Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

could make everything fall apart at once. How could her mind not go there? Besides, she'd just given him that

hat. What were the odds?

Another wave of panic gripped her as her mind raced over the events of the day. Daniel probably hadn't

believed her lie about the text. What if he'd just pretended to believe it to save face in front of their friends,

then stayed behind to make her pay? He didn't like to lose. That quality was what made him a star athlete. It

made him a Ryan. The kind of guy who would do anything to keep from losing Ariana. Anything.

And if he was here somewhere, following her and Thomas, there was no telling what he'd do.

"Come on. We can stay in Ketlar." Thomas grabbed her hand, but her fingers were too cold to feel him.

"Ketlar's not open."

She clung to him as if he could erase the fear. Make it not true. Make that hat somehow not be there.

"I rigged the back door. We can stay in my room." He stepped ahead of her as they reached the edge of the

woods, leaning against a thick, snow-covered pine branch so Ariana could pass through.

"I don't know," Ariana said, pausing as the wind whipped her hair around her face. "What if someone sees

us? We can't get caught. And what if Daniel-"

91

"Daniel's not here!" Thomas shouted against the wind, releasing her hand. His tone was sharp, stinging, and

Ariana took a shocked step back.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, not knowing exactly what she was apologizing for.

Thomas's shoulders dropped. "No. I mean, I'm sorry." His voice softened and he looked off to the right,

toward the school. Away from her. "It's just, I'm sick of hearing about Daniel Ryan."

Ariana's heart warmed at the vulnerability in this statement.

"And I'm aware that we can't get caught. I'm screwed if I get expelled," he said. "But I can't think of any

other options."

"Fine," Ariana said. "We'll go to Ketlar."

He reached for her hand again and they walked the rest of the way in silence. As she trudged through the

snow, bent against the wind, Ariana tried to get her feelings in order. Thomas's tone had wounded her. It had

made her feel like a scolded child. Plus, why did he care so much about getting caught? He always got away

with everything. And he wasn't the one who had everything to lose if he got expelled. He wasn't the one

whose family would be destroyed if he was caught. When they reached the back door of Ketlar, Thomas

easily pulled it open.