Page 108 of Unexpected Prejudice

I closed my eyes, thinking of how much she’d suffered for the past few weeks.

“Look at me,” Shay-Lee ordered.

I somehow managed to do as he said.

“It isn’t your fault. Say it.”

“Shay-Lee.”

“Say it!”

“I-it is not m-my fault.” I sniffed between my words.

“Good.” He traced his thumbs over my cheek and brushed away some of my tears. “I want you to listen to me very carefully.”

His voice was calm and low, sending shivers down my spine.

“I’ll make sure the twins pay for what they did to her. And trust me when I say they will get what they deserve.”

“How—”

Cutting me off, he continued, “But you need to promise me you’ll stay away. You’re not getting involved. My only rule is I keep you safe.”

I was too stunned to speak, and he seized the moment to go on. “After tonight, Laura’s name won’t come out of your mouth. No one else but me ever hears about what you just told me. Am I clear?”

I nodded, but it wasn’t enough for him.

“Say it. Say, ‘Shay-Lee, I won’t ever say a word about Laura Mayers.’”

“I-I won’t ever say a w-word about Laura Mayers.”

He bit the inside of his cheek and nodded before moving his hand to cup my nape and pulling me so our foreheads were pressed together.

“The twins hate you.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. “They hate you and want your head after turning on them. You got that?”

I nodded.

“Say it out loud. I need to hear you say it.”

“I-I do.”

“They will try to end you and they’ll succeed unless you let me protect you.” He paused, and I felt his breath dancing on my lips. “I need you to stay safe, Jordan, so promise me. Promise me you’ll trust me. Promise me you’ll let me protect you.”

“I promise.”

He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around me. Mentally and physically exhausted, I allowed myself to fall against him, burying my head in the crook of his neck and hugging him like I was holding on to dear life. I breathed his familiar scent as I dug my fingers into the fabric of his shirt and squeezed my eyes shut.

He promised to protect me, and I trusted him.

Levi

Trying to get comfortable in the cinema was impossible. All I could think about was how dirty the place was, that the padding of the chairs needed dry cleaning, and how the stain on the floor was highly suspicious. I also hated popcorn and never understood the appeal of watching a movie in a room full of strangers.

But Jessie loved it. Ever since we were kids, we had movie dates. I hated going to the cinema for almost nine years, but I did it anyway because I loved Jessie. I loved him so much that I couldn’t care less about my discomfort and sat through hours of films without ever mentioning it.

Discomfort. That’s what I’d felt ever since Jordan entered our life. He made me feel jealous, vulnerable, and pathetic. And because I was the type of person to go to a movie I didn’t like and waste two hours on a film that bored me because someone else wanted it, I didn’t say a word.

That was why I had offered to go today. I was naive enough to think a date to the cinema would help ease my mind and prove that Jessie and I were as strong as ever. Obviously, it didn’t prove shit.