Page 55 of Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two

“Yeah, well, she’s back now.” Elliot gives me another meaningful look.

I don’t know how this happened, but I can’t deny that part of me is glad it did.

I miss the girls. I miss being a part of their inner circle.

The truth is, I’m tired.

Tired of being alone. Tired of questioning everything. I’m not sure I can trust Elliot or even trust myself where he’s concerned, but maybe we can find a way to move forward after all.

So long as I don’t get drunk again, or end up in his bed, begging him to touch me.

Heat burns through me as I remember how good it had felt. How addictive.

God, I’m a mess.

I drop my fork and Elliot stares down at me.

Like a moth drawn to a flame, I lift my weary gaze to his and his eyes darken. “What’s wrong?” he asks quietly.

“Nothing.” I smooth my hair over my shoulder.

“Don’t do that,” he whispers, reaching out to tuck my hair behind my ear. “Don’t hide from me.”

I swallow over the lump in my throat and realise our little corner of the café has fallen quiet.

Everyone is watching us.

My gaze finds Tally and she gives me a sad, sympathetic smile that makes my stomach roil.

“I’m fine,” I say weakly, and to my relief, they go back to their conversations.

It’s surreal to be sitting here with them. Eating breakfast in a small café just outside of Saints Cross.

But nothing is more surreal than the way Elliot keeps watching me or how some part of him keeps brushing against some part of me. As if he needs to touch me. To reassure himself that I’m still here.

I know I jumped to conclusions that night at the pub with Scott but I’m not sure it changed anything.

I was still humiliated. Elliot still did nothing.

And I’m still Abigail Bancroft—a girl nowhere near strong enough to walk in his savage, vicious world.

After last night though, after the way he held me this morning, I’m not sure he’ll accept that.

“Abi?”

I blink at Tally who smiles when I realise she’s been talking to me.

“I asked how you’re finding it back being in class?”

“It’s okay, I guess. But I think I’m going to have to defer my exams. Maybe even the year.”

Elliot goes rigid beside me, his hand white knuckling his fork. I peek up at him, hardly surprised by the tension in his jaw.

“You won’t be finishing with us?” Oakley asks, and I shake my head.

“It’s unlikely. There might be the option to resit my exams in the summer but that’s only if I’ve caught up.”

“We can help,” Liv suggests. “We can have revision sessions and?—”

---