Page 57 of Sage Haven

I had embarrassed him.

I had made a scene.

And Klay hated scenes he didn’t control.

“Are you seriously crying right now?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the night like a blade, loud enough for the others to hear.

He wanted them to hear.

He wanted them to watch.

Their laughter swelled, cruel and raucous, carrying on the smoke-thick air.

It coiled around me, tightening like rope.

I could feel their eyes flicking between us.

Watching him discipline me like a child.

Like a dog.

I dropped my gaze to the cracked pavement as the humiliation burned through me, scalding from the inside out.

I wanted to shrink into nothing.

Vanish.

Klay exhaled sharply, as if he was the one burdened by all this, turning his back to me as he made the signal to leave, “Let’s go,” he snapped.

He didn’t wait to see if I followed.

Didn’t offer his hand.

Didn’t look back, he just turned toward his back preparing to leave as the others followed suit.

Their laughter turning into jeers now.

Low comments traded between them as they mounted their bikes, engines roaring to life one by one.

Klay was the last to start his.

He sat there astride it, his posture loose and easy, like he had all the time in the world.

But his eyes were on me.

Waiting.

I stumbled forward, panic swelling so big in my chest I couldn’t contain it.

He was going to leave me here.

Stranded.

Alone.

Miles from home.

Heknew I didn’t even have my car because he insisted that I ride with him.