Page 29 of Secrets That Bind Us

As if all the cosmos decide it’s time, Dean turns the corner with Will and Jay and the rest of the jockstraps.

Midnight cerulean eyes find mine and it’s like the rest of the world simply fades away.

He grins, dimples deepening, and I swear the heavens shine down a spotlight on him ashe leaves them all behind.

The blue pleather of his letterman jacket shines as if it was just polished, Adelaide High’s big white A shadowed in black, a small football and baseball stitched inside.

He’s got one finger tucked into the strap of his backpack and the rest of our peers part like the red sea for him, staring at him as he makes his way to me.

I'm in love with a silent, commanding god.

He reaches me. There’s no hello. There’s no greeting for my friends. He simply places his hand on the nape of my neck and hauls me to him, kissing me deeply as though he needs me to breathe. We hear the clearing of a throat and pull away.

“Mr. Carson.”

His eyes don’t shy away from mine. “VP Cushing.” He says to the vice principal standing behind him.

“What was that?”

Dean smirks. “That… was a proper hello.”

I don’t dare look over Dean’s shoulder to break eye contact no matter how much it makes me squirm.

“Right, well, the next time, make sure it’s outside these hallways. Keep your hands, lips and other… extremities to yourself during school hours.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Cushing.” Dean drawls.

“Miss Huntington?”

This time I peek over Dean’s shoulder. He simply moves to my side, drapes his arm over my shoulder, trails it down my arms and settles his hand over my hip, tucking me onto his side. Where I fit perfectly. “Yes, Vice Principal Cushing?”

“A word before your first period, please.”

I nod, still feeling the sizzle of Dean’s kiss on my lips. “Of course.”

“I’ll walk you.” Dean says and we follow Cushing to the front office.

I’ve always hated having to go to the office.

Always made me feel like I was in trouble.

At first, when I was younger, it was because Daddy sometimes left bruises on me and the teachers saw.

But then he got smarter. Left them where no one could see.

Then it was because they wanted me to see the counselor.

Honestly, if I hadn’t met Zoey and made actual friends, I think the teachers and the counselor would’ve been the only people I actually spoke to. Sad, I know.

I wonder if Zoey knows how much she means to me? I should tell her more often. But then again, what are words when actions speak louder?

I take a seat in the cold leather chair across from Vice Principal Cushing, noticing the door is still slightly ajar, obviously a precaution because he’s alone with a female student and the last thing anyone needs is another school scandal.

The last one being Dean fucking Tiffany Myers under the gym bleachers on the first day of school Freshman year. I inwardly groan at the reminder.

“Verity, it seems everything is in order. Mrs. Bryant and Langley both tell me you’ve been accepted into the NYU writing program already.

Your SAT scores are great but Verity-“ he shakes his head. “If you stay with your class, you have the chance of graduating Valedictorian. Your grades are phenomenal. Are you sure this is what you want? You won’t have a graduation ceremony.”

I think of Dean and Zoey, but again, I let myself be selfish.

“More than anything.” I don’t need to tell him again just how badly I need to leave Adelaide.

I need to make it as a writer. I need to get Mama away from Daddy, even if it’ll just be for a little while.

There were editors from publishing houses at camp this past summer, helping me dive deeper into the series I’m writing with interest, asking for me by name .

I’ve looked up how much so many of my favorite authors’ net worth online and if I’m honest, I can do okay.

I can take care of Mama. I can set her up wherever she wants to go if she doesn’t want to be with me in New York.

She can live a quiet life by the sea. I can do that for her.

I will do that for her.

“Alright.” Cushing sighs, bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows bunch together over his frames in concern but then he just bobs his head up and down.

“Your grades are great, you’re almost done.

Just a few modules left for you to finish and then…

your diploma will be in the mail. And your transcripts will be sent to NYU as you asked. ” He says.

I wanted to finish the rest of the semester here, in school, so I could be around Zoey and Micah a little longer, pretending for my parents I was still going to school every day.

I had the option of going to an alternative school.

I was going to my classes but not doing any of the work because I’d already done it over the summer.

This was just a formality now. To finish out high school quietly and slip away. Easy peasy.

“It really was a pleasure having you as a student, Verity. With your tenacity and resilience, You’re going to go very, very far. I can’t wait to see it all happen for you. We’re all cheering for you. I want you to know that.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cushing.” I say with a nod, grabbing my backpack and heading out the door.

“You’re really leaving?”

I blow out a breath. Fuck. I forgot he walked me here.

“Dean-“ I barely get his name out when he grabs me by the hand, leads me out the office, into the lobby, past the trophy case, and out into the late chilly October morning. The best kind of mornings. There’s still fog rolling around the ground and it smells like rain. Goosebumps break along my thighs and I wish I would’ve gone with pants this morning but Jake’s voice in my head was loud today.

Besides, I kind of wanted to show off the little, barely there hickies Dean left on me.

“When?” He asks, unaffected by the chill, blue eyes blazing bright.

“Soon.”

“How soon?”

I look up and meet his gaze. Beautiful and violent, and still, serene in his anger and frustration.

Dean Carson, my ruin. Mine. I shrug. “Halloween. Maybe sooner. I have a few modules left to complete and then the state exit exam and I’m done.

Jake already has an apartment in New York; I’ll be staying with him and his roommates until my dorm room is ready for me. ”

“Be my girl.”

“Huh?” I go weak in the knees so quickly I almost fall over.

“Be my girl.” He repeats. “Verity, I love you. I’ve been in love with you most of my life.

You’re already mine, but just say you are for me.

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to prove that you’re mine.

I’ll knock you up right now. I’ll take you down to City Hall and have Judge Mason or Reverend Bishop marry us so we’re bound for eternity. ”

“You’re crazy.”

“Only for you, Ver.” His gaze is so intense I feel like I’m boiling inside.

“This entire weekend was a dream come true for me. I want that. Every day of our lives, I want that. I want you. I don’t want to miss anything you do ever again.

I want to see you rise; I want to be your biggest supporter.

I want to make you coffee and tea while you’re writing and listen to you talk about your characters like they’re real people because I know they are inside your head.

I’ll be delusional with you. So please, baby. Be my girl. Say you’re mine.”

“Dean…” I whisper as he takes my hand in his large, warm calloused one and I shake my head and when tears well into his eyes, thinking I’m going to reject him, I finally add “I’ve always been your girl, you giant.”

With a laugh, he envelops me into a tight hug, then shrugs off his letterman and drapes it over me. “Now it’s official.”

I laugh. “Oh, we’re goin’ steady?”

He grins. “Abso-fuckin-lutely we are, Ver.” His smile drops in an instant, but the intensity of his gaze doesn’t relent and my heart fills with hope like the stupid girl I am. “We’re going to figure all of this out. Okay baby? You trust me?”

And for some reason, I really do trust him. Because I’m a stupid, stupid girl, madly in love.