Page 20 of The Broken Vows

I glance back at Zane, only to find him already staring at me, his expression hard. His eyes move from me to Clifton, and then he looks away, dismissing me like I’m nothing.

I try my hardest to push down the pain. It shouldn’t hurt as much as it does — I spent years letting him hurt me, and I promised myself I’d never let him do this to me again, so how did I find myself here?

“Excuse me,” I murmur as I rise from my seat, needing a moment to collect myself.

I never should’ve let him kiss me, never should’ve fallen for it when he told me he just wanted a chance to show me who he’s become. No one knows him like I do — I should’ve trusted the behavior he’s shown me all our lives over his pretty lies. When it comes to him, I’m still the same naive girl I used to be, and I’m tired of hating who I become around him. I hate the insecurity, the doubts, the way he makes me feel so vulnerable.

“Celeste.” A hand wraps around my wrist moments before I’m pulled against a strong chest, and I gasp in shock as Zane presses me up against the wall opposite the restrooms, his eyes flashing with anger so fierce it rivals my own.

ChapterFifteen

Zane

“What’s wrong?” Raven asks, but her words barely register as my eyes zero in on Celeste. She told me she’d be spending time with hermothertoday, and the person sitting opposite her most certainly is not her mother.

“Zane, you’re worrying me. I’ve never seen you look so… so…”

I glance back at Raven and force a blank look onto my face. “It’s nothing,” I assure her, but that doesn’t stop her from following my line of vision.

“Who is she?”

Not who I thought she was.Why would she lie to me? Who is he? Celeste glances my way, and she tenses when our eyes meet. I expected to see a hint of guilt, or perhaps even shock at finding me here, but all I see is that same old haughty disdain she’s always thrown my way.

I look away, unable to take it.

“So that’s her, huh? The girl you’ve always been in love with.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Rave,” I deny as I pop my favorite peppermint candy into my mouth — a nervous habit I developed when I stopped smoking.

She chuckles and leans in. “I always wondered who she was — the girl that’s kept Zane Windsor on his toes for years. She’s ridiculously pretty, and her hair is stunning.”

“She’s also on a date with someone else,” I snap, unable to keep my composure.

Raven’s gaze travels back to Celeste, and she shakes her head. “They don’t have chemistry. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, unsure what to do. When Celeste rises from her seat and rushes toward the restrooms, the decision is made for me.

“Don’t overreact,” Raven warns as I stalk after Celeste, her words falling on deaf ears.

“Celeste.” My hand wraps around her wrist and I pull her against my chest, my eyes on hers as I turn us around, trapping her against the wall.

She glares up at me, not the least bit intimidated as I pin her arms above her head, my body pressed against hers. “Zane.”

I hate how fucking beautiful she is, how her body feels against mine. She looks gorgeous today in that tight white dress — all for him, no doubt. “Who the fuck is he?”

She cranes her neck to look at me, and I’m surprised by the force of her anger. Why isshemad? “How dare you ask me that when you couldn’t even take your eyes off that model fortwo seconds?”

I blink in disbelief, a hint of amusement taking the edge off my anger. “You’re jealous.” I smile at her, intensely fucking pleased. If she didn’t care about me at all, she wouldn’t have been jealous. “Whatever you think is happening there is all in your head, Celestial. Raven and I are just waiting for my sister to join us, that’s all. I’m not even alone with her. She’s my sister’s best friend.”

“Raven?” Something akin to insecurity flickers across her face. “How interesting — it just so happens there’s a raven on the back of the shoes you gave me. She designed them, didn’t she?”

I nod slowly, unsure what to make of the turmoil in her eyes. “I told you, didn’t I? She’s like a sister to me. Truly. She’s hopelessly in love with my eldest brother and due to be engaged to him soon.”

Her eyes widen, and her anger drains away, leaving only uncertainty, like she isn’t quite sure she believes me. “Who is he?” I ask again, my voice softer now. “Tell me your reason for being here with him when you told me you were going out with your mother is equally justifiable. Tell me he’s your cousin, because Iknowthat isn’t Archer.”

Celeste’s body relaxes against mine, and she searches my face. What for, I’m not sure. “It’s not a date, Zane.”

I drop my forehead to hers and inhale shakily. “Then you’ll have no problem telling me who he is.”

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