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Horrible idea.
Very poorly thought out.
But I was desperate and hurting...and inexperienced.
I thought if the video got out, my parents would, without doubt, hear about it, and I could blame lockdown on not being able to see or talk to them. That, or the twins would choose to leave on their own for fear of getting me into more trouble.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it happened.
I should have remembered just how protective they are.
Just how angry.
Just how violent.
What’s sad is I already walked away from them once for their tendency to handle problems with their fists first. If it wasn’t for Ivy convincing me to give them another chance, the incident with the video would never have happened. I knew how they were, yet I’d taken that route regardless.
The scar on my shoulder has always been a reminder. And while it healed over the course of several months, I’d suffered the constant heartbreak of a ringing phone.
Needless to say, after the video got out and I became the biggest piece of gossip in the last week of school, rumors whispered about which student was spreading it around. Eventually, Paul was named.
I didn’t know that part since nobody really told me anything. I certainly didn’t think a party at Kevin Landry’s house was where it would all blow up in my face.
That night was already rough. Ivy sunk Gabriel’s car in the pool as her final stunt before the Inferno left for college.
Following that, everybody was wired or on edge. It was a few hours later that Paul showed up, the twins spotting him almost immediately.
They attacked before I knew what was going on, hurting him so badly that I felt the need to step in.
I ended up being shoved back so hard by Ezra that I fell through a window, the shattering glass tearing my shoulder open while other students were calling the police.
After the fight stopped, I admitted what I’d done. Partly because I was angry, but mostly from guilt.
The expressions on the twins’ faces haunted me. The betrayal in their eyes, the confusion as to why I would do something so horrible.
Damon and Ezra were arrested that night, and Paul and I were taken to the hospital. I was only there for several hours to have stitches while Paul was there for over two weeks.
I didn’t speak to either of the twins after that night.
Not until the engagement party.
Which is why Ezra had to touch the scar on my shoulder when he first saw it.
It was the first time he could kiss that injury since the night it occurred.
The first time he could return the favor for all the injuries I kissed on his body, silently begging for them to heal.
And now, here we are.
Right back in the same place.
With the same decision needed to be made.
And the same heartbreak.
The circle is complete. Only this time I have to break things off right.
When I hear the distinctive sound of a motorcycle outside, I know the opportunity to say goodbyethe right wayhas arrived. Not that I invited it, but Ezra doesn’t always wait for permission.