Page 26 of I'm Gonna Get You Back
Holding on to the privileges of Legacy—the sizable scholarship money and opportunities and status it provides—requires agreeing to several stipulations. Most important: not doing anything (at least publicly) that could threaten the Legacy image.
At the time, the money was such a help it seemed like a no-brainer to agree to the terms. But the more I have to hide, the more the golden handcuffs chafe. The more an account like Legacy Lore could do real damage.
Once the group is fully absorbed in conversation again, I take the opportunity to dip. I’m almost in the clear as I round the corner toward the stairs, except Delaney is standing there in a black dress and dark red lipstick, her blond hair up in a high ponytail on top of her head. She’s pale, her cheekbones sharper than when I saw her just a month ago.
She tracks me immediately. My heart starts pumping harder as she stands there staring at me, as if expecting me to know what to say in this awkward-as-hell situation.
I don’t, but I go with “Hey.”
Delaney narrows her eyes. “So youarealive.”
“I’ve been busy,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets.
“It’s been a month, Reid.”
I let out a breath. It shakes.
“I’m sorry.” I mean it.
She must sense that I do because the stark line between her eyebrows smooths out. Then she hits me in the shoulder,hard. Delaney is small, but she’s strong from her years of dancing, and I splutter out a surprised cough. “I’ve been so worried about you. Texting you, calling you.”
I can’t let her worry in. I don’t want anyone’s concern or care. “I know.”
Her hands ball into fists, and she lets out a small, aggravated noise. “I’m starting to believe all the Olympics rumors.”
“That’s not it.”
“So you’ve been ignoring me becaaaauuuuse?”
Heat shoots up my neck. “I don’t know.”
Except that I do. We both do.
Delaney tightens her ponytail and looks me dead in the eyes. “I can’t keep doing this. The guilt is eating me up. Clara’s here. You have to let me tell her, Reid.”
My lungs go tight.Fuck. There are some lines you just don’t cross. Clara would never get over it.
“You can’t. You know you can’t.”
Delaney exhales hard. “Ihaveto.”
I step toward her, keeping my voice so low I have to lean in closer than I want to. But I don’t want to risk anyone overhearing. “Delaney,please. I need time.”
There’s conflict all over her face, but before she can answer, Kenji’s voice booms through a microphone. “Who’s ready for karaoke?!”
There’s an excited burst of sound from the group in response. With so many former theater kids here, it’ll last all night.
Kill me now.
Delaney gets pulled away by Nicole for a picture, and I turn to leave.
Just like after that first party last year, when I kissed Clara on a dare—a kiss that messed with my head for weeks afterward—I need to get out of here. But there’s a small group of guys laughing near the door, blocking my smooth exit.
Among them is the last person I want to see: Josh West.
My chest puffs up on instinct. I’ve dealt with guys like Josh on every team I’ve ever been on. They’re obnoxious at best and dangerous at worst. Everything about him puts me on edge. When he notices me, his top lip curls into a sneer.
“Rousseau,” he says.
