Page 43 of Inseparable
Laughter and a few catcalls echo around the room.
Alicia cocks her head to the side. “You think you’re funny? You won’t be laughing when Becky gets a hold of you.”
“I’m quaking in my boots,” I deadpan.
“You will be,” she hisses, glaring at me.
“If looks could kill, you’d be under ten feet of earth by now,” Gabi says, pointing her spoon in my direction. “Becky is fuming, and I fucking love it. About time someone stuck it to that sanctimonious bitch.”
“She’s just pissed over Friday night, but she’ll get over it. No doubt she’ll be back to her charming self in no time.”
“Heads up,” Mariah says. “Here comes lover boy.”
Ayden is walking toward me, his eyes like laser beams trapping me in place, looking super- hot and totally gorgeous and I don’t know why I’ve never properly noticed before. “Hey, babe.” He slips into the seat beside me, kissing me on the cheek.
“Hey.” My cheeks flush as I feel ten million eyeballs glued to the back of my head.
He chuckles, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on my lips. “We’ll be old news soon.”
But as the week progresses, the looks and hushed whispers continue, and it grates on my nerves.
Becky finally corners me on Thursday after P.E., in the changing room, shoving me into my locker with force. “Get lost.” I push her away, and her nostrils flare. Several of my classmates look over anxiously but no one says anything. Most everyone is too afraid to cross Becky to dare intervene.
“Or what? You’ll rat me out to your boyfriend? Can’t fight your own battles?”
“Ayden has nothing to do with this.”
“If that’s true, why did he threaten me?” She plants her hands on her hips, snorting out a laugh. “As if that carries any weight, but, honestly, I didn’t think you could be any more pathetic, but I was wrong.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I yank my bag out of my locker.
“Sure you don’t.”
I roll my eyes, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “I’d have to respect you to care about what you think, and I don’t, so, I don’t give two shits what you believe. Now get out of my way,” I push past her, setting out to hunt down my boyfriend and find out what the hell is going on.
“I waited for her outside the bathroom at the theater and I told her to lay off you,” Ayden admits in the Jeep on the drive home.
I groan, propping my feet up on the dash. “You can’t get involved. It’ll only make things worse.”
“She fucking assaulted you, Lina, and you wouldn’t even report her!”
“Because I’m not a tattletale, and I need to keep my record squeaky clean. I don’t want anything jeopardizing my college place and you know that. Besides, it was weeks ago, and she hasn’t touched me since, and if she does, I’ll be ready for her next time. You need to let me handle this, or else I just look weak.”
He sighs. “I won’t sit back and watch her take crap out on you, so I’m not making any promises.”
I should be mad at him for treating me like a helpless idiot, but I can’t be mad at him for trying to protect me. I touch his face. “Thank you for protecting me, and I do appreciate what you’re trying to do, so maybe next time we can discuss it before you bitch her out?”
He leans over, kissing me quickly on the lips. “I can agree to that.”
“Good, because the last thing I want is that slut coming between us.”
“She won’t.” He swings the Jeep into his driveway. “We won’t let her.”
“You want to stay over tonight?” I ask, a little shyly. “Mom’s working a double, so she won’t find out.” He looks conflicted. “Or you don’t have to. It’s cool.” My cheeks flare bright red when I realize he might think I was asking him for sex. Since Mom found out he warmed my bed some nights, he hasn’t stayed over at all, and I just miss having him sleep beside me.
“Hey.” He hauls me into his lap, wrapping his strong arms around me. “I love sharing a bed with you, but your mom asked us not to do that, and I feel funny about going behind her back.”
I bark out a laugh. “Oh my God, you are such a stickler for the rules.” Not that that in any way surprises me. Growing up, Dev and I were the rule breakers and Ayd was the one constantly saving our asses. Not that I’m completely reckless. I’m not stupid, and I’d never deliberately flout the rules if it was something important, but Ayden is so serious abouteverything. Dev and I teased him relentlessly growing up. “We’re teenagers, Ayd, we’re supposed to disobey our parents, and Mom is no fool. She knows we’re dating now, so she’s practically expecting it, and we really shouldn’t disappoint her.”
