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“What’s going on?” he asks, checking us both over to make sure we’re okay.

“You called him?” Aspen snaps, laughing without humor. “Fucking hell, Lu. And you wonder why I don’t tell you everything anymore.”

“Who the fuck is this?” Hayden asks Aspen, his fists clenching.

“This is my boyfriend,” Aspen admits, shifting on her feet. She’s close to her brother, and I know she doesn’t want him to find out about this. “I’m staying here tonight, Hayden. Take Lu home.”

Hayden looks over Damian’s bloodied nose, his expression giving nothing away. “How old are you, fucker?”

“Nineteen.”

Hayden’s jaw tenses. “My sister is fifteen.”

“She’s old enough to make her own choices.”

Hayden stills and then punches him in the gut. Hard. Our coach would be proud. Or not, since technically, we aren’t allowed to fight outside the gym.

Damian drops, and Hayden kicks him in the ribs a few times. Aspen screams. Hayden ignores her and bends down to pick her up, throwing her over his shoulder.

“Luella, get in the car. Now.”

He’s the only one who calls me that.

The blonde follows behind us, staying quiet, but her presence is still felt.

Aspen is put in the back. “Gloria, go sit with her,” Hayden orders, and the blonde does as she’s told.

“She’s fine, Hayden,” she murmurs, running a pink fingernail across his bicep.

It makes me feel sick.

When the door closes, he pulls me closer to him with his warm hand on my nape. “What the fuck happened? What are you both even doing here? You’re smarter than this, Luella.”

I lick my suddenly dry lips. “She’s been dating him for a few weeks. He brought us to this party.” I open my mouth, then close it. “She was doing drugs in there with him. I didn’t know, Hayden. I had no idea.”

He walks away, turning his back on me, his hands gripping his nape. “Fuck.”

Yeah, that sums it up.

“You should have told me about him,” he snaps when he turns around, pinning me with his angry gaze.

“She’s my best friend,” I remind him.

He sighs, his chest rising and falling as he calms himself down. “I’m going to kill that fucker if he comes around her again. Get in, I’ll take you home.” He opens the passenger door for me, putting me in the front with him.

“Sorry we interrupted your night.”

I’m surprised he even checked his phone, considering what he was doing. I didn’t think boys would stop having sex for anything, never mind a text message from the girl next door.

He gently slides his knuckles across my cheekbone. “Either of you need me, I’m there.”

I slide into the seat and turn around to see Aspen zoned out and staring out the window. Gloria, however, has her narrowed eyes firmly on me.

Yeah, it’s safe to say we aren’t going to be friends anytime soon.

“Are you coming back to my house?” she asks Hayden as he pulls out onto the street.

His eyes dart to mine, and his throat works as he swallows. “No, I need to deal with this.”