Page 142 of Unspoken Truths

“That’s the thing. I don’t want you to die. Fuck the bet. I need your light in my world. The rest of them will come around, and I know it’ll be a shit show when it happens,” he says. “You’re too good of a person to die at our hands. I won’t participate in it.”

“They don’t know that,” I say, feeling disgusted.

“They don’t. If they did, things would get worse. I wouldn’t be able to protect you or give you a heads up before something goes down,” he says desperately.

“So you’re going to secretly help me?” Rachelle asks, looking back at him in confusion.

“Did you catch feelings?” I ask. This is what I was hoping for, but it’s too little, too late. He was part of doing the unthinkable, and it’s too recent for him to think she’d agree.

“Yeah,” he grunts.

“Let me swoon,” she says sarcastically. “Go away, Ignacio.”

She emphasizes the use of his full name, much to his dislike.

“I will not,” he says. “Why did you cut your hair?

“It’s mine. I have the right to do whatever I want to it, even buzz it all off,” she says.

“Of course you do, but that wasn’t the question,” he adds.

“I needed a change,” she says. “Less hair means I feel lighter.”

“Is this the idea that you release trauma when you cut your hair?” he asks.

He’s smarter than I give him credit for.

“Are you going to make fun of me for something so arbitrary making me feel better?” Rachelle asks drolly.

“Never,” he says. “I’ve watched you categorically shut things down. I know life is hard, techniques aren’t always sure fire, but anything that makes you feel in control, I’m here for. None of the bullshit that happened on your birthday was right, Rachelle. I’m sorry any of it happened.”

“Day late and a dollar short, Ignacio,” she mutters.

“Why are you even telling her any of this?” I ask. “Other than using her as a lifeline to remind yourself that you and your friends didn’t kill her?”

“I fucked up, didn’t give you a chance, Rachelle, and I want a do-over,” he says so quickly my girl blinks at him slowly.

I don’t think she believes she properly heard him. I’m still having the same issue myself.

“Get the fuck out of here,” she whispers. I think she’s keeping her voice low on purpose. Otherwise, she’ll begin to scream and never stop. “You don’t deserve a do-over, Ignacio. Stop ruining my day.”

“You can have some space for now,” he allows, getting up. “I can’t promise to leave though.”

Finding another table not far from us, he sits slowly down, flagging down the waitress to let her know he was moving tables.

“He’s such an arrogant ass,” Rachelle grumbles.

As he puts his chin on his fist to gaze at us from across the room, I have to admit that he appears to be more of a puppy dog than arrogant. He fucked up though, which means he has to show us how he means to make amends.

Things are very complicated because he is still a King, and there’s always the possibility that he’s being untruthful.

“He is, but he’s far enough away that we can pretend he doesn’t exist. Focus on me and no one else,” I tell her.

Pulling her eyes away from Nacio, she nods as the food arrives. Even watching her eat her French fries is sexy.

“Now, what do we want to do for our last day?” I ask her.

I had planned to go to the Tillamook Lighthouse today, but I don’t know if she’ll want to. We also have one last night here, yet I’m dreading the idea of staying while Ignacio lurks. It’ll be easier to just leave tonight, I think.

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