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  “Yes, Colton is downstairs.”

  Unlocking the door, Lexy pulled me into her arms as soon as she could reach me. “Are you okay? Wow, you look hot! Are you okay? We don’t have to go to the dance.”

  “I’m Homecoming Queen,” I replied, squirming from her grip. “I’m going to the dance.”

  “Ty claims the woman is an ex-girlfriend. He hasn’t talked to her since he left Detroit, and she just showed up tonight. He was totally freaking out, looking for you on the field. He started shouting your name and everything. Colton finally talked him into going to the locker room and calling you.”

  “That woman was a lot older than us for her to be an ex-girlfriend. I watched them, Lex. He didn’t stop her. He put his hands on her.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe this happened to me again in front of everyone I know.”

  “Maybe you should talk to him and see if he is telling the truth.” She hugged me again and gave me a hopeful look.

  “Nice try,” I attempted my best smile. “I’m sneaking a few shots of whiskey from my dad’s office, and then we’re dancing.”

  I tiptoed into my father’s office, leaving Lexy in the hallway. The adult only beverage tray was next to the desk, and I quickly poured the amber liquid into one of my father’s glasses. My throat burned as I tipped the entire glass back. Coughing, I set the glass down and forced confidence as I headed toward the door.

  “I’m ready,” I smiled as the burning moved deep within my stomach.

  “You should talk to him,” Colton sighed. “It’s not what it seems.”

  “It’s time to dance, Colton,” I snapped while opening and walking out of the front door.

  Walking into the Homecoming dance, I was instantly glad I had taken some liquid courage. I was confronted by questions.

  Are you okay?

  Who was that woman with Ty?

  When did you guys break up?

  All questions that reminded me of the pain I went through months ago with Jeremy.

  People I rarely talked to suddenly pretended to be my support system when all they really wanted was gossip. I couldn’t deal with this again.

  Spotting Holden from across the room, I decided on a different course of action this time around. If Ty could be with someone else, then I could too. It seemed simple enough to me. Strutting in Holden’s direction and grabbing his hand, I leaned in toward his ear.

  “Dance with me,” I whispered as seductively as I could manage.

  “Where’s Ty?” Holden asked.

  “He’s not here,” I replied, pulling Holden onto the dance floor.

  Lady Gaga boomed over the speakers, followed by Britney Spears and Black Eyed Peas. Holden was a good dancer, and he wasn’t afraid to use his hands. I knew we were at a high school dance, but I wasn’t concerned about the twelve-inch separation rule.

  Holden wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close when Taylor Swift’s voice came over the speakers. I leaned my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes. Wishing I could forget about Ty, I locked my hands behind Holden’s neck.

  “Can I cut in?” Ty’s words broke into my thoughts.

  Holden looked at me to answer, but didn’t loosen his grip around my waist.

  “No, you can’t,” I said in Ty’s direction, but kept my eyes on Holden.

  “Holden, move.” he glared. “Now.”

  “Sorry, Bailey.” Holden dropped his hands to his side. “Find me later if you want.”

  Glaring at Holden for leaving me with Ty, I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm, pulled me into his arms and held on tight.

  “Let go or I’ll scream,” I seethed through my teeth.

  “Let me explain,” he pleaded. “It’s not what you think, I promise.”

  “So you didn’t kiss a random woman in front of the entire town?” I questioned. “Do you know how pathetic I look right now for dancing with you? Let go.” I dropped my hands to my side and stood still.

  Not giving up that easily, he attempted to pull me closer. “Let’s leave and talk. I need to explain everything.”

  Rolling my eyes, I laughed. “How about you leave, and I dance with Holden? I was having fun until you interrupted.”

  “Is that what you want?” he asked, getting frustrated.

  “It sure is,” I replied in a cold tone.

  “Have it your way, Bailey, but don’t make an ass of yourself on my account.” Ty’s frustration screamed across his face as he moved his hands to his hips. “I’m leaving, but we’re talking about this tonight. Holden better keep his lips to himself.”

  “Or what?” I challenged.

  “I’ll kick his ass!” Ty fumed. “I’m serious, Bailey. Don’t let him touch you!”

  I watched as he walked through the gym doors. Ignoring his dramatic warning, I found Holden and we danced until the last song had ended. Holden offered to take me home, but I chose to ride with Colton and Lexy. Pulling into my driveway, I was surprised to see Ty’s truck parked in front of my house.

  “You know he won’t give up,” Colton nodded to the truck. “Just listen to what he has to say.”

  I hugged Lexy and climbed out of the black Ford. “Thanks for the ride.”

  Ty met me at the front door before I could open it. “Go home,” I said, turning the knob.

  “Talk to me,” he sighed.

  Walking through the door, I was surprised that he was bold enough to follow me inside. Ignoring him, I walked up the stairs toward my bedroom.

  “Leave,” I said as I slammed my bedroom door shut. Turning the lock, I slid down to the floor as silent tears began to pour down my cheeks. My adrenaline-fueled confidence had faded, and the pain in my chest was almost more than I could bear.

  I leaned my head against the door and listened for footsteps. I felt the door move as if someone had slid down on the other side and was sitting opposite of me. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard footsteps that caused my breath to catch.

  “Son, it’s late,” I heard my grandfather say. “You should go home.”

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Ty’s words choked out. “But I’m waiting to talk to Bailey.”

  “Well, son,” I heard my grandfather say, “Hart women don’t do anything unless it’s on their own terms. When she wants to talk, she will talk.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ty replied.

  “I suggest you try again tomorrow. Maybe send some flowers and chocolate first. Red roses worked every time on her grandmother.” I smiled as I heard my grandfather walk away, knowing he only had my best interest at heart.

  A few minutes had passed before I felt the door shift against my back. Ty quietly talked through the door. “Baby, I love you. I hope you’ll listen to me tomorrow.”

  Tears filled my eyes as I resisted the urge to open the door and pull him into my room. His footsteps disappeared down the hallway, and I sat in the same position hours after his truck roared to life and left our driveway. I had almost drifted to sleep when my cell phone vibrated in my back pocket.

  It was a text message from Ty.

  I love you. Please talk to me.

  Tears immediately sprang from my eyes and ran down my cheeks. I crawled into my bed and curled up next to my pillow. This pain would go away. I had survived this once, and I would do it again.

  This pain would go away.

  ***

  My parents were occupied at the country club again so I spent most of the weekend locked in my room. After receiving multiple text messages and phone calls from Ty, I decided to power off my phone. He was clearly upset by what had happened, but I wasn’t ready to see him yet.

  Who was that woman? Why had he kissed her? Was she really the ex-girlfriend from Detroit? I couldn’t wrap my mind around what had happened, so I decided to curl up in my comforter and drown my sorrows in ice cream and romantic comedies.

  A knock on my door startled me out of my dreams on Sunday afternoon.

  “Let me in.” Lexy knocked again. “I know you are hiding in ther
e.”

  Unlocking the door, I stepped back as she charged into my room carrying two dozen red roses.

  “These were outside your door,” she said, reaching for the card that was stuck between the flowers. Without my permission, she opened the envelope and read the card:

  Baby, please talk to me. I’m dying here. She is an ex. Someone I haven’t seen or thought about in a long time. I love you, and I’m sorry. -Ty

  I snatched the card from Lexy’s hand and threw it to the ground.

  Setting the roses on my bedside table, she sighed. “You should at least talk to him, Bailey. He’s a wreck. It’s like you tore his heart out, even though he’s the one that kissed another girl.”

  “What excuse could he possibly have that can justify this?” I threw myself onto my bed and curled up into a ball under the covers. “It happened again, Lexy.”

  “He’s not Jeremy. Not even close,” she stated. “You can’t make everything about Jeremy. Colton went over to see Ty this morning, and he looks almost as bad as you. Just turn your phone on and at least text him back.”

  “You’re on his side now?” I exclaimed.

  “No, I’m on your side,” she said, sitting next to me on the bed. “But I’m not watching you do this to yourself again. You deserve to be happy, and Ty isn’t a bad guy. Just hear him out.”

  Grabbing the DVD remote, Lexy hit play and settled back into the pillows. “Now let’s watch Rachel and Ryan fall in love for the millionth time.”

  Monday morning came too soon.

  I arrived in the school parking lot thirty minutes early to avoid Ty. Luckily, I had enough extracurricular activities that I always had an excuse to be at school early.

  Ty and I had four classes together where we sat side by side. I hadn’t figured out how I would avoid him during class, but I had a pretty good system down for before school and in between classes. I had learned the previous year when I avoided Jeremy and Jessica for the last two months of school.

  Ducking out of the library, I stepped through my first period door just as the bell rang. Ty was sitting at our table with his head leaning against his fist. Pulling out my chair and sitting down, Ty shifted his attention to me.

  “Hey,” he said in a husky voice I didn’t recognize.

  “Hi,” I replied back, not making eye contact.

  “Baby, please just talk to me. I’m sorry for everything.” he whispered as our teacher began to hand out our physics notes.

  I leaned back in my chair and continued to stare forward. I knew if I started to listen or talk now, I wouldn’t be able to control my tears. Everything in my body screamed for me to reach out to him, but my stubbornness wouldn’t allow that.

  Realizing that it wouldn’t be easy to get me to talk, even though we were only inches away from each other, Ty sunk back into his chair.

  We both spent the next few hours pretending to learn about physics and calculus. It was torture sitting side by side in each class. I had never hated assigned seats so much in my entire life.

  Luckily, I only spent seconds at my locker and knew how to navigate the hall so that our paths never crossed as we were leaving and going to the same classes. Lexy continued to roll her eyes at me during each class, and I continued to suffer in silence.

  I rushed to my Jeep after fourth period and let out a shaky breath as I joined the line of cars leaving the parking lot for lunch. Grateful for a moment alone, tears filled my eyes. Driving the four blocks and parking in front of my house, I couldn’t find the strength to move.

  Gripping the steering wheel, my head sank and I allowed the tears to fall that I had been holding back all morning. I didn’t notice when my car door opened. Ty lifted me from the driver’s seat and carried me inside the house. Before I knew it, we were sitting on the floor in my bedroom.

  I found myself in Ty’s lap and continued to cry and shake uncontrollably throughout the entire lunch period. We were still sitting on my floor when we should have been in English class. I knew we would both leave soon for football and basketball practice, but I didn’t have the strength to move.

  “I’m so sorry,” his voice cracked.

  When I looked up, his eyes were red and his cheeks were streaked with tears.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he whispered and leaned his forehead against the side of my head.

  “I need to get some tissue.” I attempted to stand up.

  Pulling me back into his lap, Ty reached toward my nightstand. Handing me a box of tissues, I sunk back into his chest. I blew my nose in the most unattractive way and wiped my cheeks and eyes. My breathing was finally starting to slow, and the tears were beginning to dry up.

  “I didn’t know she would be at the game on Friday,” he began. “She just showed up. I haven’t talked to her since I left Detroit.”

  Letting out a shaky breath, he continued. “You know I love you, Bailey. You’re the only one for me. I’m sorry she kissed me. If I could go back and erase that moment, I would a million times. You know I love you, right?”

  I slowly shook my head from side to side as I processed what he was saying. “So that’s the older woman you left behind?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  Sighing, he continued with his story. “She was one of my teachers in Detroit.”

  Letting his words register in my mind, I couldn’t hide my shock. “She was your teacher? You dated a teacher?”

  Nodding his head, he pulled me tighter into his arms. “She had just graduated college, and it was her first year teaching. I was seventeen and she was twenty-three, though I know that nothing can justify it. One of my mom’s friends saw me leaving her house late on a Friday night, and all hell broke loose.”

  “You had sex with her?” I questioned, not knowing why I wanted every detail.

  “No,” he said, turning my face so he could look into my eyes. “You know I’ve only been with you. I told you the truth that morning.”

  Looking away, I knew I believed him, but I couldn’t understand why this woman showed up out of nowhere.

  “So why was she here? You said you don’t talk to her. How did she find you?” I stared at the floor, waiting for his story to continue.

  “I haven’t talked to her. That was part of the agreement. My parents were convinced that we were having sex, even though we weren’t, and they wanted to press charges against her. Honestly, I instigated the relationship, so I knew it wasn’t fair to her. I agreed to move here to finish high school. If I left and never talked to her again, they wouldn’t press charges.”

  “One of my friends back home told her where I was. I guess she assumed that since I’m no longer her student, I’d want to date again.” He ran his hand down my cheek and wiped a stray tear away with his thumb. “I was so confused when I saw her. Honestly, I thought it was you kissing me until I looked down and realized what was happening. I immediately pushed her away and started looking for you. I knew when I couldn’t find you that you saw everything.”

  “Did she stay with you this weekend?” I asked.

  “No!” Ty’s voice rose. “Why would you think that? I told her to leave, and that I had a girlfriend I was in love with. She tried to fight with me, but I was too worried about finding you and making sure we were okay. I’m guessing she flew back to Detroit. I haven’t talked to her since that night.”

  “It happened in front of the entire town, Ty.” My eyes filled with tears again. “I can’t go through all of this again.”

  “Everyone saw a random girl kiss me, and me push her away. Then they watched as I ran around like a lunatic, shouting your name and searching for you. Trust me, I look like the crazy one in this situation.” He intertwined his fingers in mine. “Please, just tell me we will be okay. I’m sorry for everything. I’ll do anything.”

  Sinking back into Ty’s chest, I closed my eyes. “It just hurts. A lot. Even if we move on from this, everyone else will remember.”

  “I know, baby,” he whispered and kissed the top of my head. “
I know. I’m sorry.”

  Exhaustion began to sink in as Ty lifted me from the floor and placed me in my bed. I felt him pull off my knee-high boots and crawl into bed next to me. Holding me as tight as he could, he pulled the covers over both of us.

  “What about practice?” I asked as I drifted to sleep. “We have to go to practice.”

  “Right now, we have to stay here,” he whispered in my ear.

  ***

  I opened my eyes. Twisting under Ty’s arms, I looked at the digital clock on my bedside table. The red numbers glowed 10:03PM.

  “What happened?” I exclaimed. “We slept through school and practice.”

  Ty tightened his arm around my waist and groaned in his sleep.

  “Wake up!” I shook his arm. “How long have we been asleep?”

  “Baby, it’s fine,” he said with his eyes still closed. “Go back to sleep.”

  “You’re spending the night here? My parents will die if they find out!” I attempted to squirm out of his arms. “Ugh, you’re heavy as stone. Move!”

  Loosening his grip, he opened his eyes. “Your parents don’t know I’m here. I drove my truck home around seven o’clock and ran back over after dinner. You were still asleep, so I decided to join you. I’ll leave before anyone wakes up tomorrow.”

  Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. Looking down, I saw I was still wearing the black dress and purple tights I had worn to school. I stretched as I stood up.

  “I feel like I slept for an entire week,” I said as I walked toward my closet.

  He watched in silence as I pulled the black dress over my head and my tights down to the floor. Grabbing the first t-shirt and sweatpants that I could find, I quickly dressed and headed to the bathroom.

  Sighing when I saw my reflection, I began to wash off the mascara that was streaked all over my face.

  “You could at least tell me how scary I looked,” I said as I crawled back under the covers with him.

  Pulling me into his bare chest, he kissed the top of my head. “You’re beautiful.”