Brody: Good morning, beautiful.

Me: Hey, Ace.

Brody: Were you awake?

Me: No, but this is a nice way to wake up.

Brody: Ick. Too sappy for this early.

Me: What’s up?

Brody: Wear something funny.

Me: Weird request. I’m game.

Brody: Later.

Me: Bye.

Wear something funny? What does he think is funny this early in the morning besides waking me up to tell me I’m too sappy? Guys. God’s way of letting women know He has a sense of humor.

I pulled out a blue, long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. Jenna was going to have a fit. It was technically my day to dress normal, but Brody’s request outweighed Jenna’s, so funny T-shirt it was.

I showered, doing my hair and makeup before getting dressed. Grabbing my blue converse tennis shoes and my book bag, I was just walking out the door when my phone chimed. I looked at the screen, expecting a text from Brody. My heart stopped when I read the name across the top of the message. My hands turned clammy and started to shake. I was so dizzy I had to sit on the bottom step of the staircase before I fell.

There was just one line, but it was going to change everything.

I stared at the text, willing my breathing to calm. I could feel myself start to hyperventilate. Tears pressed at the back of my eyes and, for the first time, I realized something. I was happy, happier than I’d been in months, maybe more than a year. And then another truth slammed into me like a linebacker on Jaden’s football team. The message I was staring at was going to rip that happiness away.

Jaden: Someone saw you at the mall yesterday.

The letters started to swirl and blur as my eyes filled with tears. My head pounded in sync with the blood rushing behind my ears. I sucked in two deep breaths, letting them out slowly to calm my rapidly fraying nerves. One thought was in the forefront of my mind—I had to warn Brody.

I tried to call him as I drove to school, but my call bounced to voicemail. I hung up without leaving a message. Pushing the speed limit, I drove through yellow lights and rolled through stop signs. I was lucky there weren’t any cops around, or I would have gotten one helluva ticket.

I parked in the student parking lot, not caring I took two spaces, and hurried into the building, sliding to a stop when I saw Jaden leaning against my locker. I’d prayed that he’d just let it go. That he’d use this as an excuse to break up with me. Play the part of the jilted boyfriend. Smear my name all over school. I wouldn’t have cared. I’d be free of him. That was all that would’ve mattered.

But I’d known deep in my gut that he wouldn’t. He’d make me suffer for the embarrassment I caused him. Breaking up with me would be too easy. He’d want to hurt me—the sadistic streak running through his dark soul wouldn’t let him walk away. This was a game to him. One that had just become a lot more fun.

“I don’t know what was going on at the mall and I don’t care. But it’s gonna stop. Now. From now on, I’ll walk you to and from your classes. You’ll sit with me at lunch—the entire lunch period. Karen will stay and watch your chess practices and tournaments while I’m at football practices, and you will be required to attend all of my football games. If you need a ride to the away games, Karen will drive you.”

Jaden paused and scratched his thumb over his bottom lip. “I know you share a lot of classes with Brody Victor. I’ve already made arrangements with friends to keep an eye on you during those classes to make sure you don’t overstep any boundaries. I feel these new guidelines will help keep you in line. There will be no discussion and no negotiations. This is how it will be. Period. And in case you’re wondering, I’ve had a chat with Ralph. He agrees with my terms. Thinks I’m being more than fair considering your behavior. So do we understand each other?”

I didn’t know what to say. I was completely blindsided. I nodded my understanding more out of shock than actual acceptance.

“Good. I’m glad you are going to be sensible about this.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him to my biology class. Jaden jerked me to a stop next to my seat, and I stumbled into it. He stood next to my table until the first bell rang, and then he left without a word.

Brody leaned over to say something to me. I shook my head, but I didn’t look at him. He pulled back. I could see him watching me out of the corner of my eyes. Taking my notebook out of my bag, I scrawled a note across a page.

Jaden found out about us at the mall. His friends are watching. We can talk on the phone or text later.

When the bell rang after class, I gathered my things. I hadn’t even left the classroom and Jaden was there to walk me to my next class. It continued all day.

During lunch, I sat at Jaden’s table. When I mentioned I wanted to say hi to Jenna and Tim, he stood to go with me. I sat down and told him I’d changed my mind. Brody was sitting with them, and he was who I really wanted to see. But that was impossible with Jaden shadowing me.

I was counting the seconds until independent study so I could talk to Brody. But when I walked into the library, I came face-to-face with one of Jaden’s football buddies. How had I not noticed him before? There was no way I could talk to Brody with Jaden’s lackey watching me. So I sat at a table in the front of the library, instead of where Brody and I always sat. When independent study was over, Jaden was waiting in the hall. He walked me to my locker and then my car. I was never alone the entire day. He’d completely shut me off from my friends and, more importantly, from Brody.

I was backing out of my parking space when my phone chimed, but I didn’t dare look at it. Jaden still watched me. I waited until I was on the main road sitting at a stoplight before I looked at the message.

Brody: Call me.

I dialed his number as soon as I pulled into my driveway. I hadn’t even gotten out of the car when he answered.

“What’s going on?”

I threw my messenger bag over my shoulder and walked into the house. “Someone saw us at the mall yesterday and word got back to Jaden. I can’t believe I was so stupid. He has friends everywhere. I should have known someone would see and tell him.”

“So, what, he’s going to babysit you every day to make sure you don’t talk to anyone?” Brody asked, his voice hard. “Willow, you can’t—”

“I know what you’re going to say and if it was any other person, I would break up with him, but it’s Jaden. He’ll make my life a living hell if I try to leave him. And he’ll do the same to you. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

“And he’s not making your life a living hell now?” Brody challenged. I didn’t answer. He was right. “I need to see you,” he said softly.

I took the stairs two at a time and hurried into my bedroom, clicking the lock closed behind me. “I can’t. He’s coming over for dinner. My mom and stepdad are wrapped around his little finger. They’ll never let me see you.” Blowing out a breath, I threw my stuff on the floor before I fell across my bed.

“Can you get away tonight? After your parents are in bed?”

“You mean sneak out?” I chewed on my bottom lip, running through the scenarios in my head. Once I went to bed, my mother never checked on me and since I had my own bathroom, there was no reason for me to leave my room. But my bedroom was on the second floor. Getting down the stairs and out the door would be a problem. If I ever got caught… “I can do that.”

“Don’t if you’ll get caught. My mom isn’t around, so I’m free to come and go. I don’t want you getting in trouble.”