Craven Cove Royalty (Craven Cove)

“We don’t have to go back,” Mom offers. Running is always the answer for her.

“It doesn't matter. It will still hurt.”

“Honey.” She sets her coffee down to pull me into a hug. “Everything is going to work out how it’s supposed to. We all have our first heartbreak.”

“You told me you’ve never been in love before,” I remind her. It was years ago when she said it, but I knew it was the truth. I can always tell when she’s lying.

“Well, at the time I hadn't.”

“Oh.” I breathe out, processing her words. “Oh!” She’s in love with Rory? What the freaking hell? Some of her odd behavior starts to add up, but how is this happening?

“Come. We’re docking.”

There’s no time to talk about it now, so I polish off the rest of my coffee and follow her back toward the car. She’d lied when she told Rory he could come get his car the next day. I’m sure when he showed up, all he found was a vacant house.

“Do you want to stop and get something for breakfast?” Mom asks as she drives off the ferry and heads toward the main stretch of town.

“I’m good. I don’t want to be late.” I wipe my palms against my jeans. The closer we get to the high school, the more nauseous I feel. I can’t help but wonder what it will be like when we run into each other. We have classes together so there’s no avoiding Apollo, no matter how much I want to.

“If at any time you want to leave, I’ll come right over and pick you up.” Knowing she’s a phone call away goes a long way to calm me down.

“I don’t want to run, Mom. We always do that. We committed to finishing my senior year here, and I’m going to do just that.”

“All right then.” She leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek, telling me she loves me before I get out of the car. Hearing her say I love you has my mind going back to when Apollo said the same words to me.

It was a lie. I don’t think he could love me and say the things he did. He might have thought he was in love with me, but I don’t think he truly was. He’s probably been rethinking those words since I left his house.

I keep my head down as I make my way up the stairs to get inside. I’ve always been good at not being noticed, but a few steps in, and my plan fails miserably.

“Celeste!” Someone shouts my name, and my stomach churns. “Wait up!” I let out a breath when I realize it’s Emerson calling after me. “Where the hell have you been?” he asks when he gets to me. I pull the door open to go inside, and he follows.

“Hanging with my mom. Some stuff came up.” I shrug, trying to pretend to be relaxed.

“And you can’t return a text?” Oh crap. I’d forgotten we talked about meeting up so I could help him start planning prom.

“I’m sorry. My phone drowned when I fell into the pool Friday night.”

“Damn. I’ve been worried. Shit’s been weird around here.” Emerson glances around like he’s looking for someone.

“Weird how?” I adjust my bag on my shoulder.

“Apollo.” He cocks an eyebrow at me.

“We’re not a thing anymore.” Again I try to play it cool.

“Then why was he trying to find you the past few days?”

“He has?” I stop walking, and I hate the hope that blooms in my chest.

“He got my number and was calling me looking for you.”

“Like I said, Apollo and I aren’t together anymore.”

“I don’t think he got that memo.”

“Trust me. He got it.” I start walking again. The only reason he’d be looking for me is to interrogate me more. I don’t understand the point; he already said what he needed to say.

“Yeah, well everyone is gossiping because Apollo didn’t go to practice yesterday either. Are you going to tell me what happened?”

We stop at my locker, and I don’t look up. Apollo might have missed practice for a doctor's appointment or something. Why does he assume it’s because of me?

“How did he look?” I ask softly, and even I want to roll my eyes. I can’t stop myself from asking.

“Not good.” Emerson leans against the locker beside me. “He looks like he hasn't slept in a month.”

I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. I only thought about him being mad. I didn’t think about him being heartbroken over me.

“We’re just too different. It will never work.” I pull some of my books out of my bag and put them into my locker so I don’t have to carry them around all day.

“Does this have something to do with his dad?”

“Not really, but he doesn't much care for me.” I close my locker. “Can we—”