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Stomach dropping because I knew his inner Papa Bear had just been triggered, and he was going to commence to wiping the floor with Ms. B’s face—while keeping a calm, gentlemanly facade the entire time—I reached for his arm to stop him, but he shrugged me off without even turning back, merely lifting a finger over his shoulder in my direction to let me know he’d handle me later.

“So I’ve caught on to the fact that you must be Waverly’s mother,” he started.

When she nodded, I leaned toward Thane to add, “And she’s Katherine Breeker.”

Thane whirled back to furrow his brow in question. “The counselor at Northside?”

When I nodded, he mulled that over in his head for a moment before turning back to Ms. B. “You and I have corresponded a few times over email, comparing notes on transfer students.” Bobbing his head professionally, he introduced himself, saying, “Thane Eisner.”

“Thane…” Her eyes flared with recognition before she blurted, “Oh.” Her gaze drifted over him as she added, “I had no idea you were so young.”

He didn’t respond to that, just nodded in confirmation before murmuring, “I take it you’re here at Haverick for the same reason I am today.”

She nodded. “I was just showing a video of rape victim testimonies to a group of students to prepare them for?—”

When I growled at her, shaking my head savagely and sending her a hateful glare, Thane interrupted her by saying, “No. No, you weren’t.”

“Ex-ex cuse me?” Waverly’s mom bit out, blinking at him in shock.

“I received the list of approved classes we could talk to.” Shaking his head, he added, “And Keene doesn’t take any of those classes. He takes Nursing Fundamentals this hour, except Nursing Fundamentals was not on that list.”

Son of a bitch. She had targeted my class on purpose. To reveal Waverly’s past to me. I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach, hating the fact that my girl had this for a mother.

“But nursing is also social work,” she tried to argue. “And people in that field will have to prepare for dealing with victims who?—”

“That’s not why you chose that class, though,” Thane bit out harshly.

“Is it? You chose it because your daughter’s boyfriend was a student there, and you have a personal vendetta against him, which is the most unethical thing I think I’ve ever heard.

In fact, I bet one call to your principal could have you dismissed by the end of the day. ”

Shit. Thane didn’t make idle threats. But hurting Ms. B would hurt Waverly, so I warned, “Thane,” in a worried, shaking voice.

“And another thing,” he added, taking an intimidating step toward Waverly’s mom, making the already pale woman gulp audibly. “Keene is nothing like his father. He is his mother’s son, and he can handle the weight of all the trauma Waverly’s been through. I promise you.”

Glancing back at me with a slight smile on his face and a proud glint in his eyes, he sent me a respectful nod before adding, “Hell, he’s spent the last decade helping patch together seven broken boys, himself included.

We never would’ve made it this far without him in our group, always entertaining us with his half-baked, amusing antics and hilarious, asinine comments.

He was the smile and laugh we always needed when everything felt hopeless and lost. And I for one am grateful he’s been in my life to help me through the most painful things I’ve personally had to go through. ”

Well, damn. I’d never felt all that integral to the group before.

I’d always been the annoying one, the loudmouth they had to whack on the back of the head for saying inappropriate shit.

Secretly, I’d kind of thought they’d be better off if I wasn’t around.

But hearing Thane claim he’d fucking needed me made me damn-near teary-eyed with emotion.

When the hands of my other friends landed on my shoulders and back and arms, supporting me, I sniffed out an overly emotional breath and glanced at their faces, glad I had them.

Turning back to Ms. B, Thane murmured, “You could only be so lucky if he was there for your daughter, as well.”

His words cracked me. Overwhelmed by his unyielding loyalty, I splintered into pieces and had to clutch my chest as a sob ripped through me.

Alec threw an arm over my shoulders and gathered me to his side, and without him there, I probably wouldn’t have been able to remain standing.

“Now you should go and think about what you’ve done here today, Katherine,” Thane was saying in front of me. “And focus on how you can fix this mistake. Alright?”

“That means, get lost,” Parker bit out.

I heard her footsteps as she hurried away. Then Thane’s voice was in front of me. “Keene?”

I looked up at him, blinking away tears. “Thank you,” I mumbled, brushing a fist over my cheeks to dry them. “Thank you, all of you.”

“Dude, whatever.” Hudson jostled my arm. “You know we got you.”

“Always,” Damien confirmed.

“What the hell happened, though?” Foster wanted to know. “What did Waverly’s mom tell you?”

Alec just watched me with worried eyes.

Glancing around at all of them, I drew in a long breath before admitting, “I don’t—I don’t even know how to say it. I just—I can’t believe this happened to her.”

Feeling the rage of her past rip through my chest all over again, I clenched my teeth and shook my head, only for Thane to cup the side of my face to calm me.

“I know,” he murmured softly, his eyes full of sympathy as if he truly did understand. “I know, buddy.”

I searched his eyes before saying, “You really do, don’t you?” Squinting, I demanded, “But how the fuck do you know?”

He winced before explaining, “Her last counselor, Miss Qualls, left detailed notes on all the students who came through her office. I saw Waverly’s file after meeting her at Archer House, and…” With another cringe, he admitted, “I had a little peek. I’m sorry.”

I shook my head, not even caring. In fact, I was glad he knew and understood and had been there, stepping forward when I needed it most.

“So, Library Girl’s mom …” Hudson broke in slowly, obviously not knowing anything as he pointed in the direction that Ms. B had gone. “Showed a video in your nursing class about rape victims because…?”

When he lifted his eyebrows in question, I stared back at him without answering, and Hudson winced. “Well, shit.”

Damien, Foster, Raina, and Alec looked similarly struck. Damien shook his head, appearing to be pissed and sad, Foster pressed a hand to his mouth, while Raina latched herself onto his arm for moral support.

Alec seemed like he was going to cry along with me, as he whispered, “Poor Waverly.”

The only person who looked surprised by none of this was Parker.

I turned to him, and he sent me a defeated look that demanded, don’t ask .

Hudson had no such qualms and straight-up said, “So how did you already know?”

Parker’s jaw set, and he glanced around at the lot of us, refusing to speak as he returned to his old mute ways from back when we’d first known him.

Thane, however, spoke up on his behalf. “I have a feeling Ohrley here knows a hell of a lot more than we suspect. And he might be legally bound to remain silent about the whole scandal that went down at the center.”

“Wait. The center ?” Alec yelped in surprise. “You mean…?” He whirled toward me with wide, worried eyes.

“Sprout?” Damien guessed.

When my expression answered for me, Foster clutched his stomach and admitted, “I think I might puke now, too.”

“Five years,” I choked out as I looked at my friends. “She was in the same building as us for five fucking years while we played catch-the-football and guess-my-favorite food and pass-the-fucking-talking-stick, and the whole time she was suffering at the hands of that?—”

“Christ,” Hudson broke in, lifting his hand and making me stop because he couldn’t handle hearing anymore. “I hope they cut that motherfucker’s dick off behind bars.”

“Trust me.” Parker’s smirk was dark, and his eyes gleamed wickedly. “He’s not having an easy time of it in there. I make sure of it.”

I exhaled, liking the sound of that until Parker glanced at me. “And Katherine’s not going to enjoy what I do to her either.” Shaking his head in disappointment, he growled, “I still can’t fucking believe her. After everything I did for her family. She’s going to pay for ever going after you.”

Except I said, “No,” stopping him there. “Don’t touch her.” Pointing at Thane next, I commanded, “That goes for you too. Hurting her hurts Waverly. And no one fucking hurts Waverly. Got it?”

Both of my friends looked moodily put out by the request, but they each reluctantly nodded. “We got it.”

I blew out a breath and glanced at the others, who were watching me with acute concern.

“Fuck,” I muttered, wiping a stressed hand over my face. “How the hell am I going to tell Waverly about this without hurting her?”