24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

ISABEL

Leaning over the counter as I reapplied my lip gloss, I smiled to myself, nervous butterflies beginning to flutter about in my stomach. I smoothed my hands over my dress, refusing to allow myself to freak out.

Today had been wonderful. I'd gotten to watch Chloe again this morning, and all the extra hurt that had been building in my chest dissipated as soon as that little girl was in my arms. I'd even left the daycare and made it through the afternoon without the pain gripping me like it had what felt like a million times before, and it suddenly felt like everything might really be okay. That the hurt from losing my daughter didn't have to cripple me anymore. Not if I didn't want it to.

But it was when I'd taken a drive down the beach that I knew things were finally falling into place. That I might finally be ready to let myself heal.

That euphoria followed me the rest of the day, and I couldn't wait to share it with Tucker, even putting together a surprise for him for later. He deserved it. We both did. The way he held me on the dance floor tonight? The way he couldn't take his eyes off me? I felt like a princess, and he was my prince. Forever my knight in shining armor.

A couple of girls walked in, and when one of them mentioned the time, my stomach swooped. Time always flew by when I danced, and it wouldn't be long before I could give Tucker my surprise. Taking one last glance in the mirror, I slipped my lip gloss back in my clutch and went to go find him.

The deserted school halls greeted me when I stepped out, the feeling almost creepy in the after hours, especially since I'd gone to a restroom further down from the gym when the one near the chaperones was overcrowded. The sound of my heels filled the air as they clicked against the tiles, but I paused before turning the last corner, certain I could hear voices. Except there wasn't anybody that I could see.

Frowning, I took another step and heard it again. Where is it coming from? I stayed still, focusing, and eventually, I could make out two voices coming from a nearby classroom. They were muffled but definitely male and female. My eyes widened when I heard the girl cry out in pleasure, and the guy followed a few seconds later with a satisfied groan.

I pressed my hand to my mouth and moved to my tiptoes, not wanting them to know anyone had overheard. I'd have been mortified if it had been me, but as I was about to pass the classroom, I heard one of them walking towards the door. I froze, afraid to move as they started to argue.

"You don't always have to be so rough," the girl complained .

"Like you don't eat it up. Your cunt sure fucking does."

"Pig."

"Slut."

"Not a slut. Letting you fuck me is self preservation."

"It at least passes the time."

"It makes you look good that you're not sleeping around all the time. I'm your dirty little secret until you get what you want, and then you'll dump my ass."

"And you'll have who you want, too," the guy snapped. "Now, did you do the shit I told you to?"

The girl took a breath, her voice dismissive. "I don't know where they are. I left to smoke a joint around back, and when I came back inside, they were gone. I was going to go check the restrooms before you dragged me in here ."

"Fuck. They better not have left," the guy growled, his tone causing a chill to race down my spine.

"Calm down, jackass. I'm sure they're here somewhere. The gym's so crowded, I probably just missed them."

There was a pause before the guy spoke again. "You better be right. I've been waiting long enough."

"Calm your tits." I could hear the girl's eye roll. "I just have to go find them."

"Well, you better do it soon. It's getting late, and this won't work if you don't."

"I still don't get why you can't get your ass out there and help me. It would go so much faster. I'm practically missing prom for this," the girl pouted.

"You know why I can't help. It's up to you."

My pulse raced as I listened to their conversation. I knew I should just walk away. That I should avoid them and whatever messed up thing they were planning, but their voices sounded so familiar, it was hard to pass up the urge to look. Still on my tiptoes, I brushed my hand against the door, steadying myself as I passed to discreetly peek in the glass pane a few inches above the knob, but when I saw Zane's profile, I nearly gasped.

The girl was out of sight but still talking in the background, and I quickly reached down to pull off my heels, wanting to be as soundless as possible when I rushed down the hall, but I lost balance with my first one and fell against the door. My stomach leaped to my throat, and I looked up through the glass to find Zane staring straight back at me.

Swallowing, my heart pounding, I began to back away, but he didn't give me the chance to retreat. He quickly motioned for the girl to stay and was out in the hall, holding my arm to steady me within seconds.

"Thank you," I whispered as I replaced my heel. After overhearing that conversation, politeness was crucial. The only other person nearby was on his side.

Part of me felt like he wouldn't hurt me on purpose, not if what he'd claimed last December was true, but he'd hurt me before, and old habits died hard. Triggers died hard, and whatever his intentions were, my gut still did not trust him.

He smiled. "You haven't pulled away. I'm glad. I was afraid I wouldn't get the chance to see you tonight. I almost couldn't make it, but I'm glad I did. You look absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you," I whispered again, gently pulling my arm back now that I was on two even feet. His smile dipped, and my stomach tumbled. "You look nice, too." I looked at his tux .

His smile broadened again, and he looked around. "You're alone?"

I swallowed, hearing the hopeful note to his voice. "No, I'm not alone. Tucker's waiting for me. I just went to the ladies' room."

A hard look passed over Zane's eyes, and I wanted to kick myself for mentioning Tucker. It was just going to tick him off, and I needed to be smart so I could get away.

His head ducked, leaning closer. "And you're sure Tucker's waiting for you?"

"Yes…"

"Really?"

"What are you trying to say, Zane?"

He gave a casual shrug of his strong shoulders, reminding me of his strength. How much power I could sense behind him even now. My stomach gave another swoop.

"I'm not saying anything. It's just that I've heard he's pretty sick of it. You know, waiting for you to be ready again."

"Not anymore." What the hell? Why had I said that? And how does he know all this? He always seemed to know so much of my life.

His eyes flashed, anger tensing his muscles in a moment of anger before something in my expression must have given my bluff away, and his features relaxed into their cool, smug setting once again. "You can't do it, can you?"

I opened my mouth to argue but froze, nothing coming out.

Talk, Isabel!

"I will. "

"When?" Zane pressed, leaning closer. "When you're through being terrified he'll put you in the same situation again? When you can forget what he did to you?"

I scowled. "It's not about that." And he didn't do anything. You did.

Zane smirked. "Of course, it is. It's too painful to be with him, isn't it? That's why you turned down his ring."

He didn't even deserve that answer. Nothing between Tucker and I was his to know. "Smug isn't a good look on you," I said instead, but he just smirked harder. Gloating, like he already thought he had won. Apprehension rolled through me.

"Just remember that I'm here for you. I'd never jeopardize your future that way."

"No, you'd just hit me," I snarled, and my eyes widened in horror. What was wrong with my mouth? Why was I such an idiot around him?

"At least, you know I'm not weak. I didn't have to sit out like an injured dog just because a few people knocked into me."

My brow furrowed, thrown. "The game," I realized out loud. Why hadn't it clicked with me before? I'd seen him with the other team right before Tucker got hurt.

"Exactly. You know I did that for you, right?"

"For me?!" I felt the heat hit my cheeks. Was he crazy? "Tucker could have really been hurt. How could it have possibly been for me ?"

"Damn, I forgot how hot you are when you're mad." Zane reached out, his fingers brushing against my flushed cheek.

I smacked his hand away. "Don't touch me," I growled. "Answer me. "

I almost flinched when the smile fell from Zane's lips, and his brown eyes, so close to black, flickered in warning. Frustration seeped from him right then, and I could still feel it even when he painted the calm back onto the handsome canvas other girls still gushed over.

They hadn't felt him lose control. His anger.

Zane leaned to place his hand on the wall behind me then, his body uncomfortably close to mine as he closed me in. Every nerve in my body was alert, aware of the unseen palpable danger that lingered in the air if I pushed him too far.

"I was trying to show you that Tucker's not as perfect as you think. That he's fallible. He's weak. I'm not. But for some reason, you still don't see it. I can protect you. He can't. That's why you can't sleep with him."

"What?" I blinked, actually thrown.

"Last summer, he protected you when I…lost my temper. So much shit was going on then. Things I wanted you to know." He shook his head. "But it was Tucker's weakness that hurt you last time. He couldn't control himself and look what happened? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't protect you."

His smug smile spread as he leaned in, and I tensed as his thick body threatened the space between us. My chest tightened as the room faded at the edges, his close presence alone now apparently enough to trigger this response from my mind. But he didn't touch me, the last bit of distance just enough for me to hold it back.

Had he always seemed so large? I wasn't sure. It had been a while since he'd gotten this close, and fear could do strange things to the mind .

When his mouth was just above my ear, he spoke softly, his words caressing me like the tongue of the forever encroaching snake. "But, now, you know what I would do for you. How I would do everything I can to help you."

"And hurting Tucker is helping me?" I breathed.

"You're barely surviving, Izzy. Everyone sees it. I just want to be there for you. I want to help you live. To help you shine again and be my light in the darkness like you were before. Like you still are. There's still that connection between us. That pull I've felt since I first met you. It's strong, even if for you it's buried in your grief, and I'm not willing to give up on it."

My heart throbbed at those words, but not for the reason he wanted. "I want Tucker."

Zane leaned back and removed the white rose boutonniere from the jacket of his tux. "For now, maybe, but eventually, you'll come around. I'm just as stubborn as you, Izzy, and I'm not giving up." Leaning in once more, he pressed the flower into my hand as he whispered, "I can't wait until we're together again. Once you're with me, I'll make sure you never want anyone else."

The gym doors flew open, noise and light flooding the hall, and a group of girls stepped out, giggling and chatting, oblivious to my torture.

Zane slowly backed away, keeping his dark gaze locked to mine. I kept telling myself to break the connection, to not feed into his delusions, but it was like I was in shock, frozen until Zane smirked and walked through the doors into the dance.

I took a deep breath to collect myself, my lungs dragging in the air like it was too long since I'd had a proper breath. This was not going to ruin my night. Zane was not going to screw things up for me.

Smashing the rose in my hand, I dropped it to the floor and rubbed it into the ground with the toe of my heel. That's what I wished I could do to Zane.