Page 62 of Bad Blood

“No. I stopped caring a long time ago.”

Relief washes over me and the burden I didn’t even know I was carrying lifts from my shoulders.

He sits next to me, slips his arm around me and I rest my head on his chest.

As his heart beats under my ear, strong and resilient, a comfort I’ve never experienced before surrounds me.

It allows my weary soul to take refuge in his protective arms and I feel safe and whole. Two things I haven’t felt in so long it’s like pure oxygen in my lungs.

The feeling gives me glimpses of the version of myself I’m trying so hard to find and I realize I am myself when I’m with him.

Isabelle givesme a curious smile as I set out the bowl of fruit on the wooden lunch table.

We’re having lunch outside today and this time I’m keeping our lunch date.

“What? You’re looking at me weird.” I chuckle.

“I was just wondering if you’re actually going to stay for the whole of lunch or if you’ll have to mysteriously run off again.” She smirks.

I know she’s suspected something is going on between Chad and me but hasn’t said anything.Yet.

She’s been edging around to asking the question. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those times.

“I’m not running off. I promise.”

“Are you sure? Because your man just walked onto the quad and he’s looking this way.”

She gazes over my shoulder with mischief in her eyes.

I follow her gaze and when I see Chad with the other Titans, I think this could easily be my first day of school all over again.

Isabelle and I are sitting in different places, but Chad and the guys are doing the same thing.

We’re far apart, but unlike that day only a few weeks ago, the look he’s giving me doesn’t produce the same terror.

I still feel that solace from last night when he held me close to him, sitting on the edge of the cliff, and I have a feeling that no matter how far away I go—it could be to the ends of the earth or to the moon—I’d still feel it.

He continues walking, but I watch him until he goes through the thicket of trees that leads to the science labs.

When I return my gaze to Isabelle, of course she’s already looking at me. The mischief has turned to wild curiosity and she’s laughing.

“Are you ever going to tell me what’s going on with you two? Just so you know, I’m over here dying to know. I could drop dead from the suspense any minute now.”

We both laugh.

“You’re not going to drop dead.”

“The point is I could.” She nods vigorously. “So, tell me what’s going on.”

How can I tell her what’s going on when I can’t even explain it myself?

There are the bad parts—a.k.a. the contract. I could never breathe a word of that to anyone.

But there are the good parts that have evolved outside of the contract which I never anticipated. Ever.

“Well?” She prods.

“Can I tell you another time?” Like at the end of the contract.

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