“What?”
I shifted uncomfortably. I twisted my hair around my finger as I lifted my eyes to his, swallowing when I saw the anger there.
“It was raining,” I repeated uselessly as he stared at me, unblinking.
“Raining,” he echoed as I nodded.
“Yeah, so he just gave me a ride. Nothing happened.”
He raised his eyebrows then, and a shiver ran down my spine. Something about how he looked at me made me wary, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t do anything wrong, but I knew he and Sam had history. Why was everything so complicated?
“I’m glad to hear you managed to control yourselves.” Bailey snapped as he turned the engine on, peeling away from school rapidly.
I quickly pulled the seatbelt around me and clipped it in, noticing he didn’t have it on. Given the current climate, I wasn’t about to tell him about road safety.
“And lunchtime? Was she telling the truth about that too?” He snarled, his eyes staring dead ahead as I wished he would slow down; he was driving far too fast for my liking.
“Slow down, Bailey, please,” I begged as he scowled, not slowing down at all. I sank back into the seat as he spoke again.
“Answer the question, Annabelle.”
“It was gym, I was running track, and he and one of his friends were at the school fence. He didn’t come to see me; he just happened to be there.”
We pulled up at Bailey’s house, and I sighed with relief when he turned the engine off. My relief was short-lived, though, when he got out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. He stomped off to the house without looking back, and I groaned—nothing as awkward as sitting in the driveway in your boyfriend’s car when you are arguing. I reluctantly opened the door, pulling my bag over my head as I leaned against the car, hot tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. I was emotionally drained. Being Bailey’s girlfriend was amazing, and I loved him, but god, was he hard work. Part of me wanted to walk down the drive and head home, but I knew he would only come after me and shout at me about the dangers I could’ve met.
I let out a long sigh as I turned to the house, determined to be strong. I hadn’t done anything wrong, and he needed to know that. I reached the front door to see it was ajar, so I walked in, leaning down to slip my shoes off. My eyes fell onto his sneakers by the doorway, my eyes running up the legs and broad torso with arms folded over it. I looked at him nervously as he watched me with an accusatory glare.
“You didn't think it was odd that he happened to be there when it was raining?” he asked as he sighed, his hand reaching out to tuck my hair behind my ear. I shook my head, my eyes wide. “And what, he skipped school to stand near your gym class? I don’t fucking like him, and I don’t want him anywhere near you. He’s fucking weird.”
“Weird?” I asked, tilting my head as he narrowed his eyes at me.
“Yes, weird. Promise me you won’t go anywhere with Sam on your own,” Bailey pleaded with me, and I frowned, wondering what had gone down between them that was so bad I couldn’t be alone with Sam. “Ever again.”
“Okay, Bailey. Okay.”
He breathed out a sigh of relief as he pulled me towards him.
“So can we go have make-up sex?” He growled into my ear, his lips nibbling on my earlobe slightly as I closed my eyes, allowing him to guide me to the stairs.
Why not?
Twenty-Seven
Never
“What time is Bailey picking you up?” Elijah asked, looking at me over the rim of his glasses as I crunched away on my cereal. I swallowed quickly before gulping some apple juice to clear my mouth.
“The usual time to get to school for first period.”
“Ray said you fell out again. What did he do this time?”
His voice was quiet as he put down his phone, his full attention on me. I cursed Ray inwardly—I knew she was just looking out for me—but my business is just that, mine.
“He didn’t do anything, Eli. He was upset that I got into a car with someone he doesn’t like.”
I shrugged as I pushed another spoonful of cereal into my mouth, happy that it meant I didn’t have to talk anymore.
“Now I’m intrigued. Who did you get into a car with?”
