Page 29 (1/2)

"We’re going to swing by Olivia’s place and pick so up to drop off to her ex" Seth tells Jackson like it’s no big deal

"We’re going? You sure that’s a good idea?"

"No" I state firood idea Her ex is a douchebag"

Jackson leans back in the seat and his obvious disapproval hangs in the hair, o" He replies

"You’reout onto the road

"Seth--"

"No," Jackson interjects "I’ll tag along, just don’t do anything stupid"

I glance sideways at Seth His face is neutral, void of any specific e stupid, would he? The last thing I want is to get Blade hurt or Seth in trouble The closer we got to oing to say to Blade or if he’ll even be home I pull my phone from my pocket

"I should probably call him"

I dial his number and put it to lances at htly and his brows furrow I think he heard it Momentarily, I’nore it

"Olly?"

Screw it I’ll correct him next time "Blade, hey"

He seeood news from me "How are you?"

It’s dead quiet in the car and it’s unnerving "Good, thanks Are you going to be home today? I need to--"

"Yeah, I’ll be ho?"

"I should be there in half an hour" I look at Seth and he nods

"Great! I’ve really e "Yeah, I’ll see you then"

I hang up and putin a edgy fidget

When we pull up outsideoff the floor and jump frorab the little red box I don’t bother changing my clothes I’m too comfortable in my jeans and t-shirt I step into my bedroom and i lands with a srab the box and feel the nice velvet ertips before I push it into the pal and I feel a little anxious I’m ninety-nine percent sure I knohat’s inside but I don’t knohat kind of e with the box It creaks as er pushes it open a little I take two deep breaths--in and out, in and out--and open it the rest of the way I inhale sharply, totally floored by the pretty, gold ring nestled in the white, silk fabric It’s truly beautiful and soether But now, I don’t want it It represents all of row from I close the lid and stuff it into the pocket of e ridiculously I don’t want to spend toosure I lock it behind et back into the car, but other than that no one said anything to me, thank God

When we pull into Blade’s driveway the butterflies in ht of seeing Blade’s face when I return this ring is going to suck--especially knowing that he probably spent a lot of money on it

"Do you wanth falls froo down too well"

"We’re here if you need us" Jackson says, sticking his head between our seats again And I smile at him

"Thanks"

I pull the little box from my pocket and open the door Blade’s place is much likestraight to his door I slide out of the car and shut the door behind n of happiness on his face I knew I should’ve come alone He stuffs his hands into the front pocket of his jeans

"Please tellyou off"

I shake "

His blue eyes glower past h my stomach when I hear two car doors open and close I turn to the for Blade to do sohtly--al ‘I told you so’ Seth face is inti, even to me His thick ar I try to give him my best ‘relax’ face and I’m sure he knohat Ithe boys with such disgust and hate

"Forget they’re even here" I say, clis his eyes tohis dimples "Easy done Do you want to come in?"

"No"

He al" I hold out the little red case "I can’t accept this"

He doesn’t take it "I bought it for you"

"I know, but we aren’t together It’s wrong for ift"

Oh boy This is not going to be easy "It’s beautiful--it really is--but I don’t want it"

"Olly, baby--"

"And you need to stop callingincreasingly angry and coirlfriend for six years I’ve earned the right to call you that"