Page 16 of You Belong With Me

Gabriel reaches out for her, threading his fingers through hers. “I can take her home,” he says, and there’s a thread of possessiveness in his tone that makes my jaw clench.

“No.” I’m not compromising on this. “You stay, enjoy your homecoming. Wyn clearly needs some rest.”

My eyes meet hers, and I can tell she wants to argue. The only thing preventing her is the group of people surrounding us. She doesn’t want to argue in front of them, which is wise. I’ll win, even if that means throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her out of here.

She flashes a smile at Gabriel. “Enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about me.”

Gabriel’s gaze flicks to me, and there’s a warning there. Is he suspicious of what’s been going on between Wyn and me? I haven’t told him she’s my consort yet—after Wyn and I left the beach, I waited for Gabriel at the police station, then we came straight here. I haven’t exactly had the opportunity to tell him yet. And if I’m being honest, I dread having to.

“I’m just dropping her off,” I say.

Releasing her hand, his gaze shifts back to her. “Get some rest, baby. I might be a while. After this, I need to go buy a new phone.”

She nods and flashes him a tight smile. Gabriel leans forward and pulls me into a bro hug. “Thanks for lookin’ out, Cuz. I owe you one. You coming back after you drop her off? I think we’re ordering pizza.”

“Yeah, maybe,” I hedge. “I need to check in at Rush House and see what the guys are up to. They’ll want to see you, so we’ll probably head back over together.”

Gabriel smiles and slaps me on the shoulder. “Tight.” He points to Wyn. “Take care of my girl.”

Goddamn fucking shit.

Guilt follows me like a specter as Wyn follows me through the cavernous house, and out to the driveway where I have my car parked. I open the passenger side door and wait until she gets in before shutting it and walking around to the driver’s side.

The second I get in, I regret my decision to take her home. I should have had someone else do it. Her scent fills the small space, and I’m already on fucking edge.

She’s looking straight ahead. “That was shitty of you.”

I start the engine, and pull out of the driveway, onto the main road toward her apartment. “What was shitty of me?”

“Telling me what to do like that, in front of everyone.” She pushes out a breath, still not looking at me. “I’m a grown-ass woman, you know. I’m capable of making my own decisions.”

Right. Sure.

“You want to tell me why you fainted again?” I say, glancing at her. “Have you been eating?”

“It’s been a crazy day,” she repeats.

I glance at the road, then back at her. “Don’t lie to me, Wyn.”

There’s a long stretch of silence before she says, “It was…a panic attack.”

My arm is slung over the steering wheel, and we’re stopped at a red light. I look over at her, my gaze scanning her face. “Why were you panicking?”

Her eyes flick up, meeting mine, before falling to her lap quickly. “All of this… everything that’s happening…it’s…” She pushes a breath out. “...I don’t know.”

“Say it, Wyn. Why are you anxious?”

She shakes her head and looks up at the road ahead. “It’s just a lot, Lucas, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel aboutanyof it.”

We pull up to her apartment, and I kill the engine, turning to face her. “I know it’s a lot, but Gabriel needs you right now. We can sort everything else out later.”

It fuckingkillsme to say that, and it shouldn’t. She was never mine. Not really. I fooled myself for a while, but the truth is, I was living in a fucking fantasy.

She looks at me. “Are you coming in?”

I blink at her. She hates me—as she probably should—so her question surprises me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say. “I’ll have some food delivered. Make sure you eat it.”

She shrugs and opens the car door. “No promises.”

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