“Yes, but she was defending—”
I shook my head and took a step back. “If you believe that, really believe it, then you’re just as bad as she is.”
“Cade!” Willow shouted, gaining the attention of the students milling around us. Aria walked by us but didn’t make a move to look at me. Today was Monday, which meant track practice, but I had no idea if she was going to turn up or not. “You can’t say that.”
“Miss Simmons.” I closed my classroom door and locked it. “It was nice talking to you.” I walked past her and sauntered down the hallway toward my office. I wouldn’t stand there while she acted like Jasmine wasn’t to blame. I had no doubt Aria shouldn’t have done what she did, I wasn’t excusing that at all, but there was only so much of one thing someone could take until they snapped.
I got changed out of my shirt and pants and into my sweats then headed for the track. I needed to run off some of the tension my body was holding on to.
By the time I’d done ten laps around the track, took a shower, and was dressed in fresh sweats, the end-of-school bell rang. I headed out onto the field and waited for Reagan and Aria. Part of me wasn’t expecting her to turn up, not after everything that happened, so when she walked out of the building side by side with Reagan, I tried to mask my surprise.
“One jog around the track to warm up, girls.”
Neither of them spoke to me as they took off around the track. I stood motionless as they jogged, my stomach dipping with every stride Aria took. She was going too fast for a warm-up, but I didn’t say anything about it. I was just glad she was here.
I tasked Reagan with improving her one track time and then turned to Aria. “We need to work on your long-distance and endurance today.” She was staring down at the grass beneath her sneakers as I spoke to her. “Three laps, I’ll be timing you.”
She lined up at the starting line and then took off. Each lap she ran faster than the previous, and when she’d finished, she’d set a new personal best. Sweat was rolling down her face, her cheeks bright red from the exertion.
“Take a breather and then go again,” I told her, but she didn’t take a break. She started up the next three laps and went at it harder than before. She was running away, she just didn’t realize she’d never be able to outrun herself. It was an impossible task I was all too familiar with.
Reagan improved her time with each lap, and when she hit the time I’d set for her as a goal, Aria was on her last lap. “You can head in and get changed, Reagan. Good practice today.”
“Thanks, Coach.” She spun around and jogged across the field and into the building. She’d made it through the door when Aria came to a stop ten feet in front of me.
“What are you doing, Aria?” She kept her gaze locked on the ground, and I itched to step forward and grab her chin so she’d give me her eyes. My fingers twitched at the thought, but I managed to keep my feet planted to the grass. “Aria?”
“Am I done, Coach?” her soft voice asked.
I dipped my head back and stared at the clear blue sky. I had no idea what to do or say to her. I was afraid I’d say too much or too little. There was no winning the game we’d played, only losing.
“Yeah, Aria. You’re done for today.”
She nodded three times in quick succession but didn’t move. My gut churned at the thought of her possibly looking at me or saying more than the bare minimum, but it soon disappeared when she turned around and walked across the field.
I didn’t move from my spot when she entered the building. I stayed where I was for another fifteen minutes, hoping, by the time I went inside, she’d be gone because I wasn’t sure what I would do if we were alone again. I’d spill it all and say fuck it.
And I couldn’t risk everything just to touch her one more time.
* * *
ARIA
I didn’t know ninety percent of the people filling up the diner, but apparently, they knew me. Their faces all blurred together as they said hi to me.
The whole place had been transformed into a party space and closed to the general public. I wasn’t sure why Mom and Sal decided to have an engagement party on a Wednesday evening. Maybe it was because of their schedules, or maybe Mom just didn’t want to have to sit opposite me at a family dinner without a buffer.
Either way, I sat in the corner toward the back of the diner in a booth, watching everyone talk, laugh, and have a good time. Drinks were handed out, music was played, and a dance floor was created, but I didn’t move from my position.
The above-the-knee dress Mom had bought me still hung on the back of my bedroom door. She didn’t realize I couldn’t wear it because of my scars. She simply thought I was resisting her. If only she knew the real reason.
Belle’s sweaty face came into view, her mouth moving, but I wasn’t hearing anything she said. All I could hear was the buzzing in my ears, and the sound of my heart beating faster and faster. There were too many people. Too many eyes staring at me. Too many whispers between people I didn’t know.
I jumped as something clanged around the room, and when my gaze landed on Sal, I realized he’d tapped a knife against a glass to get everyone’s attention. “I’m not good at talkin’ in public,” he grunted, and everyone laughed. They thought he was joking, but the people who really knew him knew he was being honest. “I just wanted to thank Jan for coming into my life and saying yes to marryin’ me.” He cleared his throat and pulled at the collar of his shirt. “That’s all.”
Mom laid her hand on his shoulder and stared up at him. “Oh, Sal.” She chuckled. “A man of few words, my husband-to-be is.” The happiness emanating from her was palpable. She turned to face the crowd, her gaze batting over them all, finally landing on me. I wasn’t sure what she was trying to silently tell me, but I kept my stare locked on hers. “We also wanted to announce the date of our wedding.”
My breath caught in my throat. How had they set a date already?