Page 87 of Cruel Steps

I did as he said, following his movements. Once my breathing was under control, he led me to a bench.

“What did she say, exactly?”

I reiterated it to him, and he sat quietly after thinking. “They can’t prove you did anything to the paper. She’s using a scare tactic. As for what you should do about Hope, that’s a tough one. She did send out the video on the first day of school.” He shrugged.

“Part of me wants to do it, but then I remember that she’s in the hospital, and I feel bad.”

“Babe, I can’t tell you what to do, but it’s not your fault what happened to her.”

“I know.”

“But Holden?” he guessed.

“And Rose. Ugh. Why do I care?”

“Because you’re a good person.”

“Well, sometimes I wish I wasn’t.” I pouted.

“No, you don’t.” He chuckled, knocking my shoulder with his. “When do you have to decide?”

“She said twenty-four hours.”

“Then take the day. I’ll look into the policy and see what rights you have.”

I threw my arms around his shoulders. “You’re seriously the best, Cody Rivers.”

“I know.” We laughed together and then separated. “Now, if I could only find a man,” he whispered.

I squeezed his leg, wishing the same for him. Cody hugged me again before heading to his dorm for a meeting. Walking to my car, I debated my choice. Neither option had a winner. If Hope was expelled, I’d lose Rose and Holden for good. If I was expelled, it would hurt my chances of getting into any other college.

My future or my heart.

Hitting my key fob, I jolted to a stop when I spotted something sitting on top of my car. I knew what it was, but seeing it here threw me for a loop. Glancing around, I didn’t spot any other students, so I covered my hands with my shirtsleeve and grabbed it off my car hood.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit,” I cursed, running around to the trunk. I popped it open and flung the mascot’s head into the empty space. Wolfie’s eyes stared up at me accusingly, and I shuddered. I pulled the trunk down, but stopped when I spotted a white piece of paper sticking out of the head. With shaking hands, I pulled it free.

You’re welcome, Princess. It’s your time to shine.

Alarm bells blared in my head, and I stumbled into the driver’s seat. My hands shook so badly that it took a concentrated effort to calm down enough to turn on the car.

I wanted to run back into the school and write Hope’s name on that pad of paper, but something in me said to wait. So, instead, I pulled out of the school parking lot and headed to the last place I thought I’d go today.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-EIGHT

HOLDEN

Jerking awake with a snort, I rubbed my face and stood from the chair I’d fallen asleep in. Immediately, I glanced at my sister lying in the hospital bed. She looked the same as before I fell asleep—broken.

Her leg was lifted in a sling that came down from the ceiling and was wrapped in a hard white cast that went up to her thigh. A pink cast covered her hand and wrist, the only thing that didn’t appear muted in this room. Her face was covered in scratches, and there was a large bandage covering her eye. She seemed fragile.

And it’s all your fault.

Swallowing, I tried to push away the guilt. I’d gone off on Emerson, but I only had myself to blame. I’d attacked her in front of a crowd, and Hope wasn’t one to be embarrassed. Then I’d escalated it by demanding she answer me in front of all the people she deemed important.

But fuck. That article…

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