Page 89 of Gabriel
CHAPTER 28
CECILIA
“You can do this,” I remind myself, clutching my books tighter to my chest. The bell is going to ring any minute, which means if I don’t walk inside right now, I’m going to be late.
I can do this. Deep breaths. Things are going to get better.
I know they will.
Right? I mean. They have to. Gabriel can’t hate me forever, right?
God, I hope not.
Sucking in a lungful of air, I walk toward my first class, eyes glued to my feet.
I bump into a hard body, and my heartbeat stutters. An involuntary reaction.
A knot forms in the pit of my stomach.
Before I can react, large hands grip my upper arms to steady me. Revulsion spirals through me at the unwanted touch, and I wrench myself away, skin crawling.
Breathe. I remind myself. You’re at school. It’s fine. Just breathe.
“Sorry. Excuse me,” I choke out, trying not to let this frazzle me, but when I look up to see who I ran into, I recoil.
Austin Holt leers down at me, blocking my path. I jump, barely stifling a shriek as he looms over me, his hulking frame casting me in shadow. I can’t breathe with the heavy weight of his stare dragging over me.
No.
What does he want from me now?
I cross my arms, hugging myself tight as I retreat further into the corner in a vain attempt to make myself smaller.
Invisible.
Anything to avoid notice.
But I’m never that lucky.
Nausea and panic rise like twin tides set to drown me. I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting to stay afloat amidst the waves. His cologne assails my senses. It’s thick and cloying. Like an Axe body spray commercial gone wrong.
Memories flicker across my closed eyelids.
Hands pulling at my clothes. A heavy weight pinning me down to the bed.
No. No. No.
Do not go there. You’re not there. You’re here. At school. You’re safe. Austin can’t hurt you here.
Except, he already has.
Just a few weeks ago, Austin slammed my head into the wall outside the campus pool. Both in retaliation and warning.
He doesn’t care where he is when he hurts me or who might see it. An audience doesn’t stop Austin. It never has. In fact, I’m almost certain he craves the attention. The impunity.
I can’t breathe. I can’t?—
“Cece,” he drops his voice low in an almost seductive drawl. “Fancy seeing you here.” An arrogant smirk twists his mouth, and I tighten my arms around myself, fighting off a shiver.
