Page 29 of Bleeding Hearts (Pine Valley College #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I ’m nervous. I know I shouldn’t be, since they are my friends, but the last time we were together, I broke down. I’m glad it happened because I feel healthier and it’s changed our friendships for the better. I feel supported and less alone, but I still hesitate at the doorway.

“I’m right here,” Alice whispers, squeezing my hand.

“Come on, Lals.” She started calling me that recently, and I fucking love it.

It’s something that only belongs to her.

“Every single person at that table loves you and wants to see you happy. They just want to be part of your life—nothing else, no judgment or blame—but if you aren’t ready, we can leave?—”

“No. I’m ready.” I stand taller. “They’ve all done so much for me, so I can do this. I need to show them I’m doing better, just . . . stay with me, okay?”

“Of course,” she replies, lifting our joined hands and kissing the back of mine.

When I nod, she opens the graffiti-covered door to the restaurant.

It’s a new place Sky wanted to try out. Level Up opened under Solar Hunters HQ to allow people to watch some of their gamers and enter their tournaments, but there’s a bar and chill restaurant as well, and as soon as I step inside, I fall in love.

It’s perfect, with their psychedelic neon designs and laid-back indie music.

There’s a glass room at the back with computers and a big screen in front, showing various games. It’s full of people watching other players compete. We head to the right, though, where there is a raised dining area.

Evan, Alek, Skylar, and Bones are already waiting at a booth on the back wall with a TV above it, so we wander over. Their eyes lock on us, and I see Evan nudge Alek as we slide in on the other side.

They share a look and sigh.

“Go on, you’re practically bursting,” I joke. Evan’s face is really red, his hand is over his mouth, and he’s bouncing on his seat.

“Are you two dating?” he blurts so loudly, at least four tables turn to look.

“Evan,” Alice snaps. “I’m sorry, Lally?—”

I hold up our joined hands and grin. “Of course. Did you think I’d be too stupid to notice how amazing she is?”

“About time,” Alek scoffs, then he points at me. “Don’t fuck it up.”

“Yes, brother-in-law,” I retort, and he turns pale and looks at Evan.

“I can’t have her for a sister-in-law, pretty boy. I just can’t. She’ll send me to an early grave.”

“Nah, I’ll do that,” Skylar teases as he wiggles his eyebrows. “Have you two fucked yet? I’ve always wondered how lesbians know it’s over—ouch, angel!” He rubs his head where Bones just smacked him with a menu.

Bones smiles at us. “Congratulations.”

“Aww, this is so cute. We are all couples, so it’s like a three-way date. Go gay gang!” Evan cheers.

“I’m going to need a drink,” Alek grumbles. He’s joking, but everyone stays silent and looks at me nervously as the color drains from Alek’s face.

I shift uncomfortably under their scrutiny, and Alek looks crestfallen. “As long as nobody gives it to me,” I say, and they laugh nervously.

“Are you okay?” Alice whispers.

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Look, I’ll admit it might be hard for me not to drink or be around alcohol for a while, but that doesn’t mean you guys have to stop for my sake.” I don’t want them to feel like they can’t be themselves around me.

“Hell no, we aren’t doing that,” Alek mutters.

“He’s right,” Bones agrees.

“We can do sober months. It will be good for us anyway. If you aren’t drinking, then neither are we. We are your safe space, Lally. You don’t have to worry when you’re with us.” Evan smiles, reaching over and taking my other hand. “It’s good to have you back.”

“I’m sorry it took so long,” I say softly. My eyes burn for some reason as I look at them. There’s no judgment, just genuine happiness that I’m here.

“You’re here now, which is all that matters, and we are all together again.” Evan grins. “Now, let’s order some food and have a good night.”

As they look over the menu, I grab ours and notice the submission information at the bottom for local artists and show it to Alice.

“You should ask if you could paint something here,” I tell her.

“They wouldn’t want me,” she scoffs.

“Says who?” I ask. “You won’t know if you don’t try. You love painting, right? It’s good experience, and the worst they can say is no.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready or good enough,” she admits.

Putting the menu down, I focus on her. “You like painting, yes?”

“I love it,” she answers shyly.

“Then try it,” I press. “For me?”

Biting her lip, she pulls her phone out and scans the code.

I lean into her, watching as she submits the application before I kiss her cheek. “Good job, baby.”

When I glance up, Alek is smiling at me, and he winks before focusing on Evan, who points at something on the menu.

I watch as my best friend stares up at him adoringly, and then I glance at Skylar and Bones.

Sky’s arm is wrapped around Bones, and he kisses his face repeatedly.

Bones appears indifferent, but I can see the smile he’s trying to hide.

“So. Fucking. Adorable.” Skylar punctuates each word with a kiss.

Alek groans. “Get a room.”

“Look at this face. Look at this beautiful face and tell me how I can resist.” Skylar pulls Bones closer by the chin.

Turning, I grab Alice’s head and tug her closer. “Now, this is a beautiful face,” I tease and kiss her cheek as she laughs. Skylar starts kissing Bones’s face as we glare at each other, a competition ensuing while Evan and Alek laugh.

“Alright, alright!” Bones pushes Skylar away. “Enough. Let the love birds win. They are still in the honeymoon phase.”

“Wait . . . Does that mean we had a honeymoon phase?” Skylar presses his hands together hopefully. “As in we’re married?”

“Fuck.” Bones grabs the menu and focuses on it while I shake my head. Skylar practically swoons and turns to Alek, nudging him.

“You heard him, right?”

“I did.” Alek nods. “He’s as batshit as you are.”

“Right? We’re perfect for each other,” Skylar agrees seriously.

While they talk, I scan the QR code and add my order before handing it to Alice, then she passes it around.

When it’s done, I go to pay, but she snatches the phone from my hand and submits her details instead, making my eyes narrow.

“I can be your sugar mama,” she whispers, wiggling her eyebrows, and my annoyance lessens.

“Oh, by the way, I got two tickets to that title match at the end of the month. Bones and I were going to go, but I have to leave town for a race. Do any of you want them?” Skylar asks as we wait for food.

“I have to go with you, dumbass,” Alek scoffs, “and I’m taking Evan. We’re going to have a hotel date.”

“You mean fuck in a different bed?” I retort, and Alek turns beet red.

“What about you? You look like you would enjoy boxing,” Skylar asks me.

“Two grown men beating the shit out of each other for my entertainment? I’m in,” I reply.

He grins and pulls out his phone. “I’ll text you the tickets.”

I check his message just as my screen goes black. A knowing feeling builds within me, and I nudge Alice. The others are busy talking when I show her my screen, and the words flash up.

TONIGHT

11 PM

GRASSROOTS ROAD

Then it’s gone. Putting my phone away, I kiss Alice’s temple. “It will be okay,” I whisper, trying to soothe her concerns.

“I’m scared, Lals,” she murmurs softly. “What if they keep getting worse?”

“I’ll be right there, okay? It will be fine. We’ll be alright,” I assure her, but it feels like a lie. I have no idea if we will be, but I have to hope. Besides, we are in too deep to back out now.

The rest of the meal is spent telling stories and laughing, but in the back of my mind, I think about tonight’s game and what it might bring. As I watch Alice with her brother and friends, I know I need to keep her safe no matter what it takes.

“Drive safely!” I wave as Alek and Evan pull away, and when I glance over, Skylar fastens Bones’s seatbelt in his car and kisses his cheek before they wave and drive off, leaving just Alice and me.

She grabs my arms and turns me to face her. “What do you think tonight’s game will be?”

“I don’t know, but we have a few hours until then, so let’s not spend that time worrying, okay? Let’s spend it having fun.”

Her eyes widen. “Here?”

I laugh so hard, tears fill my eyes. “I meant fun, not sex.” I gasp as I straighten and pat her head. “I’ve created a sex fiend. Come on, baby, let’s go have a good night and forget all about the game and everything else. It’s just us on a date, okay?”

I have a place in mind, but our appointment isn’t for another hour, so I take her hand and we walk there. Pine Valley looks so perfect, nobody would know the true horrors happening in the dark.

I refuse to dwell on it, though, not while she’s at my side, staring down at our joined hands with a proud, victorious grin that makes me want to kiss the shit out of her.

Grabbing her, I tug her close, tip her chin up, and kiss her softly.

She whimpers into my mouth, gripping my jacket to pull me closer, so I step back.

Her eyelids flutter open, her lips parted. “What was that for?” she asks breathlessly.

“For being so fucking cute and mine.” I lift our hands and kiss the back of hers as I pull her into motion. She’s quiet for a moment, still looking shocked, before she seems to shake herself out of it.

Alice pouts. “You can’t just kiss me like that.”

“Why not? You’re my girlfriend. I can kiss you whenever I want.” I shrug.

“Because it’s not fair!” she complains, and I raise a brow. “It makes me want more,” she admits. Her cheeks heat, and she looks so fucking cute, I can’t stand it, placing a quick kiss on her flaming skin.

“Adorable,” I state.

“Lals,” she whines as we start to walk again. “Fine, tell me where we’re going.”

“No, it’s a surprise.” I swing our hands as we walk when something comes into my head. “I never asked how you found out about the game.” I lower my voice, and she looks around nervously.

“Silent Rose,” she replies, and I stop. “It’s a secret organization Evan, Bones, and I are part of.

Before you get pissed, I always planned to tell you.

I don’t want secrets between us. I know you suspected something and met most of them.

Anyway, they brought it up, and I promised to look into it without getting involved.

When I found out you were going to do it, I couldn’t sit back and do nothing.

I found a guy who helped them with their online systems at a party and forced him to tell me everything he knew. ”

“At a party? Nerdy guy with glasses?” I ask.

She nods, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Why?”

I burst into laughter as I begin walking. “I saw a picture of you two. I was so fucking jealous.”

“Of me?” She gapes. “Really?” She looks way too excited. “You know what that means, right?”

“What?” I ask, unable to handle how fucking cute she is as she bounces on her toes.

“That you really fucking love me.” Her grin only grows. “I knew, but I guess it’s nice to realize you did all along and that it wasn’t just wishful thinking on my part.”

I back her against the closest tree as the autumn leaves blow around us, tipping her chin up with a finger.

“You’ve always been mine, Alice. I’ve always wanted you, always cared for you .

. . I just couldn’t bring myself to ruin you the way I was ruining myself, but never doubt how I feel about you.

I know words aren’t enough, not after I used them as weapons, but I will show you with my actions. I promise, baby.”

“I know.” She smiles softly. “I know, Lals. It’s okay. The past is the past. Let’s leave it there and focus on us now, okay? We’re together and happy, and that’s all that matters. Clinging to bad memories only hurts us, nobody else.”

“When did you get so smart, my beautiful girl?” I murmur as I lean down and kiss her gently.

“I’ve always been smart. You were just distracted by my tits,” she teases.

Laughing, I press a kiss to her forehead. “True, they are very distracting. Now, come on before they sidetrack me again. We have a place to be, and I can’t wait to show you. I found it months ago and always wanted to bring you here.”