Page 202 of Their Cruel Play
Releasing my breath, I wait a few seconds and then Kenz walks in.
“What’s with the cloak and dagger, H.?” Kenz leans against the sink. Her blue eyes lock on mine. “Is it the horsemen?”
“I need to tell you something, and I’m not sure how you’ll take it.” I squeeze my hands together.
Her brows draw down, but she nods. “Are you pregnant?”
Like it’s a given.
“No! Fuck, no.” My heart beats harder. “My mom would kill me and then the guys and then me again. No, I’m definitely not pregnant.”
Kenz gives me a relieved smile. “Okay, then what’s up? Nothing could be as bad as that, right?”
I blow out a breath. Yeah, me being pregnant, not knowing which one is the father, telling my mom. Shit, that would be awful.
Fuck it, rip off the Band-Aid.
“I trust you, first off. You’re my best friend.”
“It’s okay, H. I know you’re under a lot of pressure. Just spit it out, and we’ll deal with it like we always do.” Kenz steps forward and takes my hand. “We can figure out anything together.”
I nod. But this will still hurt. “The guys are looking into everyone in our lives to try to figure out who is out to get me or who’s helping whoever wants to hurt me.”
“Good.” She squeezes my hand. “They should, and I’ll help however I can.”
Inhaling, I search her blue eyes. I can’t lose her. “They’re looking into everyone. Including you.”
Her smile drops for a second. “Oh.”
“I told them they don’t have to. That I trust you, but it’s not like I can really get them to stop anything. You have access to me like no one else does.” The words well inside me when she still doesn’t say anything. Tears thicken my throat. “I don’t know what all they’ll do, but it’s not like they’ll interrogate you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. There’s nothing for them to find.” She smiles softly and pulls me into her arms. “I’m glad you have them, H.”
“What?” I hug her to me, afraid that this might be the last time.
“Yes, they’re the reason someone is coming after you, but they’ll do everything to protect you.” She hugs me back and then pulls away so we’re eye to eye. “You have this blind spot to people who get close to you.”
“No, I don’t.” Do I?
Kenz smiles. “Tanner. Even Penny and the girls. You want to believe the best in everyone, but that’s not the way the world works. Fuck, H. That’s probably why those boys cling to you. They’ve never had someone who hasn’t tried to use them for something.”
“You aren’t mad?” I swipe at the tear that escapes down my cheek.
She shakes her head and rubs my arms. “No. You and I are good. They won’t find anything because there’s nothing to find. I’m not after you. Fuck, you’re the only girl worth knowing inthis school. I’m just glad no one else has realized that before this year.”
Her grin makes me smile. My body feels lighter. She’s okay with this. We’re okay.
“We should get back to class. Are you sure you’re good?” I have to ask. But if Brandon knew Kenz was in trouble and decided to look into our friendship, I wouldn’t have an issue with him going through my stuff either.
“One hundred percent. It’s not like they’re going to blast my personal information everywhere. That’s not the way they work.” Kenz puts her arm around my shoulder. “You and me are good.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. But the nerves are still there because I need to go into the principal’s office at lunch and talk about the picture being circulated. Maybe I should just go home.
Jack
Fuck. My nerves are getting the best of me standing outside Coach Turner’s office. But he’s the obvious choice to make sure my girl gets to and from the game without harm. Getting her on the bus with us past Coach would take a miracle none of us are capable of. Steeling myself, I knock.
“Come in.”
