Page 55 of Forged in Flames (Made of Steel 2)

I couldn't exactly argue with him. It was the same thing that Kins had said. Apparently Miles was a total player. But I hadn't seen any of that. It seemed like he only had eyes for me. "He's changed then."

"He's just playing you," Eli said. He directed his attention back to V. "Look, she turns heads. We both know that. Miles has been trying to date her since the semester began. We can't have anyone else knowing about this. All I'm saying is that it's safer for her if everyone thinks she has a boyfriend..."

"We already talked about this," V said.

When had he had secret conversations with Liza and Eli? It was like he had bartered with both of them to be part of this weird group. What had they agreed on?

"I'm the best option," Eli continued. "We need her to be left alone. If she walks around with me that'll happen."

Liza was nodding along with every word that came out of Eli's mouth. "I agree with Eli."

"She can talk to whoever she wants to as long as she keeps her distance," V said.

"Not if it puts her and the rest of us in danger." Eli put his hand down on the table and leaned forward. "We're asking her to end one friendship, it's not a big deal."

"Does anyone care what I think?" I asked.

They all turned toward me.

And I realized I didn't exactly know how to phrase what I wanted to say. I had feelings for Eli. Yes, sleeping with him was an accident, but if anything it made those feelings stronger. V and I had chemistry that I had a hard time ignoring. It was as if our pain drew us together. I didn't want this to end up with both of them hating me. "Miles is the last part of me that makes sense. He was my best friend growing up."

"And now?" V said.

I bit the inside of my lip. I've been in love with him since I was eight years old. "I just don't want him to get hurt."

V turned back toward Eli. "Fine. Pretend to be her boyfriend in public to keep her safe. Let's leave the make-believe at the door, though, shall we?"

For a few minutes, it seemed like V had been on my side. But then like a flip of a switch, he had just written off my relationship with Miles too. Everything they said was right. Being with Miles put him in danger. Maybe just talking to him did. I had to give him up, yet all I wanted to do was watch the meteor shower in his arms.

Chapter 23

Monday

"That brings us to our next topic," Liza said. She pressed a button on her phone and the picture of Miles disappeared. "We need to figure out who the mysterious Mr. Crawford is."

I wrapped my arms around myself and rejoined them at the table. Maybe analyzing my life was easy for them, but it wasn't for me. And just thinking about alienating Miles made me feel so cold. I had accidentally done that before. I wasn't going to do it again. Not when I finally knew the truth about what had happened. He hadn't abandoned me at all. In reality, he and his mom were the only ones who even cared whether or not I was still breathing.

"Earth to Summer," Liza said and waved her hand in front of my face.

"What?" Apparently I had missed something.

"How did you say you got in touch with Mr. Crawford in the first place?"

"I didn't. He approached me on the way to my shift at the local diner back home one day. He said he had been sent by the foster care system to check up on me. He claimed that they had recently been notified of the abuse."

"And you believed him? Don't those people usually come to the house to check in with kids?"

"I thought maybe because of the abuse he didn't want Don to be present." I knew it sounded stupid now. But in the moment, it felt like someone was finally on my side.

"Plus, if he worked for the foster care system, why didn't you think it was odd that he was also handling your time at the witness protection program? Clearly all red flags."

"I was scared. The day before Mr. Crawford came, Don had tried to kill me. I didn't think..."

"No, you didn't think at all." Liza pushed her glasses up her nose. "Well, he's definitely not a member of either the foster care system or the witness protection program. And we don't have any photos because he never set foot in Don's house. Or else Eli may have actually been of some use."

Eli leaned back in his chair. "Tear me apart all you want. But cut her some slack, Liza. You know what she's been through."

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