Page 102 of The Sweetest Revenge

"I will try in the morning to get him to let me stay at his mom's," I whispered. "If it works, then I'll text you both."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then I'll try again the next day until it does work."

Journey checked her phone, thumbs flying over the screen. "Okay." She glanced up. "So, we'll pick you up and take you to your mom's once you get him to leave you."

I pulled my knees tighter to my chest and nodded, watching Zaiden score below. "But not a word to Zaiden." My voice hardened. "Or anyone else."

Down on the ice, Zaiden caught my eye and flashed a quick smile before Coach called him back to the drill. I attempted to return it, but the gesture felt foreign on my face.

I didn't know if this was the best idea. The weight of Kacie's phone, now hidden in my backpack, seemed to burn through the fabric. But I needed to know the truth even if the words didn't come directly from her mouth.

CHAPTER46

ARIELLA

Zaiden and I fell into a routine over the next week. He woke me up every morning and dragged me to his practice whether I wanted to go or not.

Today was different, though. I didn't have classes or practice, so unless he forced me to follow him all day long, he had to leave me here alone.

"Zaiden." I pulled the covers tighter around me like armor. "I'm not going. I want to sleep in and do nothing today."

"Ariella." His voice dropped an octave, that familiar warning growl that made the hair on my arms stand up. He leaned against the doorframe, his posture casual. "I can't miss practice, and I'm not leaving you alone."

"No one knows that I'm here." That wasn't exactly the truth, but he didn't know that. Plus, it was only Journey and Mila that I told. I pushed up to a sitting position, the sheets pooling around my waist. His jaw tightened. The muscles in his forearms flexed as he crossed them. "And I won't go anywhere," I lied. He narrowed his eyes.

The silence stretched between us, taut as a tripwire.

"When you leave, I'm going back to sleep, and when I get up, I'm going to order Door Dash and watch TV."

"Fine," he groaned. "But, Ariella, if you leave this house, I will zip-tie you to the bed for the rest of your life."

"Where would I go?" I lied.

He stood shirtless in a pair of jeans, open at the fly. The beads of water dripping from his damp hair onto his shoulders were slightly distracting.

I pushed off the bed and strolled to him. "I'll be fine, I promise." I flattened my palm on his chest.

"You keep touching me like that—" The alarm on his phone alerted, letting him know he needed to leave now or he'd be late for practice. "Shit."

"Go." I smiled. "I'll be fine."

"If I text you and you don't answer, I will be here in minutes."

"I will answer your texts."

He kissed my forehead. "Go back to bed."

I gave myself a mental high five as I practically jumped back into the bed.

Zaiden had practice until 7:30 and classes until noon. That was plenty of time for me to confront my mom and get back without him ever knowing I left. I curled into bed and closed my eyes, pretending to sleep, until I heard the door click closed. A few minutes later, his motorcycle pulled out of the driveway.

I forced myself to wait, counting out five full minutes after the sound of Zaiden's motorcycle faded completely. Just to be safe. Just to be sure.

The red numbers on the digital clock blinked: 6:15 AM. Finally, when the house settled into true emptiness, I rolled over and snatched my phone off the nightstand, my fingers already finding Mila's contact.

One ring. Two rings. Each one stretched into eternity.

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