Page 473 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“But he’stheirfriend.” I open my phone and poise my fingers over the screen. “Where do I send it?”

Di Toro crosses his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing. “How do I know it wasn’tyouwho took the video?”

I almost lose my shit.

Almost.

But Harper grabs my hand out of my lap, and this time she squeezes me. When I find her blue eyes, she gives me a faint smile. “It’s okay,” she says quietly. “You can tell him.”

I grit my teeth. Daniel was in the wrong, for sure, but if he hadn’t sent this video, we wouldn’t even be here. How can I rat him out? But then Harper tilts her head just a little, and I understand.

“Alex Sutton,” I say. “He...he’s the one that told me she was in trouble.”

“Before or after he started filming?”

“I...don’t know.” I shrug. “Honestly, it’s all a blur.”

Di Toro watches me for another long second, and then puts his head down and starts taking Harper’s statement. It’s painful to hear her recount what she remembers of that horrible event, but what’s worse are the questions Di Toro throws at her, interrogating her like she’s a fucking criminal.

When we finally walk out of there, she’s leaning against me like her legs can’t support her anymore, and my shirt is wet with her tears.

If this wasn’t the Sheriff’s office, if I didn’t know how bad it would end, I’d have killed him.

Howdarehe make my princess cry? Howdarehe even think to accuse her of being a slut? The number of questions he’d asked about her alcohol consumption that night, how much weed she’d smoked, why she’d even gone to the party in the first place...it was disgusting.

We walk out into dull, late afternoon sunshine. As soon as we’re around the corner and out of sight of the main road, I wrap Harper in a hug. She resists for a millisecond before melting against me with a heavy sigh.

“Why did that feel so wrong?” she murmurs.

“Because they’re used to protecting those guys,” I say, leaning back and cupping her face in my hands. “The Pembrokes are one of the oldest families in Cinderhart. Sean’s dad isn’t one of the higher-ups in that family tree, but they’d still do anything to protect one of their own.”

“Is he going to get away with it?” she whispers.

Staring into those sky-blue eyes, all I want to say is “no.” But I can’t lie to her. I’m done with that life.But that doesn’t mean I can’t make a promise of my own.

“He’s going to pay, Harper.” I draw her against me again, stroking her head and inhaling the smell of her until it feels like my lungs want to split open.

I don’t know why I just told her that, but it doesn’t matter. Whatever it takes, I’ll make sure Sean Pembroke doesn’t just walk away with a slap on his wrist. He’ll get what’s coming to him. If the cops won’t do it...then I’ll have to take care of it myself.

Sliding my hands down Harper’s body, I give her ass a rough squeeze. She squeals, blinking up at me with surprise before glancing around to make sure no one saw us.

God, I can’t wait until we’re out of here so she can stop looking over her shoulder.

“Hey...I know we said we’d wait until we graduate, but...”

She narrows her eyes at me. “But what?”

“Let’s get the fuck out of here. Now. Tonight.”

Harper studies me for the longest time, her eyes searching mine, but then she shakes her head. “No, Jude.” She puts her hand on my chest, and I swear her warmth makes my heart swellto double its size. “We have to graduate. We made a promise to each other.”

That we did.

But I won’t lie—it’s a promise I wouldn’t mind breaking. I can’t wait for the day Harper is all mine...and I don’t have to hide our love away anymore. With her by my side maybe, just maybe, I’ll make it.

I don’t have a choice. I love her too much.

The End

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