Page 66 of Embers of Torment

The game resumed with the third quarter full of passes, collisions, and multiple blocked goals, with neither team scoring. They entered the fourth quarter with Lily on the sideline, pulled to allow one of her teammates some time on the field.

As before, Della studied Ree. It was like she was contemplating something or had a question she wanted to ask. Either way, this time, it was frequent enough to be distracting.

I leaned sideways and whispered, "Are you sure you're okay? You keep eyeing Ree."

"Umm…yeah. It's just… I still can't shake the weird feeling I've met your cousin somewhere. I swear I know her." Della peeked at Ree and shook her head. "It's driving me freaking nuts."

"Okay, I hear the whispering, and Della keeps staring at me. So what's up?" Ree laughed. "Do I have dirt on my face or something?"

"No. It's just… I know you, but I don't know how." Della scrutinized Ree, her eyebrows knitting together. "Did you grow up in Boston?"

"I did, in Newton."

"Newton?" Della glanced at me, then swung back to Ree. She scrunched an eye. "What schools did you go to?"

"I went to Bertram Elementary, Granger Middle, and Newton North High School. Do you think we may have met somewhere along the line?"

"I'm not sure." Della's brow furrowed as she stared at the grass. Then her eyes widened, and she swiveled in her chair toward Ree. "Ree isn't your real name, is it?"

"No, it's not." Ree chuckled and shot a glance my way. "Jace gave me that nickname when we were little kids, and it stuck. My first name is actually Rielle, and my maiden name is—"

"Milford," Della gasped. "No way. I went to school with you and your cousin, Jace…" Della sucked in a breath, her face turning pale. "Jace Lyons."

"Della?" I stared at her, seeing the tears filling her eyes as my thoughts ping-ponged all over the place.How does she know us? Why don't I remember her? Why is she upset? What the fuck is going on?

"It's you," Della said, her voice quivering.

"Della, I don't understand. Please explain because I'm completely lost." Shattered by Della's crumbling composure, I reached for her, only to have her shrink from my grasp.

"You don't remember me, do you?" Tears lined Della's cheeks. "The chubby little girl in the gray plastic eyeglasses with the bad lisp, the one you called Crustella. The girl you picked on mercilessly and got the other students to do it with you." Della sobbed, her breath shaky as she said, "I had to leave school because of you."

"Oh, fuck," I breathed. My whole world was crashing in on me at once. I was so dumbstruck that all I could do was stare. It was inconceivable that the person I came to Boston to find could be Della. My mind circled and circled, but I couldn't comprehend the thought.

Della bolted from her chair, spurring me into action. I caught up to her and grabbed her arm. She spun around and fiercely shook herself free. I held my breath at the sight of her red face and distorted expression, her cheeks and eyes swollen.

"Don't touch me. Don't come near me," Della ground out, her eyes dark pools of hatred.

"Della, please," I begged. "Let me explain. I came to Boston—"

"Shut it! I hate you. You need to crawl in a hole and die."

"Della." I reached for her again, and she slapped my hand away.

"No! You tried to ruin my life. I hope you drown in the same misery you caused me. Stay away from me, Jace Welch, Lyons, or whatever the frick your name is. Leave me alone."

Della turned and ran. I took a step to chase her, only to be pulled backward by my belt. Upset and confused, I swiveled, finding Ree standing there looking devastated.

"Not now." Ree shook her head. "You have to give Della some space. This is… Hell, I don't even know what this is."

"But I need—"

"No. You'll lose Della permanently if you force yourself on her right now. Lily's game just finished. Come back to the house with me. We'll browse my class pictures and figure out what to do."

I stared at Ree and nodded, so full of heartache and confusion that I couldn't speak.

All I knew was I didn't want to lose Della and would do whatever was necessary to fix it.

Chapter 20

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