Page 23 of Mad As Hell

“For what it’s worth, I think he really is sorry,” she said quietly. “Like, genuinely sorry.”

“He should be,” I retorted flatly. “But I’ve got enough to deal with right now. His regrets and his sorries aren’t my cross to bear.”

“Right.” She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking unsure.

“Bex, just because I’m mad doesn’t mean you have to be, too,” I pointed out gently. “You don’t have to—”

“Maddie, I love you, but please don’t tell me what I do or don’t have to do.” Bex cut me off with more heat than I’d expected. “Remember how you just said you wouldn’t give Ryan the chance to break your heart again?”

I nodded slowly.

“I gave… I gave them the chance to break my heart again, and they did.” Her mouth set in a stubborn line, but the slight tremble on her bottom lip gave her away. “I should’ve known it was too good to be true. That they would just be my friends again.”

“Bex, you know they weren’t faking that. Especially Linc and Court.”

She winced when I said Court’s name. “I don’t care. Not anymore.”

She was lying, but I wasn’t going to be the one to call her on it, because I knew exactly how she felt.

I could tell myself and everyone until I was out of oxygen that I was done with Ryan Cain, but the scary truth was, I wasn’t entirely sure that was true. I wasn’t totally certain that my heart was really done with the guy who had put it in a blender and force-fed it back to me.

How messed up was that?

For now, though, we were both willing to live with the half-truth as we went into the dining hall.

Class started in thirty minutes, so the room was full of people who were trying to eat before first period. I used the chaos to slip into line with Bex and get my food. Upon seeing me, one of the women working the line disappeared into the back and came back with a plate just for me.

Two egg whites and a plain yogurt.

“Seriously?” Bex whisper-hissed at me, eyeing my plate. She requested extra bacon and cheesy eggs in return, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her not to bother.

My stomach rumbled unhappily as we found an empty table near the edge of the room. I sank down into my chair, ignoring the stares being tossed my way.

Yeah, I was definitely public enemy number one.

Bex sat down across from me and started to move some of her food to my plate.

“Don’t.” The word came out sharper than I’d intended, and I mentally slapped myself at the hurt in her eyes. “If I break the rules, he’ll know. I can’t risk it.”

Her mouth turned down, and she took a reluctant bite of bacon that I swore I could taste through scent alone.

My mouth watered, and disappointment flooded my system as I swallowed a bland bite of egg. I eyed the salt and pepper shakers in the center of the table. Did they have too many calories?

Unwilling to take a chance, I turned away from them and tucked into my food.

I was pretty much sulking when a tray set down beside mine and the chair was pulled back.

I blinked in surprise at the newcomer. “What are you doing?”

Charles Winthrope the Fourth grinned at me as he sat down. “Eating, of course.” The teasing lilt in his British accent coupled with the roguish glint in his eye would melt many a panty.

Mine, however, were drier than the Sahara.

Bex’s guarded gaze watched him warily.

“Rebecca, right?” Charles didn’t seem phased by our reluctance. He tapped his temple. “Shit, sorry. Bex, yes? That’s the name you prefer?”

She nodded.

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