Page 68 of Cruel Steps

I shook my head. “No. I went out for the dance team, but only made it as an alternate. Sure, she was upset, but being the mascot didn’t have the same punch I intended. She has her dance groupies making it hell, so I’d say Hope is still the victor there.” My shoulders slumped.

“What else?”

“I haven’t figured out what she wants other than status.” I bit my lip. Holden lifted his brow and waited me out. Sighing, I played with the bedspread. The next part didn’t paint me in a good light, and I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. “I have something planned for the game today.”

Holden closed his eyes, his jaw ticking with each passing second. When his eyes met mine, I wanted to lose myself, rewind, and go back to how we were a few minutes ago when it felt like only the two of us. “Don’t do it, Wildcat. I’ll talk to Hope and tell her to stop. That video,” he stopped, gritting his teeth. “I wanted to murder whoever sent it.”

I scoffed, my laugh humorless. “It’s not the first one she’s bullied me with. You’re the naïve one if you believe it’s the only one of me she has. Every day of high school was Hell, Holden. Every. Day!” My anger rose, tired of having to be the one to stop.

Holden’s nostrils flared, neither of us backing down from our anger. I was surprised when he softened first. “I can’t go back in time, Em. I can’t stop her from doing those things, but I can stop her from doing anything else.”

“You really think she’ll listen to you?”

“Yes.” He said it so firmly that I almost believed in his version of Hope. “Just promise me you won’t pursue this anymore.” He shook the notebook for emphasis.

Worrying my lip, I debated. It felt too much like giving up and letting Hope win. But if he got her to leave me alone, and Holden no longer hated me, would it be enough? I wanted it to be.

“Fine. I promise. I won’t go through with my plan.”

Holden dropped the notebook and dropped to his knees, kissing me tenderly. It was the sort of kiss that made your toes curl, that poets wrote sonnets about and had hearts flying around your head. It was everything.

“I have to go get ready for the game. I’ll see you there?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’ll be in my mascot uniform.”

He smiled. “I can’t wait. At least then, no one else can look at you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re ridiculous. No one looks at me.”

Holden gripped my chin. “Don’t put yourself down, Wildcat. You’re gorgeous.”

I searched his eyes, wishing I could believe it even when he wasn’t looking at me. I smiled, hoping it was enough.

“And tell Cody to fuck off.” He kissed me one more time before stalking out of my room. I fell back to the bed, picked up my phone, and scrolled through my messages.

First, I texted the person I’d hired to help me sabotage Hope that it was off. They gave me a thumbs up when I said they could keep the fee. Colter texted that he couldn’t wait to catch up on kisses and wanted me to find him before the game for a good luck one. I couldn’t believe he wasn’t upset. I didn’t know what any of this meant, but I’d hang on for as long as they let me.

Smiling, I pulled on a shirt and Facetimed Cody, filling him in on everything from Ember to Holden and then this morning.

“So, you’re going to let Hope get away with everything she did?” he asked once I was done.

I shrugged. “I don’t know how to make her pay without losing Holden.”

Cody’s eyes searched mine, and I knew he wanted to say something. “I hope the good captain knows his sister as well as he does football.”

“He is pretty great at football…” I smiled.

“I’ll see you at the game?”

“Yep. I got my mascot uniform cleaned and ready. Go, Wolves!” I pumped my fist in the air.

Cody laughed. “See you later, Peanut.”

The rest of the day went by quickly, and I headed to the game a few hours early to get ready. My phone pinged as I walked to the dressing room. Colter had sent me a picture of him and Holden in the locker room. Colter had his arm around Holden’s neck, both of them shirtless. Holden was rolling his eyes at his best friend while Colter grinned at the camera.

Magic 8-Ball: Now I just need one of you and me, Merbear.

Magic 8-Ball: I put something in your locker for your first game. I hope it’s not too cheesy.

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