Page 195 of Always Love You More

“Baby?”

“Yeah?”

“You broke a girl’s nose ’cause she took your pudding?”

“What—no! Do you think I’m insane?”

“I mean, you’re not exactly known to be chill about things.”

“Jesus, Jamie, no, I didn’t break a girl’s nose for taking my pudding.”

“Then what?”

“She was talking shit about Johnny.”

“Who is this girl?” he growls.

“I don’t know. Her name’s Juliette. Said Johnny used to steal from her father’s store. Told me he was a thug and that—”

“That what?”

I clear my throat. “That everyone was probably better off that he—”

“Oh, fuck no,” Jameson mutters. “What’d she think was gonna happen to her, saying something like that?”

“It’s not like I regret it.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“I don’t. It’s just that it happened in the middle of the cafeteria. A teacher had to pull me off of her, and there was a lot of blood. Everybody saw, and I’m—”

A fist pounding on the door cuts me off.

“Time’s up,” Garcia shouts.

I walk over to the sink and turn on the water before yelling back, “Be right out.”

“Who was that?” Jameson asks.

“Garcia. He was taking me to the office, but I told him I had to go to the bathroom. He’s waiting outside.”

“If her nose is broken …”

“I know,” I tell him. “That’s why I’m freaking out. What if they press charges? And you know they’re gonna call my dad.” My words are coming out a mile a minute. “He’s gonna be so pissed. I don’t even know—”

“It’s all gonna be okay.”

“You don’t know that. What if—”

“Listen to me. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it. Okay?”

I don’t answer.

“Baby?”

More pounding sounds from the door. “Sam!” Garcia calls out. “You have thirty seconds, or I’m coming in.”

“I’ve really gotta go.”