Chapter 53

Reece

"Armed robbery?" The words leave my mouth without my permission. There are too many moving parts in this whole thing suddenly.

"I'm sorry," Sawyer whispers. His eyes move desperately between me and Asher. Asher moves to him, pulling him into his arms.

Then, I realize what's happening.

I pull him out of Asher's arms, turning him to me and holding him by his arms. Searching his face desperately, I move my hands to his face, cupping his cheeks between my palms. "I don't care," I whisper desperately. "I don't care. You kept this from me because you think I'll judge you? The way he's judging you now? My father?"

Sawyer stares at me and for the first time since laying eyes on him, I don't see a man, strong and kind, but a boy, lost and afraid. I know because I have always been that boy, lost and afraid.

"If you don't believe me, ask Asher. My father will make you feel like the dirt beneath his boot if you let him. I've lived my whole life feeling like that. I'm not like him, Sawyer. I will never, ever judge you." I'm babbling, desperate for him to not let my father's words destroy him like they destroyed me and Asher. I'm desperate to protect him from that.

"I should've told you the truth. I shouldn't have let you find out like that."

I pull him closer to me, kissing him short and hard. "It wouldn't have made a difference."

Then, I turn to Asher, moving one hand to bring him close to us. "I won't let him destroy your career a second time, Ash."

"It's already done, Reece. It's not up to him now, anyway. He just started this mess. The school district is going to finish it."

"I'll go back. Then, people can't say there's something between us."

Asher's voice hardens. "You mean, run away?"

My heart splits in two. No. No. Not run away. But then, how?

"I'm not going to end our relationship, Reece. Not again. I went quietly the first time. I won't do it again."

I hate this. I hate my father. I hate my own spinelessness. My stupidity for causing all of this. It's all my fault.

I look at him, horrified and ashamed and utterly lost, but I don't have anything of value to offer him. "You'll almost certainly get dismissed, Ash."

"I'm not walking away from you. Not again."

"You'll lose your job," I argue.

He steps closer, taking my chin between his fingers. "Are you saying you'll walk away from us over this?"

I'm saying I don't want to ruin his life again. I'm saying I don't have the balls to walk away, but I can't stay with them and let Asher's career get destroyed all over again. "I can't let you lose everything again."

" You are everything. If I lose you, I lose everything."

"Then lie," I beg. "Like Principal Watson said. Tell them nothing is going on between us."

"For how long, Reece?" Sawyer says. "If we bend to the will of people like this, when will it end? We aren't starting any wars. We're only trying to fucking live. No one should work this hard to stop that from happening."

My eyes meet Sawyer's. Gently, I remove Asher's hand from my face. "I can't let him lose his job, Sawyer. I can't explain to you how much guilt I carry over Ash not playing football."

"That wasn't your fault."

"It was. I was the one who left the journal out for my father to find. I should've been more careful. Asher's life was ruined because of me."

"He won't walk away from you."

I turn back to Ash. "Then . . .then, maybe you can say there's nothing between us and you can quietly find another job."

"And how long before your father tries to ruin that too? I want to go through with this because I don't want us to live under the control of people who think they can do as they please with those they see as less than them."

"So, you want to admit to everything? There's a petition already in motion."

"Whatever the outcome, Reece, I cannot go quietly. Please understand that. My parents and I went quietly when your father did this the first time. I refuse to do it again."