Page 127 of Embrace

“Did you talk to her?”

I shake my head.

“Well, genius, maybe try that. I’m sure she has a reason, and if she doesn’t, you can still talk about it.”

“Fuck.” When did he become so optimistic? That’s supposed to be me.

I have to go back.

I don’t want to be away from her. I don’t want to be mad at her. I want to be with her. To understand. Why didn’t she tell me?

“I gotta go,” I tell the guys, making a U-turn and heading right back.

They’re still laughing. “Only you, Ishida.”

Scarlett

I think it’stime I flee the country. There are clearly no other options. Not only did my father see me practically mauling a man, but he also saw that it was Kian Ishida. The captain of his hockey team.The mere thought of what just unraveled before my very eyes makes a shiver run up my spine. I’m in a horror movie.

Or a nightmare. Please let this be a nightmare.

The moment I ran inside after the train wreck I caused outside, I slammed my dorm door shut and fell to the floor when my legs gave out.

Keys jingle on the other side of the door, and I’m on high alert. Shit! Does my dad havekeysto this place? I wouldn’t be surprised.

“Is something blocking the door?” Sierra’s voice makes me exhale a relieved breath. I scoot out of the way to let my best friend in then immediately close it again, pressing my back against the wood.

“Scar? What’s going on?” She’s inspecting me as if I’m in physical pain, but I feel it everywhere. Inside and out.

“He knows,” I mutter. “My dad knows.”

Sierra moves to sit beside me, both of our backs against the door as I stare at my lap and she stares at me. “Knows what, babe?”

Then I realize how many people I’ll hurt with this. I’ve been so caught up in keeping everything a secret that I didn’t realize who I’ve been keeping them from.

“That I’m—”

“Scarlett?” Kian’s soft voice filters through the door. He gives a few gentle knocks to the door. “Can we talk, baby?”

“Baby?” Sierra whispers, mostly to herself. But when I look at her with wide, sad eyes, she doesn’t ask me anything. She looks through the peephole. “Should I let him in?”

I realize she must see what I need before I can even recognize it in myself.

“Scar? I want to talk to you. I just want to understand what’s going on. I shouldn’t have left like that.”

I can do it. I can talk to him. He deserves that much from me. The thought of facing him after I’ve lied to his face for so long holds me back. Having seen the disappointment, the anger, the rejectioncoming from him when he walked away earlier makes me feel worse. I can’t do it.

I’m a coward. It’s what I’ve been this whole semester.

What could I possibly say to him? The hockey coach you’ve treated like a father figure and finally got on his good side? Yeah, I’m his daughter.

“I can talk to him. You don’t have to,” Sierra suggests. I want her to stop being so nice to me, not when I’ve done something so terrible.

I nod once, and Sierra opens the door, nudging me to the side. “Oh thank God, Sca—”

“Hey,” Sierra says. “I think Scarlett just wants to be alone right now.”

“Sierra, you have to let me talk to her.”