Page 19 of Shadow and Skulls

“Thank goodness you’re here. This momma needs a break.”

Tate smiles up at me. “Awe, I’ve missed you, you little cutie,” I coo, rubbing the tip of my nose against his.

“Yeah, about that. Did you forget where I live? I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy with school.”

The minute Tank steps outside, I know. His presence isn’t like everyone else’s. It’s like a living breathing entity. The intensity of his gaze sears hot against my cheek.

“Lily told my mom you quit the cheer team.”

“Yeah,” I sigh, turning my back to Tank.

“Why?”

“It’s just not the same without the twins.”

“I get that.”

Billie Rose taps under my chin with a single finger, forcing me to look at her. Her gaze bounces over my face. “You haven’t relapsed, have you?”

Her eyes then drop to my arms. She’s checking for fresh cuts. I rub my own hands over my skin, the scars like a raised map of my life.

“No. I’m not hurting myself.” Not physically anyway, but my mental state is torture.

“Well, you know you can always talk to me.”

I run my finger over her baby’s brow, making him close his little eyes. “Can … can you keep a secret?”

She scoots her chair closer to mine, waving Elijah over to take Aurelia. He immediately sets his beer down and walks over to us.

“Everything okay?” He squeezes my shoulder gently before leaning over to take his daughter from Billie Rose.

“Fine. Just a little girl talk.” I offer him a smile.

He takes the hint and leaves us to it. My eyes follow him as he jogs down the hill, bouncing with his daughter in his arms. She laughs and wraps her arms around his neck to hold on tight.

“So, what is it? I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

“Jason and I broke up,” I say quietly, keeping my eyes on the baby.

“What happened?”

The bad feeling burns in the pit of my stomach as I deliberate how much to tell her.

“Hey.” She rubs her hand over my arm.

“It’s stupid really.” I glance over my shoulder, locking eyes with the green ones that have lingered over me since he arrived at the party.

When I turn back around, Billie Rose is staring at me. Sighing, I decide to come clean. “He wanted to have sex. He said his friends had been making fun of him because we hadn’t done it yet.”

She remains quiet. There is no judgement whatsoever on her face.

“I thought I could handle it. It’s not like I’m a virgin. I mean, he was my boyfriend, right?” I shake my head, fighting back tears. “I freaked out on him afterward.”

“Oh, hun.” She wraps her arm around me. “He shouldn’t have pressured you.”

The party starts to come to life behind us as more club members arrive. “It doesn’t matter. He’s with Lexi now.” I rub my hand over baby Tate’s fuzzy head.

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