sorry.”
His gaze locked on where our skin was joined. “Thank you.”
A faint buzz built at the contact, and I quickly pulled my hand away.
Declan cleared his throat. “Do you have plans after school?”
I inclined my head toward my textbook. “Homework. I’m pretty behind.”
He nodded. “Prep can be pretty intense.”
“I’m gathering that.”
“Maybe I could give you a ride home today?”
My stomach dipped. There was a part of me that longed to say yes. Declan didn’t make me second-guess or feel on the outside. He’d accepted me from the first moment we met. But I had a feeling Colt wouldn’t be too crazy about it. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
Declan muttered something under his breath.
“Why don’t you get along with them?” I asked.
He knew exactly what I was talking about. You could’ve cut the tension at lunch yesterday with a knife. “Just family drama.”
My brows pulled together. “Family?”
Declan nodded. “Didn’t they tell you? Ronan’s my twin.”