Page 33 of Saved By My Buyers

“Yeah,” I tell him, still looking down at my phone. “I think I love her.”

Jack is quiet, and when I glance over in alarm, he has a bemused look on his face.

“Does she know that?”

“Not yet,” I say. “I think I just realized it.”

“You two are cotton candy sweet,” he says. “Life is too short. Say it when you feel it, and don’t apologize for it.”

“You’re full of life advice,” I tell him. “Smile with me for Bee. It’s impolite to leave you out of the photo.”

“I didn’t know that was a thing,” Jack says, barking out a laugh, but he smiles just the same as we take a selfie.

“Totes a thing,” I say sagely. Jack continues to laugh, and I realize it’s difficult to take anyone seriously who uses the word ‘totes’.

Oh well.

Me:

I love you! Here’s the photo of proof of life, Bee.

“See, I can take advice,” I snark, showing him the text.

“I still stand by the fact that you’re the bravest person I know,” he says, and then I’m putting away my phone as the lights dim.

I lose myself to the music, the sound of the drums, and the lyrics for the next few hours, my heart racing with excitement.

“I really hate leaving you here,” Jack mutters as he pulls in front of Gareth’s mansion.

“I know,” I mumble instead of what I usually say. Nothing is okay or fine about this house. Gareth is going to find a way to fuck me over for leaving earlier.

The fact that he doesn’t know if I told Jack anything or not will simply make him more pissed off.

“Call me,” he says, his fist slamming down on the steering wheel and startling me. “For anything.”

“Yes,” I whisper. I don’t know if I will though. “Today was exactly what I needed. Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he says as I open the door and slip out. As I slam it closed behind me and walk, I realize that I didn’t check my phone to see if Bee messaged me back.

Pulling it out, I begin to walk toward the front door and check it.

Bee:

You… what! Really? Dolly! Holy shit, you really put your phone away, didn’t you. God, you brat, but also, I’m glad. I hope it’s amazing. I love you so much. See you tomorrow.

I can’t stop the grin as I text her back quickly, and then practically skip toward the front door, despite knowing that it’ll probably be a shit show. Turning back before I walk in, I see Jack is still in the driveway, waiting for me to go inside.

Rolling down the window, he leans forward.

“I’m a gentleman, Dolly,” he reminds me. “Since you’re with Bee, I don’t need to remind you that gentlemen wait until you go inside and are safe, because she’d do the same without a single thought.”

Grinning because he’s right, I wave and yell goodnight to him as I unlock the door and walk inside. Carefully, I glance around, looking for Gareth to come out and yell at me, but that’s not his usual style. Closing the door behind me, I lock it and cross the foyer quickly.

I hate how huge this house is.

It should be easy to hide in this place, but it’s not. A part of me wonders if I should just sleep in Bee’s room. The unfortunate thing is that I doubt that would be enough to keep him from breaking down the door, and then I’ll never be able to go into her room again.

Bee helped me repaint my room at the beginning of the school year, thinking that was why I didn’t like being in there, but it’s not. There are too many tearstained moments that have happened in that space.

---