Page 98 of Pawn

When I get to the lounge, my outfit grabs the attention of Isaac and Christian first, Isaac’s eyes landing on my joggers.

“Jo?” Allie follows her brother’s eyes to me, sitting up. “Are you out? Can you leave?”

“Uh …” Taking a glance back at the empty hallway, I know I need to make this quick. Ten minutes. “I need to talk to Willow.”

Willow slips off her seat between the girls and the boys, walking over to the entrance. Her eyes wander my face before she takes in my outfit.

“What’s going on?” she asks. “Where’s Damien?”

Shushing her, I pull her down the hall and into a supply closet. This is the last place I want to be, considering how I got here, but getting caught is far worse.

“We’re leaving,” I say, her shoulders between my palms.

“Great! I’ll tell the—”

“No. We’re leaving,” I explain, searching her eyes to make sure she understands. “Eden. For good. Now. If they find out what happened at the school, Damien and I are toast.” Brushing a curly strand out of her eye it’s like I’m committing her to memory, my eyes studying her face. “I can’t have that.”

She pauses like she’s considering what I’m saying before she looks into my eyes, her eyebrows lowering. “No.”

“No?!” Now I’m the parrot.

“No.” She stands up taller but my fingers go to my head.

“Willow, this isn’t the time.”

“Why do I have to leave everything behind? Again?” A hand on her hip, she purses her lips, waiting for an answer.

“Because I’ll likely get locked up if you don’t?”

“You’ll be locked up,” she sighs. “But I’m not going. Not after all this. We move around way too much and I’m finally fitting in and—”

“I’m not leaving without you.”

“Well, I’m not going and I rather visit my sister in some cool city than behind bars.”

My brows furrow. “Are you serious?”

“As serious as grandma’s heart attack.” I watch her hands come to my shoulders, in the same position I have hers when I’m trying to be sincere. “Go. I’ll cover. Everyone here has my back.”

What? No. “Where will you stay?”

“Crashing in Eden is not at all like crashing in The Grove.” Willow shrugs, showing no sign of worry. “Besides, I still have the keys to King’s and they’re after you guys. Not me. I’m not even a senior.”

There’s a tear in my eye, a glob in my throat. “I don’t have much time, Willow. Just—”

“You’re not losing me, Jo.” She holds out her pinky, her nail a sparkly bronze and while I hesitate, there’s no way I’m leaving her hanging like this. “And I’m not losing you either, so go.”

“Willow.” I’m gripping her pinky like it’s my lifeline. “Are you sure?”

“Go, Jo!”

“Wai—” Before I can stop her, she opens the door, marching into the hall. “Willow!”

“Ow!” she screams from the hall. “Ow, I slipped!”

When I peek my head into the hall, Willow’s on the floor, holding her knee. A couple of nurses run to her and while they’re looking at her knee, she turns around and gives me a wink.

No fucking shit. My sister’s badass.

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