Page 132 of Wicked Ends
Dale was crying openly now, abandoning all pretense of not being a spineless shit who could dish it out but couldn’t take it.
I lit a cigarette, exhaling as much of the smoke as I could, before turning the lighted tip to Dale’s chest.
“I was thinking nipples first, balls, then tongue, eyes… Hey, have you ever heard what happens if you stick a lit cigarette up a dick?”
I laughed, and I can admit the sound was a little manic. Dale’s eyes widened like he was going to pass out.
“Let’s find out together, shall we, dear future dead brother-in-law?”
Arianna
I endedup staying with Claire and Lulu for a few weeks before heading back to Hade Harbor. There, it finally hit me that I was free for the first time in my life. I cried like I’d never cried before and laughed with Lulu and Claire until my healing ribs ached. My heart slowly filled up. I ignored the hole in it that Marcus had left and allowed myself to slowly let go. I was free. It was hard to believe, but it was true. Dale being gone meant that Claire and Lulu could go wherever they wanted. They could go back to California or stay in Canada. Claire had been asking about Hade Harbor a lot. It would be a great town for them. A fresh start. I wouldn’t be there anymore, but it helped my bleeding heart to know that someone I loved would enjoy the small slice of Maine heaven.
Kenna made my absence right with the administration office, and Bill managed to cover my classes. She was vague on the gossip going around about the damn pictures from Marcus’ presentation, but I knew there had to be speculation.
Dating a student was considered distasteful, but existed in a grey area, as long as it was discreet… but rubbing it in everyone’s faces?
Unacceptable.
Hade Harbor was over for me. The only thing that mattered now was fixing the things I’d broken along the way. Marcus had given me a new life. Knowing him had freed me. It was only right that I paid him back.
When I returned to town, I went to Coach Williams first.
He frowned at me as I settled across from him in his office.
“You’re here about Marcus? I don’t need excuses from anyone. If Marcus wants to get with the program, he needs to show up to practice.”
“You know that his brother has suffered a serious injury?”
Coach Williams frowned. “How am I supposed to know anything when Marcus isn’t taking my calls? He’s missed a lot of school as well. You know the Hellions are on a tight leash when it comes to skipping classes. Their play time gets restricted.”
“Yeah, and I know rules are bent all the time when it comes to the Ice Gods, aren’t they?”
Coach Williams watched me, waiting for me to go on.
“And Marcus Bailey is the only goalie you have who can get you where you want the team to go. We both know it.”
“And what did Marcus do to deserve having you fight on his behalf?”
I shook my head and shrugged. “Nothing in particular. He was just himself. Helping others, putting himself out for everyone else. Isn’t that who he’s always been on the team?”
Williams sniffed. “If you can get him to come to practice tomorrow morning, he’s off my shit list. I didn’t know about his brother, but lack of communication in a team isn’t okay. This is his final warning.”
“Okay, I’ve got it. Thank you. I’ll get him here,” I promised and stood.
At the doorway, Coach called out to me. “Ms. Moore?”
I turned on the threshold.
“You’re right about Marcus. He’s always there for everyone. It’s nice to see someone be there for him.”
My cheeks threatened to heat. I wondered if Coach Williams had any idea of the extent of our relationship. If he’d heard about the photos. But it didn’t matter in the end. My reputation didn’t matter. I was ready and willing to take the fall for all of it as long as Marcus could go back to his life, unscathed. He could return to his life and forget that I’d ever existed, in time. He wouldn’t lose everything. I wouldn’t let him.
My next stop was the dean’s office. I was sweating by the time I got to the doors. I’d already decided to throw myself on the fire and burn for my sins, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t scared to do it.
I stood in the hall and took a deep breath. I checked my watch to make sure I was on time and knocked.
“Come in, Professor Moore.” Dean Eastwood wasn’t an imposing man, but the aura of authority he wore as head of the school still made me feel small.
