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Chase just shook his head "How do you always get your way, ood looks and infinite charood weed"

I let that sink in for a , "Nope, sorry, so not into recreational drugs" I shookin my point I didn’t knohat made my confession so absolutely vital, so important that I needed to say it out loud with loads of conviction But I had to assu ht was vodka I had a reputation, and I couldn’t stop the ruroup of people was different than anyone I had ever hung out with before They were better…to prove my virtue Which was totally lame…

"Oh, no worries," Phoenix threw out immediately "The weed is just there, I mean available Personally, I never do it either, but my parents leave it where all my friends can find it They think that makes them cool parents I think it makes them irresponsible, but what can you do?"

"I don’t believe you," a snide voice called froirl that was mean to ht she was accusing Phoenix of lying, but by her pinched, hateful face I had to assume her state," she continued, letting her auous innuendo slide over every one of her words

"She doesn’t do drugs anymore Rehab, duh, Amber," another voice from down the table scolded but with a fair a voice

Hayden Ugh

"Oh that’s right," Ath hair bobbed around her face and got stuck to her overly lacquered lips Her eyes glinted maliciously at s I would never do drugs Ever But those were reasons I had to keep private, reasons I couldn’t even admit to myself out loud Plus, I still had to perpetuate the whole rehab lie anyway In only three days, I had alotten that I was supposed to be a recovering addict That was one lie that was going to be hard to keep straight Goodbye wholesome Hello nasty rumors

"Yep, the twelve steps and all," I mumbled half-heartedly I didn’t even knohat the twelve steps were in truth I knew they involved forgiveness, but that was the only one I could coled the rest for obnoxious moments just like this

"What does that evenroup

"Cotoo, since I had no idea what I meant by that and I should have known better than to think Ryder wouldn’t call ht?" Chase looked down at me and I felt enveloped in his protective care His hand slipped to my lower back and I instantly felt better in his bubble of white-knighthood It was really nice to have so on my behalf Even if he was a victi to be a douche," Ryder said a little bit softer and he drew aze from across the table and couldn’t help but fall just a little bit into his silver depths "Sorry, Ivy I wasn’t trying to pick on you" He held me motionless from where he sat; I was more than a little bit paralyzed by the look of sincerity in his eyes I could see that he felt bad for callingelse there, no hidden desire, no blatant interest, just apology He was cole one of hts rapped up in Ryder Sutton and how the hell he could resistour stare down and searching for anything else to look at Chase’s hand waruilt and eet so sucked into the vortex of Ryder’s self-control I settledit betweena little from these unfamiliar emotions

"Sam Evans doesn’t think it’s fine," Amber half shouted from across the table

My head snapped up with her accusation Instantaneously I was consuative, hateful erowled, not caring that there was a captive audience surroundingabout Don’t you ever say his naain with that much disrespect"

Chase’s hand becaid next tointo me with intense surprise and curiosity But I couldn’t explain I couldn’t explain hoas my fault what happened to Sauilt and sin of that night

"Did I hit a nerve?" Amber smirked pompously

"You have no idea what the hell you’re talking about So I suggest you stop talking now," I threatened in a low voice My hands had started to treether and hid theered in a worthless atteen Black spots prickledbreakdown that ooping down on ht

"God, you’re such a bitch," Amber’s voice bit out fro out in ainst ht, but I wasn’t capable of answering hi in onaway…

"Who’s the bitch?" a strong voice cut through my haze and called A about just because you’re jealous"

I liftedAmber in her place Her face had paled and her eyes filled with tears at his admonition I felt the shattered pieces of ether and I worked to pull in a full breath, filling, his eyes searching

"She’s been trying to hook up with Chase for two years," Ryder explained in a loud enough voice that I knew this was still directed at Amber "She’s jealous of you"

I nodded because that was all I was capable of Ryder heldback to a stunned Kenna He went back engaging her in conversation, giving her every ounce of his doting attention Slowly quiet chatter grew around us and everyone at our table seeth of his chest against ainst me

I would survive this

I had to

Chapter Twelve

"Finally!" Sloane called from the top of her staircase when my n house Her mother had drastically different taste than mine Where my mother worshipped at the altar of modern chic, Sloane’s mother was all classic French doors and iazine spread waiting to happen, with expertly decorated classic French furniture and a drool worthy backyard grotto complete with a cozy fire pit and sunken fifteen-person Jacuzzi "Up here now!" She snapped her perfectly ers impatiently and I couldn’t help but smile

"Geesh! You are so bossy!" I called back, feeling a weight lift offsurrounded by these people, by these wo up any kind of fight But I loved ood to see them