Page 85 of Rebel

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I grip his face and search his eyes. “But are you okay?”

“No,” he answers with a bitter smile. “But I will be.”

“Then take me home,” I murmur, knowing he needs space to heal and process, and I need a shower.

He nods, pressing his forehead to mine for a moment before a nervous cough breaks us apart. I see the police officer wincing. “Sorry, just some paperwork to fill out.”

Smiling, I try to release Kolton’s hand, but he holds mine tightly in his, so I drag him with me, not having the heart to tell him it hurts like a son of a bitch. As I’m filling the paperwork out, I glance at the guys. “So I’m really free? What happens now?”

“Eh, we need to see if she’ll drop the charges. I don’t see how she won’t, even with the evidence. Otherwise, she’s going to jail for a very long time for what she did to Kolton. In all honesty, I think she will disappear. They are old money, after all, so the scandal will ruin his mom and dad if she doesn’t.”

Kolton nods. “And if she doesn’t, I have evidence, and I will testify and get her sent to jail for what she did to me—her and her friends.”

“I’m proud of you,” I tell him, “and I’m sorry you had to speak about what happened because of my reaction?—”

“Don’t ever apologize for protecting me,” he whispers. “No one else ever has before you, Beck.”

Swallowing hard, I turn away before I cry again and thank the officer as I take my phone and items. Squeezing Kolton’s hand, uncaring of the pain, I smile softly. “Let’s go home.”

Chase wasn’t kidding about the cake. It sits proudly on the coffee table, and I can’t help but laugh every time I look at it. I’ve been watching the news for a few hours. My mug shot was somehow circulated, but luckily my name wasn’t on it. I’ll admit I look hot in it, and everyone else seems to think so as well.

Public opinion is on our side. Everyone is horrified for Kolton and crying out for his sister’s incarceration. They want her to be held responsible for what she did. Family, friends, and even those who knew him when he was younger are stepping forward for their five minutes of fame, but it works in our favor as they speak about what an angel Kolton was, so quiet and calm, while his sister was always a nightmare. One even mentions seeing her touching him inappropriately. I hate that it takes Kolton exposing himself as a victim for others to come forward, but I can’t deny that it helps. It makes his story human and valid, and fans are outraged on his behalf, while the others are shouting my praises for beating the shit out of her.

Turning it off, I stand and stretch. The guys cleaned and bandaged my knuckles, but they twinge as I move, the wounds reopening, but it was worth it.

While I showered, the guys disappeared. I ignore the twinge of loneliness I feel and instead head upstairs, only to stop in my doorway. Three grinning faces wait for me. “I thought you’d never come,” Chase says.

I blink, taking in the scene before me.

All three are wearing matching black-and-green checkered pajama bottoms without shirts, and there is a pair of shorts and a cami folded neatly at the end of the quilt for me. That is where the similarities in my room end. My bed has been turned on its side to make a headboard, while the mattress and someone else’s are pushed together on the floor, creating a giant bed with piles of duvets, pillows, and blankets. The curtains have been shut, and string lights have been strung around the room, casting the space in a warm, white light. A projector has been set up, aimed at the wall near me, and snacks and drinks are placed on my dressing table.

For a moment, I panic about my sister’s tapes before I remember I hid them in the wardrobe last night, since they seem to randomly join me in bed for cuddles now. Relaxing once more, I eye the room with a grin. “What’s this?”

“Girls’ night—um, guys’ night?” Trav scrubs his head. “Ringers’ night.” He nods, settling on that. “With everything that’s going on, we figured we all need an escape from reality, so we are going to watch shitty movies, eat shitty food, drink, and sleep.”

I can’t help the slow grin that spreads across my face. “That sounds . . .” I make them wait, watching how nervous they are. “Perfect.”

I take off my clothes, ignoring their groans as I grab the pajamas and pull them on. Giggling, I throw myself between them with my legs stretched out.

They quickly tumble down onto the bed around me. I lean back against Chase with his legs on either side of my body. Trav is to my left, one hand lazily stroking my exposed thigh, and Kolton is to my right, his head on my hip and his leg slung over mine.

“So what’s the first movie?” I ask, getting settled.

“Chase picked first, and it’s Legally Blonde.”

We all turn to look at him, and he nods. “Don’t look at me like that. Legally Blonde is an empowering piece of feminist cinema. Besides, Elle Woods is badass as fuck.”

Shaking my head, I settle back down, looking at the loading screen. “Doesn’t someone need to hit start?” I grin.

“Aww shit,” they say together, making me laugh harder than I have in a while.

They are all idiots.

So why can’t I stop smiling?

FORTY

Get yourself a girl willing to go to prison for you.

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