Page 36 of Bleeding Hearts (Pine Valley College #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY

B ones looks flabbergasted as he sits down with Lally at the table I scored outside. She slides my drink and sandwich over and places a whole cake in front of her.

“What?” I ask Bones as he glares at Lally.

“She stabbed me with a fork for that cake,” he mutters.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.”

He holds up his hand, and my mouth drops open. There are four very obvious fork indents in the back of it, and I swing my gaze to Lally.

“I don’t share cake.” She shrugs. “I saw it first.”

“Lals,” I admonish, but I smile. “Can I try it? It looks good?”

“Sure.” She lifts a forkful to me, and I take a bite.

“Can I at least try it then?” Bones grumbles.

“Nope,” she responds as she goes back to eating. I stick my tongue out at him as his eyes narrow, then he opens his lunch that Skylar packed. He even has a lunch box now. Alek told me they have matching ones.

Adorable.

“You have free time right now, don’t you?” I ask Lally as she shoves another bite into her mouth.

She nods as she chews, and I grin. “I need to get my nails done. Want to come with me?”

“Sure thing,” she replies instantly and leaves her food on the table as she stands despite the fact she just fought Bones to get that cake.

He chuckles. “Someone is whipped.”

“Yeah, you,” Lally scoffs as she slings my bag over her shoulder and takes my hand. “Nice jacket.”

His cheeks heat at the mention of the “Skylar’s Property” jacket he’s wearing. “He made me,” he mutters.

“And I’m betting you didn’t fight him, right?” I tease.

“Go away.” He waves us off.

“Oh, Skylar’s property is getting mad,” Lally teases, nudging me.

“He looks cute when he’s mad. Maybe that’s why Skylar does it. Hey, Skylar’s property, when’s the wedding?”

“Can I wear a suit?” Lally adds, both of us sharing smiles as Bones glares at us.

“I liked it better when you hated each other,” he growls.

“Tough shit,” Lally retorts. “Want to get your nails done with us?”

He looks down at his manicured hands and then back to us. “Wait, really? Can I?”

“Sure, come on.” We wait for him to gather his things and head to the nail place close by.

It isn’t a far walk. When we step inside, they rush to seat us at three desks side by side.

I’m in the middle, with Lally to my right and Bones to my left.

He seems uncertain, but the workers don’t even blink as he offers his hands.

“Lals, what color should I get?” I ask as the nail tech files off my current coat.

Lally takes the color pinwheel and looks through before picking a shiny red and black set, then she hands it back.

“That one please,” I instruct my artist, smiling happily.

Bones and I chat as our techs work, and when I glance at Lally, I see she’s getting a spiked heart painting on hers, matching our temporary tattoos.

“Color?” the artist asks Bones.

“Black please,” Bones responds as they start to paint his nails, “with hints of blue.” When he catches my gaze, he blushes. “It’s Skylar’s favorite color.”

“Adorable,” I tease him as I focus on my set, but a noise makes me look over my shoulder.

There’s a man in the other row. I can only see his profile, but his skin is so perfect, I consider asking for his skincare routine. He’s also probably the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying something. His gray hair is styled perfectly, and I swear there are diamonds in his ears.

“What color?” He looks up at the man at his side with a wide smile on his face. The guy standing beside him, who’s rocking a three-piece suit, barely spares him a glance as he types on his phone.

“Whatever. I need to take this.” He strides outside with his cell to his ear, and I watch the pretty guy slump with a heartbroken glimmer in his eyes—one I know well.

It’s the same expression I used to wear when Lally hurt me.

“You should get green to match your eyes,” I suggest, and he turns to me. “That pearl green one would look stunning on you.”

He glances at the designs on the wall and smiles softly. “Thank you.” His voice is so silken, I actually blush.

“No problem.” I glance at the door then back to him. “He’s an ass.”

His smile is so wide, it flashes perfect teeth. “He is, but you can’t help who you love.”

I glance at Lally to see her laughing with her nail artist. “No, you can’t,” I reply as I nod at him and turn forward, hoping he and his partner sort it out. Life’s too short to be unhappy, but I understand waiting for the one you love.

I did, and it worked out, but it wasn’t healthy. We fought a lot to get here, and we are happy now, but it was fucked up and it hurt so badly. Still, I know I’d go through it all again when she smiles at me.

It’s similar to the smile she wore before Tommy’s death.

It isn’t quite as full, but it’s getting there, and I know Lally is finally healing.

She will never fully recover from what we went through, I don’t think anyone ever could, but I hope every day gets easier for her and she can be happy without blaming herself so much.

I look at Bones and the happiness he exudes as he inspects his nails.

For a moment, I feel guilty. We are all moving on and happy.

I know Tommy would want that after the stories Lally and Evan shared, but for one moment, it hurts that he isn’t here with us.

He’s gone, but he lives on through us, and I will make sure of it.

He sacrificed his life for his friends and those he loved. We wouldn’t be here without him, our happiness paid for by his death, and I won’t ever forget that.

I try to force my thoughts away from that, not wanting to ruin the mood. Instead, I nudge Bones. “There’s a 66 on that nail. Isn’t that Skylar’s race number?”

“Is it?” he replies dumbly, looking away.

“And on your ring finger.” I prop my chin on my fist. “When is he making an honest man out of you?”

“He wishes,” he scoffs, but then his phone rings, and he hurries to answer it. I hear Sky’s voice coming through it.

“Yes, I ate,” Bones grumbles, but he’s smiling.

“Okay, okay, yes, okay.” He hangs up with a roll of his eyes.

Two seconds later, it rings again and he answers.

“I’m with Lally and Alice,” he whispers.

“Fine, fine. Yes, I love you too.” His eyes roll up to the ceiling as if he’s looking for help.

“Yes, I would love you even if you were a worm.”

Biting back my laugh, I nudge Lally to see her already recording it, and when Bones turns toward us, he glares, so we turn away, giggling.

When we’re done, Lally tries to pay, but I move her away and pay for ours as she wanders off with embarrassment. Bones steps up to my side when she’s gone. “Tonight. Silent Rose meeting. They want an update.”

I nod, paling at the reminder as I glance at Lally. What can I tell him? I can’t put her or the others in danger. I’m not worried for myself, but if the people behind it find out I’m talking to someone about it, she could be in danger.

The idea terrifies me.

Lally, under much protest, lets me go to the meeting. I tell her what it is, and the only reason she lets me go when I should be resting is because Bones and Evan will be with me—or so I thought, but Evan gets called in at the last minute and can’t make it thanks to his internship.

Bones and I get comfortable in the Silent Rose manor and wait for the others to show up.

Liam is arguing with Autumn in the back corner, so I lean into Bones. “What’s going on with them?”

“Meh, they always argue. It’s like foreplay for them,” Bones scoffs, and I turn my wide eyes to him.

“They are a thing?”

“You didn’t know?” He raises an eyebrow. “You really are all about Lally and oblivious to everyone else.”

I glare at him, but I can’t deny it as Autumn claps her hands and steps forward.

“Okay, a quick one today. First, the Pride parade is coming along nicely and will be held next month. We have pulled in some other clubs to help make this a success. Thanks to Liam, we have the mayor’s permission to close the main road. ”

The others cheer, and after a few more announcements, she looks at me. “Okay, Alice, update us please.”

Ah shit, this is what I was afraid of, but I stand and clear my throat. “The game is still ongoing. I don’t have much to report?—”

Autumn frowns. “We heard another kid died.”

I nod. “We had to eat plants. One was deadly. It wasn’t—” I blow out a breath. “I still don’t know who is behind this. They are clever and well hidden.”

“Then you might never find out. I want you to get out. Do you understand me? It’s too dangerous.

People are dying. We’ll find another way,” Autumn orders, but when I remain silent, her eyes narrow.

“I mean it, Alice. We don’t want you to be in danger.

The cost isn’t worth it. We’ll find another way, but for now, I don’t want you anywhere near that game. ”

For the first time since I was inducted, I lie. “Of course.”

When I sit down, I feel Bones’s eyes on me, so I avoid his gaze. “She means it, Alice, and so do I,” he warns. “I let you go in there, but I won’t let you get hurt.”

“You didn’t let me do anything. I’m an adult who makes my own choices,” I snap.

“Fine, but please just stop, okay? She’s right, it isn’t worth it, and we can’t lose anyone else.

If not for me or yourself, then think of Lally, Evan, and Alek.

Do you think they could handle something happening to you?

They already lost Tommy, so don’t make them bury anyone else.

You’re smarter than that. If you don’t quit, I’ll be forced to tell Alek the truth. ”

Grinding my teeth, I jerk my head in understanding. He means it. I’m surprised he hasn’t already said anything, to be honest, but I think we both deceived ourselves on how truly dangerous Risk would be. “Okay, I promise I’ll stop.”

He looks relieved, and I wonder how much this has been weighing on him.

Bones has a hero complex. He takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, and if something happened to me because of this game, he would blame himself for not trying to stop me.

What none of them seem to understand, however, is they couldn’t stop me if they tried.

I chose Lally and now Risk.

I’m not going anywhere.

I’m in it until the end.

They ask over and over what we are willing to risk, and now I know I would risk everything for someone I love.