Page 120 of My Fault

“She’s being kind of weird, right?” I said as he finished his juice. He pulled my chair over to his.

“A little, but I don’t think it’s a big deal.” He put his hands onmy knees and leaned in. “You ready to go?” His voice was seductive. His hands tickled me. I nodded. I guessed my car being in the shop wasn’t as bad as I’d thought at first.

Five minutes later, we were leaving, but he did stop on a corner where no one could see us, cup my face, and kiss me intensely.

“What’s that all about?” I asked as he grinned and put the car back in gear.

“It’s been seven hours and twenty-five minutes since we’ve kissed,” he said calmly.

“You’re counting?” I said, laughing. That put me in a really good mood.

“I get bored when I’m not with you. I need to keep my mind busy.”

Fifteen minutes later, I was at the door of St. Marie’s. I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Nick was looking serious, too, and clutching the steering wheel tightly.

“You going to pick me up?” I asked.

“Of course. I don’t have a choice—I’m your boyfriend, right?” he said almost presumptuously.

I laughed.

“That’s not necessarily a boyfriend’s duty. You’ve never even had a girlfriend, have you?” It cracked me up to know I was right and that I was his first.

“I was waiting for you,” he said, planting a hot kiss on my lips. I liked those words so much, I held him close. Kissing him reminded me of the two times it had gone further than that. I wanted to do it again.

“You’d better go if you don’t want me to kidnap you for the rest of the day,” he warned me. His hand around my waist told me he wanted to keep me there.

“I’ll see you at four,” I said with a smile and opened the door. This was addictive.

“Love you,” I said.

“Love you, too! See you, Precious.” He shook his head and drove off.

Before I reached the door, many eyes turned to me, but before I could let it get to me, Jenna jumped into my arms and hugged me.

“Noah! I’m so, so sorry.” She squeezed me tightly. “I didn’t know they were going to do that. I should have been there to help you. They’re just a bunch of immature babies. They should be over stupid pranks like that, but you know…”

“It’s fine, Jenna. It wasn’t your fault,” I said.

“Are you sure?” she continued. “You looked like you were freaking out. I didn’t know the darkness affected you like that.”

“It’s a trauma from when I was a kid, but it’s over. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Just then, the bell rang and we walked to our lockers.

It wasn’t over, though. Rumors had spread, and anywhere I turned, people were staring at me. I felt like a Martian or worse, like people werepityingme. I didn’t realize how angry I was until I went to the dining hall and saw Cassie there with the guys who’d stuffed me in the closet. I was so enraged that I didn’t even realize what I was doing until I was right beside her throwing my strawberry shake in her hair.

Everyone around froze, and before I knew what I’d done, I heard the principal’s voice behind me.

“Miss Morgan, my office, please.”

Shit.

42

Nick

I didn’t think all those dark feelings would catch up to me when I left the school, but they did. I couldn’t stop thinking about how that girl I loved so much had been tortured, almost killed. For that reason, I went straight to my father’s office. I wanted to know his thoughts about all this, but especially what could be done after finding out the woman I loved had been beaten and mistreated for years.

I reached Leister Enterprises and headed straight for the top floor. Janine, my father’s secretary, had known me her whole life; it had been her job to buy me birthday presents and take me to my friends’ parties. She’d gone to my soccer games when my father was too busy working. She’d even chewed me out when I’d had bad grades on my report card. Janine was a kind of mother to me, but I’d never opened my heart to her. I’d never opened my heart to any woman until Noah showed up. But still, Janine and I were close.