Page 56 of Inseparable
I’m quiet for a bit before replying. “I agree. You breaking up with Becky is great because you deserve better than her, but it doesn’t change what happened between us and it won’t magically repair the damage. I can’t be your friend.”
Not when I still want more.
The thought lands in my mind unbidden, and I’m instantly guilty. Although Ayden’s acted like a jackass tonight, he’s the one who has stuck by me through thick and thin, and he’s my boyfriend. I shouldn’t be having thoughts of any other guy when I’m with him.
Devin slows the truck down as we turn onto our street. “I wasn’t with Becky by choice,” he admits, confirming my suspicions. “She lied to me. She said—”
I cut him off dead. “I don’t want to hear it. It changes nothing.” Devin still doesn’t see me as girlfriend material, and I can’t just be his friend. It hurts too much to be close to him and not touch him.
“But you don’t understand—”
My eyes narrow to slits as I peer out the windshield. An incredulous laugh busts out of my lips. “You’re right, I don’t. Because if what you say is true, why is Becky standing in your driveway glaring at us right this second?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Dev cusses under his breath. “I didn’t invite her here, and I don’t want anything to do with her.”
“Tell it to someone who cares.” My hand is curled around the door handle when he reaches across me, holding my wrist.
“Please, Ange. I need to speak to you. I’ll explain everything.”
“It’s too late, Devin, and I’m sick of all this crap. I just want to finish high school without any more drama. I’m tired of it.”
Becky storms to my door, yanking it open, almost wrenching my arm out of its socket. “Screw off,” she fumes. “I need to speak to my boyfriend.”
“For the last time, Becky,” Devin sighs exasperatedly, “I am not your boyfriend nor will I ever be again. I’ve nothing more to say to you, and I’d like you to leave.”
“I’m done with this,” I say, sliding out of the truck, and rounding the front.
Becky grabs a hold of my hair from behind, catching me off guard as she slams my face into the hood of the truck. Pain rips across my skin, bringing tears to my eyes. Devin roars, shoving Becky off and helping me to straighten up. Warm liquid leaks out of my nose and my vision is blurry.
“Get the fuck out of here now, Becky, or I will not be responsible for my actions.” Devin’s voice is laden with intent, and his fists are clenching and unclenching at his side.
“What the hell is going on out here?” a gruff voice shouts out as the sounds of approaching footfall tickle my eardrums.
Devin cusses again. “Ange,” he whispers urgently in my ear. “I need you to go into your house right this second. I don’t want my dad anywhere near you. Can you manage by yourself?”
Instantly picking up on the alarm in his voice, I don’t question his request. I nod, and with my vision still blurry, I stumble away, pressing my fingers to my nose to quell the blood flow.
Before I reach the top end of the fence I’m yanked sideways, and I scream at the unexpected contact. “Hey, pretty lady, where’d you think you’re going?” Devin’s dad asks, his alcohol-laden breath coasting across my face. I’m glad my vision is distorted because I don’t want to see the look on his face.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Devin yells, yanking me out of his father’s hold and standing protectively in front of me. “She is not yours to touch.”
His father barks out a laugh.
“And she’s not yours to touch either,” Becky hisses, inching up beside Devin.
“Well, who do we have here?” Mr. Morgan asks.
“Go, Ange,” Devin whispers in my ear. “Lock all the windows and doors, and don’t come out, no matter what.”
I don’t need to be told twice. I run toward my house on wobbly legs, almost tumbling to the ground as I pull myself over the fence, but I keep going, not looking back. I fumble with the keys, but once the door is open, I fall inside my house, slumping to the floor in the hall. Hot tears course down my cheeks, but I quickly swipe them away. Screw the both of them. And Ayden. Hauling myself to my feet, I trudge up the stairs. As I strip off my clothes in my bedroom, sounds of arguing from outside filter in through the open window. Wrapping my robe around me, I pull the window closed, muffling the sounds of Becky, Devin, and his dad screaming at one another. I pad to the bathroom to clean up the mess that is my face. My nose is bloody and swollen, and a large bruise is already forming on my left cheek. After running a hot bath, I soak in the tub until my limbs have relaxed and the water turns cold. My skin is wrinkled like a prune as I dry and dress myself.
I’m running a comb through my hair as I peer out the window. All appears to be quiet on the home front now. Devin’s truck is missing, and Becky and Mr. Morgan are nowhere to be seen. Lights are on in the downstairs of the Morgan house, and I frown as I notice the cracked, broken pane of glass at the side of the house.
Popping a couple of pain pills, I retreat to bed, pulling the covers up over me to ward off the intense bout of shivering that has overtaken my body. It feels like I’ve lived a hundred lifetimes today, and, as my eyes flicker closed, I say a prayer that tomorrow is a better day.
I lounge around the house feeling sorry for myself the next morning. Mom is in bed, and Ayden is obviously still sleeping off his hangover, so I’m grateful when Mariah calls, inviting me over to her house.
