Page 22 of Beautiful Scars

For the longest time I couldn't figure out what his deal was. I mean, I understand his problem with me—I took his spot, and all the stupid, little perks that came with it. But, with Sunny, it's obvious it goes way deeper.

Even after I was sure I'd heard all of the stories, all of the reasons, I couldn't seem to figure out wherethatmuch hate could possibly be coming from. But then I started noticing the way he looks at her when he thinks no one can see him.

It seems that her big, unforgivable sin is being the one thing he wants and can't have. What he's been punishing her for all these years is the fact that he didn't have what it took to stand up for her when it counted. He's a coward who's not worthy of her and everyone knows it. And for that, he's making sure she pays the price.

I glance over at Sunny sitting in the passenger seat. She's humming along to the radio, scrolling through the new phone I got her, completely unaware of the chaos in my head this morning.

She has no clue that she’s the reason, the only reason, Zack still has all his teeth. No idea thatshe’sthe only thing holding me together when everything in me is screaming to settle things with him once and for all.

I meant it when I said I wouldn't do anything to hurt her. And that means, not doing anything that will pull me away from her.

She looks at me and offers up a soft, sweet smile. It's everything to me. She sees something in me no one else does. She's sees who Icanbe. She thinks I can be better, do better.And, she's got me thinking that maybe, with her, it's possible.

But is it really?

That thought claws at the back of my mind. She makes it so easy to believe that it can be different. ThatIcan be different. But what if this is it—as good as it gets? As good asIget.

Sometimes, it feels like there are two versions of me, and they're constantly fighting. There's the one Sunny sees—the one she makes me want to be. That side is softer, better, more in control. But the other version, the one my father raised, is never very far away.

Sunny doesn’t know that person, doesn't know that side of me exists and I don’t want her to. Even that day in her backyard with Garrett, as bad as it was, wasn't as bad as it can get. But Zack... he keeps trying to drag that other me to the surface.

At least Zack hasn't gone near Sunny since that day in the parking lot. The memory of it still makes my blood boil, but I think he got the message finally. Words I can forgive, but touch my girl…

I was late getting out of practice—stuck in a pointless meeting with Coach. Should've known something was off when Zack bolted early. He's always the last out of the locker room. He loves having a captive audience.

The reason became crystal clear as soon as I stepped outside. Zack had Sunny trapped against the door of my truck, his body caging her in. When he grabbed her wrist and yanked her closer, everything inside of me went deadly quiet. He leaned down, whispered something in her ear that made her face go pale, and I saw that look—the same terrified expression she had on her face that day when she heard that screen door open.

My vision tunneled. Nothing existed except the thrum of blood rushing in my ears and the sight of Sunny's fear.

The bastard knew exactly what he was doing. Knew I'd be coming out soon. He wanted me to see this—wanted to test how far I'd let him push me before I snapped.

I was on him in seconds. The sharp yelp when I wrapped my arm around his neck and dragged him away from Sunny had been deeply satisfying.

When I started to squeeze and he struggled against me, the adrenaline kicked in, and I was gone. Feeling his pulse pound against my skin, knowing he was completely at my mercy felt good. So fucking good. By the time he started to nod off, I was riding a serious high and didn't want it to stop.

Sunny’s hand on my arm snapped me out of it. Her touch was soft, and my reaction wasunexpected. She pulled me back from the edge and straight back into reality. If she hadn’t been there, I might’ve—no, Iwould’veended it. Zack will probably never realize how close he came to losing more than that stupid, cocky grin he gets, or that Sunny was the one who saved him.

I glance over at the girl beside me and have to smile. She's relaxed and happy and I can't imagine wanting anything more than what I have right here in this moment.

"Hey,” I say, nudging her leg with my elbow. “Your birthday’s coming up, right? Next weekend? You have something you want to do?”

She looks over to me, eyes bright and wide with surprise. “Oh. I, uh... I don't know," she pauses, biting her lower lip thoughtfully. "Maybe we could grab some take-out then go back to your place. Watch some movies?”

A smile tugs at my lips. Takeout and a movie. It sounds so perfectly... perfect. I can't believe what a difference a few weeks have made. For both of us. “That’s it? Don't you want something a little more... special?”

She shrugs, scrolling through her phone again. “I don’t need much. Just you.”

The words are simple and she tosses them out carelessly, but they hit me square in the chest."Just you."She has no idea what she’s saying, or how much those words mean to me. She deserves a lot more than takeout and a movie, and so much more than me. I'm going to make sure that this is the best birthday she's ever had. One she'll never forget.

"You know, I think we can do a little bit better than that. It's your eighteenth, Angel. It's a big one. Let me make it special?"

"I don't know," she says as she stares down at the blank screen sitting in her lap. "It's really not a big deal. You don't have to—"

I don't wait for her to finish. I turn in my seat and fix her with a serious look. "Sunny." I reach out, sliding a finger under chin and tilting her face up to mine. "I don'thaveto do anything. I want to. It's important to me.You'reimportant to me."

I can see her struggling with my words. We've come a long way together, but there are still spaces between us that feel wide and unmanageable. A no man's land that neither of us is willing to cross. Yet.

Eventually though, she rewards me with a smile that spreads across her face slowly.

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