Page 108 of I Blame the Rival

“I made a vow, Flower.” I swallow, feeling the last piece of my heart shatter, “I made a vow that I would never hurt another person. I would never turn my anger into a physical weapon that could be used to hurt someone else.”

My voice breaks, “But if you want me to hurt him, I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you.”

The wailing beat of my heart slams against the only person who means more to me than any moral ever could. Tears slip down my face as I stare at her, hoping she can see the hero I was never meant to be.

“No.” Lacey whispers softly, her eyes never leaving mine, “That’s not who you are.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes it does.” She brushes the tears off my cheek with a sad smile, “I would never ask you to change who you are. Not now, not ever.”

“He hurt you.”

“He did. But that doesn’t mean you need to hurt him back.” She blows out an uneven breath, “I will never ask you to be my hero, Skylar. Only my friend.”

“I should be able to be both.”

She shakes her head vehemently, “I’m not some damsel in distress who needs to be saved. I just need someone who is willing to listen and hold my hand during the hard times. And that person is you.”

There’s a spark back in her eyes, a defiant glint that has my heart piecing itself back together. Brushing back a piece of her hair, I press my lips against hers, silently promising to do whatever it takes to keep that light alive.

“Promise me you won’t hurt him.” Lacey murmurs before kissing me back, “I would rather see him walk free than have you break a vow.”

“I promise.” Breathing the words into her mouth, I take my time kissing away the rest of her sorrow. Her quiet gasp fills the car when I pull her onto my lap, her long legs straddling mine as I help her forget the past for a little while.

By the time we break for air, the windows have fogged up and our heavy breathing is the only sound in the car. Lacey starts to laugh, her breathless giggles replenishing my lungs without the need for oxygen.

“This looks way worse than it is.” She leans over me and writes five words on the window. Laughter bursts out of my chest when I read what she wrote.

We’re not fucking, I promise.

“I think you got the message across.”

“Just making sure Trip doesn’t think we’re contaminating her backseats.”

“Uh huh.”

There’s a giant smile taking over Lacey’s face and I trace it with my fingers, relishing in the fact I helped bring it back.

“Is there anything I can do?” Scanning her face, I’m looking for a solution not yet found, “In case you see him again.”

She pulls a face, “I hate that he’s relocated to Silverwood. It’s extremely inconvenient.”

I blow out a breath and her eyes flick back to mine.

“But there is something you could do to help.”

The hesitation in her voice has my stomach dropping. She glances at the words scrawled along the window and suddenly I know exactly what she’s about to say.

“Have sex with me.”

Chapter 22

Lacey

He said no.

Humiliation sweeps through me as I stare at the boy who just spent the last ten minutes kissing me.

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