Page 41

Xander

Once we’re back at Colton’s, I get Haven situated in the living room with a blanket. Colton will probably scold me for not taking her phone, but I’m not denying her access to Athelia. Haven knows what she can’t talk about, and she needs her best friend’s support right now.

I head into the kitchen and get busy pulling ingredients out of Colton’s pantry. He always keeps it well-stocked for when he’s in the mood to experiment.

Not many people know that Colton likes to bake—or that he’s damn good at it. Honestly, all three of us are pretty good in the kitchen.

For me, Dad had to work a lot, and Mom was always busy with church events and “evangelizing.” Lucas was in a similar situation with his mom juggling multiple entry-level jobs at any given time to make ends meet. It meant we both had to fend for ourselves—and our little sisters—most nights. We got a lot of practice cooking.

For Colton, I think he started working in the kitchen to feel close to his mom after she died. He once told me that she refused to let Mark hire a cook because she loved cooking and baking so much. Sometimes, I wish I could’ve met her. It sounds like she was a lovely woman.

I add milk, brown sugar, and a touch of vanilla extract to a saucepan and light the stove. Once it’s warmed up a little, I add the cocoa powder and whisk it into the liquid. The smell reminds me of my dad making this for me while talking me through a bad day at school, or for Rachel when she was struggling with her homework.

He wasn’t always around thanks to Mom abandoning us when I was twelve, but when he was, he made the time count. It didn’t matter how exhausted he was from working day and night. He was there for us when he needed to be, and we always understood when he couldn’t.

Once the hot chocolate is done, I pour it into a mug and bring it to Haven. She has a messaging app open, so I’m assuming she’s talking to Athelia, which is good.

“Thanks.” Smiling up at me, Haven takes the mug. “You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to.”

The words feel unnatural coming out of my mouth. How have I gone from wanting to torment Haven to wanting to take care of her in the span of a few short weeks? Her betrayal feels like a distant memory—something from a different lifetime.

I wish I could forget about it entirely.

The garage door opens and closes, and Colton steps into the kitchen a moment later. He sheds his jacket and throws it onto the back of a dining room chair before heading our way. When he sees Haven’s phone, his hand twitches at his side, but he doesn’t reach for it.

Good. I might’ve punched him if he had.

“You feeling okay?” Colton asks her.

“I think so. Mostly, I’m just relieved Isaiah isn’t here anymore.”

Colton glances at me, and the apprehension in his eyes matches what I’m thinking. Kneeling in front of Haven, he places a hand on her thigh. “Isaiah is gone for now, but…”

Haven’s face falls. “You really think he’ll come back? After how badly you hurt him?”

“I think you know he will.”

Tearfully, she nods.

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugs sadly. “It’s not that big of a deal. Nothing’s really changed. I think he’ll always haunt me.”

That seems to make something click together in Colton’s brain.

“Freshman year,” he says slowly, “when I found you panicking after that guy pushed you.”

Haven smiles. “One of your rare moments of patience.”

“If Lucas and Xander hadn’t shown up, I would’ve slung you over my shoulder and carried you back to your dorm no matter how hard you fought me,” he says flatly.

I laugh. Of course he would’ve.

Haven sighs, staring up at the ceiling. “I guess that’s probably true. But you were patient with me after. When you held me until I fell asleep.”

He can’t refute that, so of course, he ignores it. “You were panicking because of Isaiah, weren’t you? Because it felt the same to you.”

She nods.

“Angel, how badly did he hurt you?”

Haven’s eyes widen, and then she looks down at her hot chocolate. “I’d prefer not to talk about it.”

“Haven—”

“I think that tells us everything we need to know, Colt,” I say. “Don’t push her.”

Colton’s expression is pained, and Haven moves her hand to place it over his. The room is silent, but I can hear everything he isn’t saying. It’s exactly what I’m thinking.

How could her family let her suffer like that? Why didn’t anyone protect her? How could a religion that’s supposed to be about love endorse such violence?

“Will Lucas be upset if I keep staying here?” Haven asks timidly. “Because if Isaiah is going to come back, then I… I don’t know where else to go.”

“Lucas won’t be upset.” Taking her hand in both of his, Colton presses kisses to her knuckles. “He’ll be home soon. He’s just taking a ride to clear his head.”

“You’re sure?”

I move closer. “It’s like I said, doll. Cheating is a difficult issue for him. His dad was abusive, and Lucas took the worst of it so his sister wouldn’t have to. When we were twelve, he cheated on their mom and left. It put Cassandra, Lucas, and Aurora in a really bad spot financially. Sandra was heartbroken, and to be honest, she’s still recovering from the emotional abuse.”

“Oh,” Haven says quietly. “That’s awful.”

“It is, yeah.” I slide onto the couch next to her. “But he knows you’re nothing like his dad. His emotions just overwhelmed his logical side for a second, that’s all.”

“And you’re not fucking with me?” she asks.

“God, no.” I kiss the top of her head. “I would never do that after the day you’ve had.”

And, with the way this girl is wrapping me around her finger just like before, I don’t think I ever want to fuck with her head again.