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“After theincidentwith Stella,” she started, “Reid told Dane that Stella had a busted lip, and a bruise on the side of her face Stella said you did it”

“But you saw the whole thing,” I replied “I didn’t put a hand on her”

“I know, but I saw her face thisthe truth”

“And he believed her?”

Kennedy dropped her head and I knew that Reid did in fact believe whatever bullshit Stella had told him

“She also told him you threatened her,” added Grady “But he wouldn’t repeat exactly what Stella told him He said he wanted to talk to you first”

I laughed bitterly, and the bile rising in my throat burned “What’s the point? He already believes her”

Grady reached over and covered , and we’ll find out exactly what the psycho bitch did to get her face to look like you’d puht now you have to take care of yourself, and we’re gonna be with you all the way”

As much as I appreciated their support, I’d reached a point where I was tired of feeling like so I’d decided to get back to beingto stop oing to be after I told Reid about a around hiirlfriend I had someone who mattered more than all of that

I sat up straight, braced my shoulders, and inhaled

“If he wants to talk, then we’ll talk, but if he thinks I’”

Chapter 7

Reid

Let Her Go

I checkedthat it was, in fact, quite late It was already nightfall, and as I stepped out ofaat the airport only a few hours ago, I had to speak to her

Stella and I had stayed for the rest of our trip to Cabo, while Dane, Kennedy and Grady had left soon after Jade Every instinct in o with them, but like the idiot I was, I stayed behind with Stella instead She seemed a little more relaxed once ere alone, and I couldn’t help but be bothered by how ht it would have taken her soht s now, that hadn’t been so obvious before

I crossed the di up to Jade’s house My parents lived right next door, but they weren’t home, and even if they were, it was too late to call on them noay

I pulled ht the chill in the air as I expelled a s, but it had less to do with the temperature and more with the chill inside me I hadn’t spoken to Jade in days, since our confrontation at the hotel, and she’d ignored every atteet in touch That onlyto do intensify I knew things with Stella and I couldn’t stay the sae where that leftback to school toet this out the way before ere forced to see each other every day and pretend

Wanting some kind of resolution hat led me to her front door

I knocked, hoping soht no one would answer, the door opened, revealing irl-next-door

“Reid?”