Page 75 of Glad You Exist

Then she levels me with a look so cold, I feel my insides shiver. With a terse nod, satisfied that she has just successfully terrified her only son, she marches away, her red-soled heels clicking on the linoleum floors, each step feeling like it is stabbing me with her disappointment.

I shake my head as the knowledge of my parents upset with me settles on me like a weight.

A resigned sigh breaks me out of my stupor. Liz is watching me watch my mom’s retreating back with a dejected look on her face.

I force a smile at her. “Are you okay?”

Her gaze is transfixed on mine, her eyes searching for something I can’t quite put my finger on until she shuts her eyes for a brief moment.

Taking a deep breath, her eyes no longer meeting mine, Liz simply shakes her head. Pulling one strap off her shoulder, she digs into her backpack and pulls out her phone.

A chill trickles down my spine, and this time it has nothing to do with my mom and everything to do with the defeated set of Liz’s shoulders.

I ease her backpack off of her shoulders and sling it on my arm.

“Talk to me. What’s going on?”

She raises a shoulder as if to shrug but without her backpack as a shield, I start to see the way her fingers shake as they tighten around her phone.

Concern pierces me and my eyes scan the rest of her.

I notice her short huffs of breath and immediately I can tell that she’s on her way to having a panic attack. I instantly wrap an arm around her and guide her outside to my car.

I settle her in the passenger side before throwing our bags in the backseat of my Rover.

I climb into the driver’s side, turning the car on, making sure the AC is at a comfortable 70 degrees before shifting in my seat to face her. I wait for her breathing to slow down and give her space. I murmur her reassurances, letting her know I’m here for her and I don’t plan on going anywhere. Sensing that she’s coming out of it, I lean over to take her left hand and give it a soothing squeeze. I grab a water bottle from the center console and hand it to her, making sure to uncap it first.

“Drink some water El.”

Her eyelids flutter open, revealing a sheen in her eyes like she’s about to cry.

Tamping down the strong need to curse, I use my free hand to cup the back of her neck. I focus on massaging the tense muscles hoping I can relieve some of the tension she’s feeling.

I’m rewarded with a soft moan that makes my insides quiver and heat blaze through me.

I reach over and turn the thermostat down to 68.

“I’m sorry.” She whispers after she takes a long sip of water. She hugs the water close and sniffs, shaking her head with remorse.

Restrained by the center console and the fact that we’re still on full display of our schoolmates here in this parking lot, I resist the urge to pull her into my lap.

“For what?”

“Your parents are mad at you because of me.”

I take the bottled water from her, putting the cap back on.

I reach over and gently turn her so she’s facing me.

“They’re concerned for you. I really should have told them what happened. That’s why Mom is so upset becauseyou’re family. She just wants you safe and protected like we all do. She cares about you and hates that this happened.”

She doesn’t look convinced, so I tip her chin up, “El. What happened in there?”

Her glossy eyes meet mine and she raises her hand to grasp mine that’s holding her chin.

“Nothing too crazy. Principal Gardner can’t do anything but give him a verbal warning.”

I start to protest this, letting her go. I twist around to reach for the door handle fully intending to march back into the school and demand a better outcome, when she pulls my hand back to hers.

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