NovelUSAChapter 164
| Don't Fight It-1
The next morning is quieter than | expect. We all slept separately, fired from the days in the cabin and wanting
salone time. | wake up still feeling ofhausted, still feeling the tiredness in my bones, but | begrudgingly get
ready for scho
No one says much over breakfast; we just talk about our plans for the day and what we want to do for dinner. I'm
grabbing my bag as lake leans against the counter, scrolling through something on his phone, and Zaid pours
himself coffee without lookin
anyone.
Our run in with Sadie yesterday has my stomach turning, | don't know what to expect today and | hate how much
it's affecting me.
| think about Will and how much it upset her when the thought | was trying to take Aiden from her. Now, she
feels the sabout Zaid. What will she do?
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Jake kissesby the door, his thumb brushing along my jaw. "Callif you need anything. If you wantto
pick you up or whatever, just call, okay?"
1 nod. "Okay,"
His lips press against mine again, but this tit's deeper. Slower. Like he doesn't want to let go. When he finally
does, | have to catch my breath a little.
Zaid watches as Jake walks away, and then he steps closer. | turn to him, not sure how to read the look in his
eyes. He cups my face lightly, his thumb just ghosting over my cheek.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs,
| look up into his eyes and feel my chest tighten. There's so much there. Too much. Bargret, guilt, apologies he
isn't saying out loud. Is he thinking about Sadie?
| frown without meaning to, and Zaid flinches. His hand drops away as he steps back, like
| turned him. Like he knows | won't accept his half assed apology.
I want to pull him back and talk, to know what he's thinking and how he feels. | want to know if he cases, but
he's walking away.
Aiden appears beside me. "Con," he says simply. His fingers wrap around mine,
| Don't Fight It-1
soothingas he pullstoward his car.
The ride to school is quiet at first, but not in a bad way. Aiden keeps one hand on my knee while he drives with
the other, and it's enough to keepfrom thinking too hard.
He doesn't speak up until we're pulling into the parking lot. "Are you okay?"
I swallow and nod.
"I won't let her do anything to you."
| keep my eyes on the window. "Thank you."
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"Are you okay with Zaid?"
I shrug. "We've never really talked about what he did at the rehearsal dinner." He puts the car in park and his
eyes eyebrows lift. "Shit. | forgot about that.' "Yeah." My stomach twists, but | don't want to have this
conversation, not now. | open the car door and step out, keeping my head down as | head to my class. Aiden
doesn't leave my side. Not for a second.
Even when | tell him it's fine, that I'm okay, he shrugs and followsinto every class. The teachers don't say a
word. They just smile like they've already decided Aiden can do whatever he wants, and he kind of can.
| roll my eyes when he leans in to whisper something that makes Ms. Harper blush in the middle of calculus, but
it works. He stays with me.
By lunch, | feel a little more like myself. We sit at the usual table outside, the sun warm on my skin. Nikki's
talking about Parker and Aiden has his arm draped over the back of my chair, his thumb lazily tracing circles on
my shoulder as he laughs.
Nikki stops mid story, her eyes going to mine, and | feel her before | see her.
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