Page 182 of Zero Chance

“I know,” he murmured softly, his eyes full of sympathy as if he truly did understand.“I know, buddy.”

I searched his eyes before saying, “You really do, don’t you?”Squinting, I demanded, “But how the fuck doyouknow?”

He winced before explaining, “Her last counselor, Miss Qualls, left detailed notes on all the students who came through her office.I saw Waverly’s file after meeting her at Archer House, and…” With another cringe, he admitted, “I had a little peek.I’m sorry.”

I shook my head, not even caring.In fact, I was glad he knew and understood and had been there, stepping forward when I needed it most.

“So, Library Girl’smom…” Hudson broke in slowly, obviously not knowing anything as he pointed in the direction that Ms.B had gone.“Showed a video in your nursing class about rape victims because…?”

When he lifted his eyebrows in question, I stared back at him without answering, and Hudson winced.“Well, shit.”

Damien, Foster, Raina, and Alec looked similarly struck.Damien shook his head, appearing to be pissed and sad, Foster pressed a hand to his mouth, while Raina latched herself onto his arm for moral support.

Alec seemed like he was going to cry along with me, as he whispered, “Poor Waverly.”

The only person who looked surprised bynoneof this was Parker.

I turned to him, and he sent me a defeated look that demanded,don’t ask.

Hudson had no such qualms and straight-up said, “So how didyoualready know?”

Parker’s jaw set, and he glanced around at the lot of us, refusing to speak as he returned to his old mute ways from back when we’d first known him.

Thane, however, spoke up on his behalf.“I have a feeling Ohrley here knows a hell of a lot more than we suspect.And he might be legally bound to remain silent about the whole scandal that went down at the center.”

“Wait.Thecenter?”Alec yelped in surprise.“You mean…?”He whirled toward me with wide, worried eyes.

“Sprout?”Damien guessed.

When my expression answered for me, Foster clutched his stomach and admitted, “I think I might puke now, too.”

“Five years,” I choked out as I looked at my friends.“She was in the same building as us for five fuckingyearswhile we played catch-the-football and guess-my-favorite food and pass-the-fucking-talking-stick, and the whole time she was suffering at the hands of that?—”

“Christ,” Hudson broke in, lifting his hand and making me stop because he couldn’t handle hearing anymore.“I hope they cut that motherfucker’s dick off behind bars.”

“Trust me.”Parker’s smirk was dark, and his eyes gleamed wickedly.“He’s not having an easy time of it in there.I make sure of it.”

I exhaled, liking the sound of that until Parker glanced at me.“And Katherine’s not going to enjoy what I do to her either.”Shaking his head in disappointment, he growled, “I still can’t fucking believe her.After everything I did for her family.She’s going to pay forevergoing after you.”

Except I said, “No,” stopping him there.“Don’t touch her.”Pointing at Thane next, I commanded, “That goes for you too.Hurting her hurts Waverly.And no one fucking hurts Waverly.Got it?”

Both of my friends looked moodily put out by the request, but they each reluctantly nodded.“We got it.”

I blew out a breath and glanced at the others, who were watching me with acute concern.

“Fuck,” I muttered, wiping a stressed hand over my face.“How the hell amIgoing to tell Waverly about this without hurting her?”

42

WAVERLY

Something was wrong.

I hadn’t heard from Keene since six when he’d woken me with a good morning text.I had assumed I’d see him over the noon hour, where Xander and I had taken to sitting with him and his friends in the student union.

But none of the seven were present when we arrived after our lit class, which had even made Xander frown in confusion and say, “Huh.I wonder where everyone is.”

She’d texted Alec, but he’d answered her with a vague reply, only saying they were getting something off campus for lunch.

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