Page 72 of Imogen

“I get that all the time,” he replies.

I shake myself out of it and turn to Hayden, remembering what happened. “You fucking put them up to that out there, didn’t you?”

She shrugs. “Would you have star jumped?”

I point to my heels. “You know I’d never risk my boots,” I remind her.

“Good point,” she muses. “What brings you here? I thought you weren’t talking to me.”

“Look, I’m sorry. It’s not every day you find out your bio mother is a crack whore and your mum is biologically your aunt. I said things in the heat of the moment. I was in shock and I was hurt. You knew before me.”

“I get it. I wanted to tell you but it wasn’t my place. You know how Lily is. You were saved from living the same life she did, and I didn’t want to mess your head up when it was irrelevant. You have a mum and dad who love you.”

“And you have no siblings and a dad in a mental institution.”

She chuckles. “I am sorry, for what it’s worth. I only found out because I’m a nosey bitch. It wasn’t discussed with me behind your back. And your mum called me last night saying you were okay.”

“I know it wasn’t discussed. Mum explained that she didn’t tell anyone. I am sorry for yelling at you.”

“It’s fine. If you had been anyone else, this would be going a lot differently, but I love you. I don’t like seeing you hurt.”

I eye her curiously. “You aren’t going to hug me, are you?”

She curls her lip up. “Fuck no. But I am going to ask about how you got that red mark on your cheek.”

It’s the one thing my makeup didn’t cover. I even tried to blend it in with some blusher. But I guess it’s going to leave a bruise.

And that’s when I remember we aren’t alone. I glance at Clay, then Joe, grimacing.

Joe grins. “Don’t mind us. This is better than any television drama on right now.”

I arch a brow. “Glad we could entertain you.”

“Get back to the mark on your face,” Hayden orders.

And this is why I love her. She’s loyal as hell and will have your back. Hell, she will have your back even if she doesn’t know you just to get a kick out of the drama.

I was worried about coming here because she’s not known for forgiveness. I should have known this would be different.

But to save her from being arrested, I lie. I lie good enough for her to believe me.

*** *** ***

My lids are growing heavy as I sit across the road from Castle and Games with a takeout cup filled with an espresso. I’ve passed by this park so many times and it’s always brimming to capacity with children. I guess it’s the only park in Coldenshire that hasn’t been touched by drunken kids or graffiti artists. Today, however, there isn’t a child in sight. Which my headache is grateful for.

George makes his way across the road with a white bag in hand, and I smile. “Please tell me there’s food inside for me.”

He rolls his eyes. “Of course there is,” he assures me as he takes a seat on the bench in front of me. “How are you holding up?” His eyes widen suddenly, and he drops a food container on the table. “Is that a bruise forming on your face?”

I gently run my fingers across the mark. “I’m missing work. And yes, it’s a long story.”

“One, you’re weird. No one misses work. And two, I have time for a long story.”

“Your lunch is an hour.”

“An hour and fifteen because I didn’t take my break this morning,” he rushes out. “Did you get into a fight?”

I fill him in on this morning, and his face grows red, his fingers clenching around the second container he pulls out.

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