Page 189 of Dare To Live

Miles: It’s black, with some silver. Why?

Me: Apparently, she needs a corsage.

Miles: Good thinking! Is that where you are?

Me: In town, picking up my suit, getting flowers and then meeting the transport for Kellan’s car.

Miles: So, not avoiding Bella?

Me: Don’t be fucking stupid.

I pocket my cell and take a slow look around the florist.

“Those.” I point to a vase full of black roses. “And …that.” My finger moves to a small display of roses that have been sprayed silver.

“Let me see if I can find someone to serve us.”

***

“Thanks for letting me tag along with you today.”

I’ve just pulled into the space beside Kellan’s car when Jace speaks.

“You saved me from a prom disaster.”

“Yeah, well if there’s anything else I can do ...”

“This isn’t a twelve-step program. We were kids. It was ten years ago. I’m over it … well, your part in it, anyway.”

“I’m not.” His quiet admission stops me as I reach for the door. “Don’t get me wrong, moving away and having to start afresh has been good for me. But …” He shakes his head. “Every time I think back to what we did, what Evan convinced us all to do … it was fucked up, Eli. If there is ever a way I can make amends for my part, you let me know.”

“You know,” I say slowly as an idea comes to me, “there is something you can do.”

He sits forward. “Tell me.”

“Name all the people who were in Arabella’s room the night they tied her up.”

Chapter 109

Arabella

4I don’t stop walking until we’re across the campus and beside a bench, away from any of the clusters of people hanging around outside.

I let go of his hand and turn to face him. “Are you okay?”

He shakes his head. “Not really. I hate this place so fucking much. There’s so much I want to forget, but it keeps getting dragged back up.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He takes a deep breath. “Zoey is part of the reason I became friends with you.”

“You felt guilty over what happened to her?”

He sinks down onto the edge of the bench, head lowered as he stares at the ground. “I saw how Jace was chasing after you, I thought if I could help you, it would go some way to redemption. That what happened to her wouldn’t happen again.”

“And you wanted to keep the fact you were gay quiet from everyone, so you wouldn’t get bullied.”

“Yeah.” Miles swallows hard. “I was so fucking wrong. Even pretending to be your boyfriend, I couldn’t stop history from repeating itself. I was a coward and should have been a better friend to you.”

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