Page 62 of The Masks We Wear

Even as a kid, when my soul saw hers, it smiled. I just didn’t know what it meant back then.

She shakes her head, her gaze locked on the desk in between us. When she speaks, I think it’s more to herself than to me. “That’s not possible.”

I answer her anyway. “Yes, it is. I was, and if you would have justtalkedto me, all this could have been avoided.”

A hollowness expands in my chest and my feet move of their own accord, carrying me around the desk. I reach up, grabbing both sides of her face, and force it so she’s looking at me. Our breaths mingle, and my stomach clenches when I smell the sweet honey coasting off her lips, reminding me of their taste.

“Why didn’t you just talk to me?” She tries to jerk away from me, but I hold her still. She doesn’t get to run away this time. “Talk to me.”

Lily’s eyes fill with tears and finally, they spill over, running down her cheeks and dripping onto my wrists. “You left me.”

My entire body tenses. The sight of her breaking down cracks open a piece of my chest, surging around my heart and squeezing. There is something so much deeper than I can see, and even with everything that’s happened... Istillwant to see her. To fix whatever has made her feel like she has to wear this facade, because it can’t be just from me.

I rub away one tear with my thumb and she closes her eyes, leaning into my palm. Whoever we were ten minutes ago slips away, leaving two best friends who’ve missed the fuck out of each other.

“Liliana?” I whisper, and immediately I regret it.

Her fake green eyes land on me, and I can see Lily’s mask is back in place. She shoves my hands away and reaches for her bag. “Fuck you, Spence. You have no idea what I’ve been through. You don’t get to just say it was all a big misunderstanding and think that will make everything okay.”

My stomach bottoms out and bile hits the back of my throat. Without thinking, my hand lurches out, gripping her forearm and spinning her around. “And you don’t get to sit here and act like you haven’t made my life a living fucking hell these past couple months. Like you’re the only one that has shit going on.”

Lily’s hand moves fast but I’m faster, catching it right before it connects with my face and yank her body into me, crashing my lips on top of hers.

A combination of anger and hurt swirl in my head, making me dizzy, but the sound of her moans in my mouth push it away, replacing it with hunger. Her hands tangle in my hair, tugging it with such force, spikes of pain radiate through the roots.

I slam her against the wall, gripping a thigh that she wraps around my torso, bunching her skirt around her waist, and grasping the back of her neck with my free hand. We push into each other, forcing every piece of our bodies to connect. My dick swells, pushing through my sweats and into her hot center that’s pressed on my stomach. I can feel the heat through her thin panties and a growl rips from the back of my throat.

Her hands leave my hair and claw at the hem of my shirt, pulling it up until I disconnect from her sweet mouth and lift my arms so she can tear it over my head. I kiss along her jaw, nipping as I make my way down her neck, reveling in the way her leg tightens around me, drawing me somehow closer to her center. One of my hands roves over her breast, rolling over a pebbled nipple, while the other moves to her hips, my fingers digging into her soft side.

She tastes so fucking good.

Her smell, her perfect skin, everything about her in his moment wrapped around me strips away every thought. My head is mush, only able to focus on her writhing under me, aching to feel how much I want her. Lily’s whimpers are music to my ears as I work my way down, licking across her collarbone until my tongue finds her necklace. I follow it down until the charm scratches under my chin.

Then it happens. She rips herself from beneath me and is across the room before I can decipher what the fuck just happened. Her chest is still heaving as her hand clutches the necklace, pulling it back and forth.

I lift a hand, grabbing my shirt off the floor while keeping my eyes on her. I keep my voice steady and calm. “Lily, I’m sorry. I don’t know—”

“Just leave me alone.” She yanks her bag from the back of the chair, disappearing out the door leaving me reeling.

And as always, I let her go.

Because nothing meant for you, will run away from you.

TWENTY FIVE

The girls run through their fifth repeat of our routine, nailing every count. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this proud of them, so I decide to reward them with an early finish. Having to move practice inside because of the weather seemed like torture enough as the gym AC sucks, and barely moving has us coated in sweat.

I stand from the basketball bleachers and commence a slow clap, strolling toward them. “Great job, ladies. I think we can call it.”

“But Tonya has been off the entire time.” Stacy pouts, crossing her pale arms over nonexistent breasts.

Everyone looks at Tonya, her tight coiled curls bouncing from a humorless laugh. She scoffs, flipping Stacy off, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing. “She was on point, just like everyone else.”

Stacy rolls her eyes, huffing as she bends to grab a towel. Amora is on her before her fingers graze the cotton and snatch it away. “Listen, you little shriveled up cunt. Part of being a captain is knowing when to call the practice and when to push them. Everyone has done pretty fucking amazing. So how about you show some gratitude and stop bitching for cutting practice by a few minutes. It smells like you could use the extra time in the shower.”

Amora flings the towel at Stacy’s stunned face and laughs. Stacy looks at me as all the other girls file into the locker rooms, muttering under their breath.

I shrug, popping a fresh cherry in my mouth before I stand. “If you want to make captain next year, you better get your shit together.”

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