Page 65 of Dare To Fall

“Thanks.” I close my book and put it away. “Bye, Miles.”

Garrett falls into step beside me when I stand and walk toward the entrance.

He holds the door open for me.

“Where do you want to eat? We could find a bench.”

I stop in front of him. “Only if you tell me why you haven’t left my side since Wednesday.”

He glances away. “I told you I’m going to make sure Travers doesn’t touch you like that again.”

“Why?”

“Arabella—”

“I’m not moving until you tell me, because you haven’t been my knight in shining armor, Garrett. You’ve been a villain since I arrived here. And don’t tell me it’s because we like the same kind of sit-coms.”

A nerve pulses in his jaw. Grabbing my wrist, he tugs me outside and doesn’t stop until we’re away from listening ears.

“My dad used to hit my mom when I was younger. I was too small to defend her from him. Seeing Eli hit you … I couldn’t just stand by and watch. Not this time.”

I pull my wrist free from his grip and squeeze his fingers. “How old were you?”

“Eight. He walked out when I was twelve.”

The raw pain on his face tugs at my heartstrings. I wrap my arms around him and hug him, offering comfort. He freezes in my embrace, then hugs me back just as fiercely.

“I may not be a knight in shining armor, but I’ll be your shield against the monster,” he whispers into my hair.

If only that were possible.

There’s more than one monster at Churchill Bradley Academy. One who wears the title proudly, and another who lurks in the shadows.

What happens if someone protects me from Eli’s retaliation? Do I really want to put a target on Garrett’s back?

No. Even though I’m desperate to be saved, I can’t let him do that. The risk is too high. I need to push him away. Keep him at arm’s length as I’ve done with Miles.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise, the feeling of being watched washing over me. Still lost in Garrett’s warm, safe embrace, I turn my head and see Eli and Kellan watching us from a bench. My stepbrother’s expression is carved from stone, void of emotion, but his eyes—his eyes burn me alive with his rage.

Chapter 41

Eli

Fucking Garrett. What the fuck is she doing hanging around with him?

Is this another order? I dismiss that thought immediately. We’d know if that was the case. Nothing has come through on her cell. Then why the fuck is she with him?

“It could be nothing.”

I slice a look at Kellan, who shrugs.

“Maybe he caught a conscience. I’ll ask Miles if he knows anything. He was talking to her a few minutes ago.”

It took Kellan a week to wear Miles down after our threesome with Arabella, but eventually, the swim captain gave in and agreed to give Kellan another chance, as long as he promised they would be exclusive. Kellan tried to argue that Arabella was a girl, so it didn’t count, but Miles was having none of it.

If I wasn’t so fucking stressed over everything going on, it would have been funny to see my friend scrambling. He likes Miles, a lot more than he’s admitting.

“Look, there’s Miles. Go and spend time with him. I’m going for a walk.” I turn toward the trees and set off.

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