Page 63 of Heart of Gold
The home screen opens to a picture of us, his arms wrapped around me from behind and I smile at the memory.
It was before everything happened. When everything felt simpler.
I click the green message tab and open Raelynn’s message thread.
Raelynn
??
Why did you leave so fast?
It would be easier if we just told her the truth. You can’t keep doing this Gray.
I feel my heart pound and the bile collect in my throat. This can’t be happening. Tears begin to fall against the glass of the screen, and I can’t breathe.
A loud thud against the glass draws my attention, and I see Grayson standing there. I can barely see him through the tears in my eyes. It’s almost like slow motion.
He bangs over and over on the glass and I continue scrolling up on the messages.
“Quinn, open the fucking door. I can explain!”
How could I be so blind? So fucking naive.
I knew when I met Grayson he had a reputation. I became so addicted to him that I couldn’t get enough. I fell so hard that I bought into all his lies. Grayson became, in my eyes, what I wanted to see. The things you overlook when you’re under their influence is crazy.
I roll the window down just enough to drop his phone outside and drive away.
The place where I’d always go to be close to my mom became the place I couldn’t get away from quick enough.
chapter twenty-six
Gavin
Half the week slips away in a whirlwind of football and classes, and even though I don’t see Quinn, I think about her and how bad I want to kiss her the majority of those three days.
I’m sitting in the quad on a bench waiting for my next class when I see Trinity out of the corner of my eye.
Shit.
“Hey, Gavin. Whatcha doing?”
I look around for my scapegoat, but come up empty handed. “Waiting on Levi to get out of class.”
“Wanna grab some food in the dining hall?”
I stand up, trying to get the hell out of here, but she stops me. “Gavin, what is wrong with you? We hung out all summer and now you won’t even look at me.”
Trinity seems like a good person, which is why it’s hard to reject her so publicly like this.
“I’m sorry,” I sigh. “I thought I was clear when I said I didn’t want anything serious. The season started…”
My heart flips against my ribcage when I see Quinn and Ava walking our way. Her blonde hair is blowing and I watch her eyes move to myself and Trinity.
Quinn’s expression falls, and Trinity’s head turns to her.
“Don’t lie to me, Gavin. You just didn’t want anything serious with me.”
I don’t know how to argue with her, because she’s right. She stamps her foot like a toddler and stalks away, but Quinn doesn’t move in my direction. She doesn’t move at all. I walk to her, and sigh. “Ava, can I have a minute with Quinn?”
