Page 80 of Chaos at Westbrook High

There it is.

“I’m going to kill you.”

I fight another grin.

When he looks at Hailey as if the threat is meant for her too, I step in front of her with my back to him, blocking his view. When I touch her face, she subtly shakes her head at me, but I pretend not to notice.

“Forty-five minutes,” I remind her, pressing my lips to hers. “Don’t run from me.”

“That’s if we’re still alive in forty-five minutes,” she mutters, side-eyeing my older brother.

“Ignore him. He’s just being dramatic.”

She huffs. I kiss her one more time before I shove my brothers and sister back out of her apartment. Damon glares at me as we walk down the stairs.

“Will you relax?” I mutter. “She’s on birth control.”

“How do you know?”

“Because she told me.”

“And you believed her?”

My jaw ticks as I push my way through the main door of the apartment building. When we’re outside, I turn to face Damon and get in his way, the others walking on to give us a minute.

We all know what bullshit he’s implying and I don’t fucking like it. I know it’s hard for him to trust people after what happened with Wren’s ex-girlfriend and our psycho ex-stepmother. I know it’s hard not to think the worst of anyone who wants a piece of us, but fuck if I’m about to let him disrespect my girl as if she’s anything like those bitches.

He looks like he’s about to run his mouth again, but I don’t let him, stepping closer until I’m right in front of him, my face up in his. “Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t talk shit about her because you’re pissed at me. It makes you look like an asshole.”

“I am an asshole.”

“Not to her, you’re not.”

He cocks his head at that, his intense gaze boring into mine. “You’re falling for her.”

“It’s already done,” I blurt out, my shoulders deflating as my anger falls away from me. “I’m an idiot, Damon.” I swallow. “I think I’m gonna get my heart broken.”

His mouth parts, but he closes it just as quickly, making me nervous when I realize he has no idea what to say. Damon always knows what to say.

“Say something.”

“I…” He lets out a breath and shakes his head, ruffling a hand through my hair. “You are an idiot,” he agrees, a rare smile touching his lips as he looks up at something above us. “But it’s not because you’re in love with her.”

I look up at Hailey’s bedroom window. She’s not even trying to hide the fact that she’s watching us, expressionless with her arms crossed over her chest.

I grin, and she walks away.

Damon grabs Callie’s hand and kisses the top of her head as he guides her toward the passenger side of his car. Even though they rode here with Damon, Wren and Levi head to my car to ride home with me. I don’t question it, knowing Wren wants to be close to me after what I put him through last night.

They get in, and I pause with my hand on the driver’s side door handle when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I look down at the screen.

Hailey

If anyone ever sees these, Damon will be the least of your problems.

---