Page 118 of Redeemed

I stop, my hand on the doorframe, waiting.

“Thank you. F-for the snack. And the laptop.”

“You already thanked me for both.”

“Oh,” she says, voice small.

“Did you used to get in trouble if you weren’t thankful enough or something?” It comes out rougher than I mean it to, but I don’t like the look in her eyes when she says it. It reminds me too much of how I used to act around my dad.

“I… um…”

Shit.

“You did, didn’t you?”

“Being ungrateful is thought of as a sin there.” Haven is avoiding my gaze, picking at a loose thread on the comforter.

Fucking hell.

“I’m sorry. That was a mean thing for me to say.”

“No, it’s fine.” She shrugs. “You didn’t know.”

“That place… I’m glad you got out.” It feels weird saying that, especially given how I’ve treated her almost the entire time I’ve known her, but fuck. No one deserves to live through shit like that.

“I should focus,” she says quietly.

“Right. Come find me when you’re done.”

I don’t give her a chance to respond, shutting the door firmly behind me. Only then do I let out a long, slow breath. My mind is all over the place, my emotions out of whack. I need to get my head on straight before practice later, or coach will notice and berate me over it.

That has me clenching my fists. No matter how far I get from home, I can’t seem to escape my father. Sometimes, it feels like I’m fucking cursed, except this isn’t some fairytale. There’s no magic kiss or potion that’ll break it. I’m a beast living without his beauty, a heart of ice without love to thaw it.

Destined to live in the shadow of an angry man forever.

Colton

WhenIgetbackfrom the offices, Lucas is in the basement working out. Worry trickles into my thoughts. Between training and football practice, he’s already doing a lot physically. I don’t want him to burn out—or worse, hurt himself.

“You okay?” I ask once he finishes a set of bench presses.

“Fine.” He gets up and begins pacing while wiping sweat off his forehead.

“Luc, come on. I may not be Xander, but I know you. Don’t lie to me.”

“Just can’t get her out of my head. Can’t keep myself from slipping up.”

“Slipping up?”

“Wanting to…” He rakes a hand through his short brown hair. “Wanting to be nice to her.”

Ah.I’ve found myself in the same position, but I’m not wracked with guilt over it the way Lucas is. In fact, I made taking care of Haven—which means occasional kindness atleast—part of our deal for a reason.

“A little kindness doesn’t hurt, you know,” I tell him. “It keeps her hopes up.”

He narrows his eyes. “So?”

I smile. “It’s easier to manipulate someone who’s hanging on your every word than someone who despises you wholeheartedly.”

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