Page 74 (1/2)

I rush forward again and a foot hooks against razes up my arm In a flash, I’runt as round and Haley crouches beside me

"I’m sorry," she whispers in ht already and we have nowhere to go Nowhere I’ for freedo to lance at her brother, her cousin, then to her father

Not one of them came to her defense Haley’s uncle hovers over ain, I’lares at Haley "If you continue to see him, you and your entire worthless faoes into the house Everyone else--her father, her cousin, her brother--solidify into frozen dumb-ass lawn ornaments in his screwed-up world I drop ins to fade and the reality of what I’ve done sinks into my bone marrow Just fk

"We’re not over," I say so only she can hear Haley ht isn’t cold enough for h for the air to burn ony in her eyes, on her face, but what I hate more is the silent acceptance by her so-called family

"You shouldn’t have done that," she says

"He called you a slut" I stare each one of them down "She is not a slut"

"Shit!" Jax turns his back tohis fist into the mailbox The metal door tips open and the entire box vibrates on the pole

"It isn’t what you think," says Kaden With one final look at Haley, he follows his cousin

"What’s your poor excuse?" I ask her father

Haley touchesinto my arm "Don’t Not him Yell at me, not at my dad"

"I’m sorry, Haley" Her father shoves his hands deep into his pockets "I’ulps for air "It’s okay, Dad Don’t worry It’s okay"

The forced cheer in her voice causes e fro to pretend I didn’t hear Haley excuse her father for per anyone to call her a slut

We re at the brointer grass Her fingernails keep their teeth locked on ins to throb I watch Haley, willing her to acknowledge ain locked inside her head

"You have ten minutes before you need to be inside for curfew," her father says The screen door squeaks shut behind hirass, the two of us sit alone "I’lance

"For what?" she snaps