Page 31 of Resolve
Dane’s jaw snaps shut.
Kellan bursts out laughing.
But Portia isn’t finished. “That’s right! I remember you. And now that I’m back, just try saying mean things to Rae again and I’ll make you regret it!”
Dane takes another step toward her, and I jump between them. “Guys, stop—”
“Good!” Dane retorts, his fist raised. “Do it. If I ever say anything like that to Rae again, then you'd better follow through on that threat. Because I’d rather die than ever hurt her again.”
Portia mirrors him. “I will! I’ll—Wait.” She looks at me, confused. “What?”
Ioffer her a small smile and shrug. “How soon are we catching up?”
Elias clears his throat. “That aside, he was right in his accusation.” He bows his head at me. “I shouldn’t have done that or said those words to you. Regardless of what I was feeling at the time, it’s no excuse. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Oh, I never—I didn’t—”
“Apology accepted,” Aiden says, suddenly at my side. He leans in close, crooning softly in my ear, “You could have been back on the streets with what he did. You deserve the apology for his selfishness.”
His warm breath and voice send a pleasurable shiver through me.
“Now! We’re catching up now!” Portia grabs my wrist and pulls me away, only to pause three steps in. “Oh. Which way?”
A quick check over my shoulder reveals seven pairs of watching eyes. I turn my wrist to take her hand. “The snack bar. This way.”
I guide her to the gym in the back, scanning the tattoo on my wrist to gain entry, and then pulling us inside. Training for the day is over, but there are still some Guild members putting in extra time. Portia watches them with wide eyes, and I casually wave to Evie and Silas as we pass by to the snack and shake bar.
“Uh, Rae?”
“Yeah?”
Portia points behind me. Jackson follows within arm's reach, his hood up and hands tucked in his kangaroo pocket as he strolls behind us. He smiles at me when our eyes meet.
“Don’t worry about him.”
Portia loops her arm through mine and leans in, whispering, “He knows I’m not a bad guy, right? He’s not here to kill me if I sneezewrong?”
“He wouldn’tdaretouch you without my permission, Porsh,” I reassure her, throwing a swiftlookover my shoulder to drive home that fact.
Jackson’s smile curves to a smirk.
Opening the door to the mini cafeteria, Portia walks in first. Jack leans against the gym wall outside the door, settling in as our guard, before I close it.
She tackles me into another hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay! Elias has ears everywhere, and when he heard that you died, we rushed here as soon as we could! I’m sorry I left when I did. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help with GE.”
“Don't be. I was relieved you were out of harm’s way. I just wish we’d kept in contact more so I knew you were okay.”
She withdraws, a guilty expression on her face, before she looks away. “Well, actually...”
“Eliasdid that?!” I gasp, mind blown.
Portia giggles, swaying in her seat as if the act of laughing throws her off-balance. A loudslurpsounds between us as she sucks on the straw for the last drop of spiked smoothie. “Mhm... it was—it wassohot, Rae. Like... I wouldn’t have thought that’d be something I’m into, butseeinghim do it?” She swoons and falls in her chair, which thankfully has a back rest.
I drink my own alcohol-infused smoothie through a straw straight from the blender. Warmth cocoons me as armor between deepfeelings and the stories we’ve been swapping back and forth. I didn’t hold anything back, giving her the details of some things I haven’t yet shared with anyone else. Everything that happened when I was back with Gordon. How I felt. How I’m still battling the memory of him in the dark or my nightmares. My self-doubt.
I’ve gotten better. I can see it now, looking back, that I’ve changed. While it doesn’t always feel like it in the moment, it’s comforting to go through my past and see, in hindsight, that I am moving forward, bit by bit.
Between sharing scars and new tattoos, we’ve both stripped our shirts off and haven’t bothered putting them back on. Kellan told me no one outside would be able to see us through the windows, so it’s just us.
