Craven Cove Royalty (Craven Cove)

“Then we can move the rest of your stuff in.” He picks up the tray of food and brings it over to the bed.

“Okay, let's not get carried away.” I laugh, but I can tell from Apollo’s expression he’s not joking. He’s been stiff and on edge since all of this went down, and he barely leaves my side. I’m not sure how I’m going to get him to relax ever again.

“I don’t think I’m getting carried away. This house is the safest place in Craven Cove.” He picks up a slice of buttered toast and hands it to me.

“That’s ridiculous. What happened was an accident. I can’t stay locked in this room forever.”

As I take a bite of the buttery goodness, the expression that crosses Apollo’s face makes me think he’s not telling me something.

“Did you already move me in here?” I glance around the room to see if I missed something. I think my mom would have said something last night when she was in here watching a movie with me. There aren't piles of boxes lying around.

“I wish,” he mutters under his breath. I smile while taking another bite of my toast. “But there is something I haven’t told you. About the car that hit us.”

“You said they were okay,” I say as he stands from the bed. I knew it was the other person's fault but was told the person was okay. “Oh god. Did someone die?” He shakes his head, and I release a breath. “What the hell, Apollo?” He’s scaring the crap out of me.

“I didn’t want you getting upset.” He runs his fingers through his hair, looking flustered. What could be worse than someone dying? “It was Amber,” he finally blurts out.

“But she’s okay?” She’s a bitch, but I still don’t want her dead. I recall her passing us when we were leaving the party and worrying that she’d been drinking. Shit.

“I’m not sure I’d call her okay.” His tone is thick with anger.

“She did it on purpose.” I piece it all together and as I do, a tear slips out. “Sometimes I think the world is against us being together.”

“No,” he says vehemently. “Nothing will stop us from being together.” Apollo sits next to me. “We got all of the bullshit out of the way. Everything else from here on out is going to be smooth sailing.” He nuzzles against my neck.

“I’m not so sure about that. Women have a way of going crazy over you,” I tease him. “What’s going to happen? Is she going to be at school when we go back?” That would be a bit awkward.

“No. She was drinking, and the police investigated the accident. They found from the evidence that she hit us on purpose. She never tried to brake. In fact, she accelerated into us.”

“She tried to kill me.” Apollo’s whole body goes solid.

“Last I heard she was transferred out of a mental hospital to await her hearing. It’s too big a case for our little island town to handle. It’s been handed off.”

“Okay.” I lean in to kiss him.

“It’s not okay.” He drops his forehead to mine. “It’s my fault.”

“Stop that. It is not your fault.”

“It is!” He jumps up from the bed. “I threatened her. I told her I’d ruin her if she didn’t leave you the fuck alone.”

“I mean, that’s not roses and chocolate, but it’s still sweet that you did that for me.” He looks at me like I’m the crazy one now. “Apollo, clearly she was unstable before. Your threat was nothing to her. It was only a matter of time before this happened either to you and me or someone else. You have to see that,” I try to reason with him.

“I’m not sure I can,” he says before going back over to his desk to sit down. Apollo is always close but still somehow far away from me.

Amber might not have taken me from Apollo, but I think she took a piece of Apollo from me.

Chapter Eight

Apollo

It’s been a week since we returned to school. It’s hard for me to leave Celeste’s side, even for a moment. She thinks I’m being overprotective, but when it comes to her safety, can I be too protective? Maybe she’s right and I’m obsessive over the accident, but the thought of losing her consumes me.

This afternoon she’s meeting with Emerson to work on the prom planning. She asked me to pick her up afterwards and didn’t invite me to go with her. Maybe this is a test to see how I handle a few hours apart. She smiled at me so sweetly when she informed me of her plans, so I know she wasn’t deliberately trying to hurt my feelings.

I love spending time with her. Is that so terrible?

“A word, Mr. Crew.”

When I turn around, I see Principal Nolan in the hallway walking toward me. “Is it ever just one word?”