Page 154 of Devil's Bargain

The streetlights come on. It’s too dark in the tree line to see anything, but I keep walking. I’m not stopping until I reach home.

This must be the lowest point in my life so far, right? How much lower than this can I possibly sink?

I wipe the tears from my eyes as I finally spot houses ahead. My legs want to collapse, but I push on.

* * *

Rick.

I pull up in my driveway and cut the engine. The house is dark. My parents are at a charity event tonight. They tried to talk me into coming along, but I managed to wriggle my way out of it. Jamie dragged me to his house and proceeded to beat my ass on the Xbox.

I still can’t process everything that happened earlier today.

Jared and Scott…

I could tell that Jamie wanted to talk, but I didn’t bring it up, and he didn’t ask questions.

I’m mentally drained as I exit the car and make my way up the front steps.

“Rick?”

I swivel on the spot. April steps out of the shadows, dressed in a blue sundress and sandals of all things. I blink, and stupidly, the first thing out of my mouth is, “What the fuck are you wearing?”

She looks down at her clothes as if she’s surprised too. “I don’t know?”

I stare at her for a moment longer as a range of emotions fight for space inside me. I’m relieved to see her but also angry and jealous. “Do you want to come inside?”

She nods, wiping at her cheeks. She’s crying.

I unlock the front door and hold it open for her. She has several cuts on her upper arms as if she’s been scratched.

“I’m sorry I haven’t called. I’ve lost my phone.”

I drop my keys on the hallway table and guide her upstairs with a hand pressed to her lower back. Something is up with her. “Where have you been? Your friends are worried sick about you.”

She hugs her arms around herself. “I’m going to see them after this. Your house was the closest. I need a short rest.”

I watch her as I close the door. She looks exhausted. “Are you okay?”

She avoids my gaze and shakes her head as she sits down on my bed. “No.”

I walk over and sit down next to her. We stare at the door. “What happened to you?”

She drops her gaze. “I…”

“Hey,” I touch my fingers to her chin and duck my head. “It’s okay. You can talk to me!”

Her blue eyes flick between mine. “I can’t, Rick.”

I drop my hand. “Why not?”

She wipes away a stray tear. “You wouldn’t look at me the same.”

“You fucked JaredandScott.”

She grows still, her eyes widening. She even stops breathing.

I chuckle bitterly. “I was hoping it wasn’t true.”

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