Page 77 of The Retaliation You Deliver
He ushers me up to our dorm, and by the time we’re standing outside my room, I feel a little stronger.
“I’m okay,” I say, finally pulling away from him. “I’ll be okay.”
“I can hang out if you need company.”
“I appreciate that, I really do, but I need to be alone. And I really need to shower.”
“Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“No, Nate, he didn’t. I think I might have been the one to cause the most pain tonight.”
“Okay. Well, if you need me, I’ll be in my room.”
“Thank you. You’re a good friend.” I pull him in for a hug, hoping that he knows how much I really do appreciate him.
“I hate seeing you hurting,” he breathes in my ear. “You deserve more.”
I’m hit with a wave of guilt so strong that it almost brings me to my knees.
“Mace?”
“Actually, can you come in for a moment?”
“S-sure.”
I push my door open and hold it open for him to join me.
“Is everything—”
“I need to tell you something.” Walking over to my nightstand, I pick up the photo of my parents.
I’ve always put it away or hidden it when I know anyone’s going to be in here, but since Leon, I’ve been way more forgetful than I usually would be.
“O-okay,” he says, standing in the middle of the room looking confused.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
His eyes narrow as I step toward him and hold out the photo of my parents.
“My name isn’t Macie Smith, Nate. It’s Macie—”
“Fletcher. I know.”
My chin drops as I stare at him looking down at my parents.
“I saw this the week you moved in, Mace.”
“Oh,” I breathe, feeling totally deflated.
“I don’t care what your surname is, or who you’re related to. If it makes you happy to distance yourself from them for whatever reason, then that’s up to you.
“I want to be friends with you, Mace. Not for your name, or for your connections.”
“Well, that’s good because I don’t have any connections. If you know them, then you know some of the story.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It is what it is. I’m sorry I never told you.”
