“We’re done, Jaden. Sorry you had to find out like this, but it’s over.”

“No, it’s over when I say it’s over,” Jaden said through clenched teeth. He looked at Brody. “If you want to keep that hand, I suggest you get it off my girl.”

“I don’t believe you can stake claim to her any longer. My hand’s gonna stay right where it is.” Brody narrowed his eyes at Jaden.

Jaden took a step toward Brody. Brody didn’t move.

“How long, Willow? How long have you been sleeping with this piece of shit?” Jaden spat.

“None of your business.”

“You’ve been seeing him while we’ve been together?”

I hesitated for a second. I knew if I answered truthfully, Jaden would destroy my reputation, but if I didn’t tell the truth, I’d risk hurting Brody. “Yes. We’ve been seeing each other.”

“You slut!” His hand darted out so fast that I didn’t have time to react. The pain sizzled across the side of my face, ricocheting through my head. I could feel where his class ring dug into my skin, warm liquid dribbling down my cheek. The impact ripped me away from Brody’s grasp and sent me tumbling across the bleachers, scraping the side of my face where it hit the grooved metal.

Jenna and Tim ran to me, helping me up. I looked up in time to see Brody charge Jaden. He slammed into him, sending them both flying across the bleachers.

“What’s the matter with you, Victor? You’re the one screwing her. If she’s gonna act like a whore, she’s gonna get treated like one,” Jaden shouted, standing up and wiping the dust off his uniform.

“I told you if you ever laid a hand on her, I’d end you,” Brody whispered through clenched teeth, shouldering Jaden.

Jaden barreled toward Brody. A group of his football buddies held him back. “He’s not worth it, man,” one told him.

“She’s definitely not worth it,” another said, looking at me like I wore a scarlet letter across my chest. Maybe I did. Maybe I deserved one.

Brody took a step toward Jaden. “Brody! Brody, stop!” I yelled, trying to get his attention.

He looked at me, and his face softened. “Let’s get you out of here and clean those cuts.” Reaching out, he wiped the blood off my face with the pad of his thumb. He looked over his shoulder at Jaden. “If I ever see you touch her again, I will make sure it’s the last thing you touch. You won’t always have your jughead friends to protect you.”

Well, that actually went better than I thought it would. I’m still alive.

Brody took me to his house to clean my cuts. When we drove up, a strange car was parked in the garage. He pulled next to it, killing the engine.

“Whose car is that?” I looked out of the window at the black sedan parked next to us in the immaculate garage.

“My mom’s.” Brody climbed out of the Jeep and came around to open my door.

I didn’t get out of the SUV. “I don’t think we should be here.”

“Why not?” Brody’s gaze didn’t waver from mine. His brows furrowed over his eyes.

“I don’t really want to meet your mom when I’m sporting a cut-up face.”

“My mom’s not like that. She’s cool. She’ll baby you the whole night.” He paused and lowered his gaze. “And, um, I’ve already told her about you.” His eyes traveled slowly up to meet mine. “Don’t be mad. I just wanted her to know in advance what your situation was if you ever needed a place to go.”

Tears pushed at the back of my eyes. I sniffed and cleared my throat. “And… um, and she was okay with everything?”

“She wasn’t okay that someone was hurting you, but she was very okay with you having a safe place to come if you needed one. Don’t worry, Willow. She’s going to love you.”

Brody lifted my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist, letting his mouth linger. Giant butterflies invaded my stomach. My arm tingled under his lips. They were soft and moist. I wanted them on my mine. My lips parted, and I sighed. Brody looked into my eyes and grinned against my skin.

He placed my hand in my lap and wrapped his hand behind my neck, leaning into me. My breath came in little gasps, and my heart did a free fall to my toes. I ran my tongue over my lips, leaning toward him. He kissed the space behind my earlobe. I sucked in a breath and threaded my hands through his hair, gripping his head to me.

“Mm, I love the way you smell,” he whispered in my ear. “Like raspberries.”

I closed my eyes and let his voice wash over me, concentrating on his mouth on my skin. I think I answered him. I was positive I didn’t use an actual word because at that moment, I couldn’t put two coherent words together. My lips ached for his. I tightened my hold in his hair and pulled his face to mine. His lips skimmed mine when he spoke, just a whisper of a caress, barely a touch at all.

“We need to go inside,” he murmured, reaching up and pulling my hands from his hair.

He pulled me gently from the Jeep and led me to the door. His mother had her back to us when we went inside. She sat on the large couch, watching television. She turned when she heard the door open.

“Brody, you’re home early—” She stopped abruptly when she saw me standing behind him. “Introduce me to your friend.”

She stood and walked toward us. Tall like her son, she shared his thick hair and color. Hers was cut in a short bob that was businesslike and feminine all at once. Slim, but curvy, and dressed in designer jeans and T-shirt, she looked almost like Brody’s older sister, or maybe an aunt, than his mother.

“Mom, this is Willow.”

“Hi, Willow,” she said with a smile.

“It’s nice meet you, Ms. Victor,” I said, trying to cover the gash on my check with my hair and standing behind Brody’s shoulder.

“Oh, call me Anne. Come on. Let’s get that cleaned up. Do I get to ask what happened? I’ll be honest, as long as I feel you aren’t in immediate danger, I won’t call the police or your parents.”

“My ex-boyfriend didn’t take the news that I was breaking up with him very well,” I said quietly, not meeting her eyes.

“Ah. Well, not to worry. We’ll get this taken care of. Brody, don’t just stand there, get Willow something to drink.”

“Sorry. Do you want a Coke?”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

Ms. Victor was incredibly nice. Brody was right; she did baby me the entire time I was there. She didn’t ask too many questions. Occasionally, she’d slip a question or two in about Brody’s and my relationship. I let Brody handle those. I wasn’t sure how to answer them yet. At least not to his mother. Brody didn’t seem the least bit bothered by them.

“We’re dating. That’s why Willow broke it off with her ex.”

“I see. How long have you been dating?”

“Since tonight. We started out as friends, Mom. Willow broke up with her boyfriend when we decided we were crossing the friendship line. We officially started dating tonight. Right, Willow?” He took a drink of his Coke.

“Right, Ace. I mean, Brody.” I could feel my cheeks warm at my unintentional use of his nickname.

He smiled and threaded my fingers with his.

“Ace, huh? Do I want to know?”

I laughed. “Probably not. Let’s just say we weren’t a match made in heaven when we first met.”

“Brody gets that a lot,” his mother said and waved her hand in the air, dismissing the comment. “He comes off as arrogant.”

“That’s for sure. And judgmental,” I muttered.

“Hey, I’m in the room, you know?”

“Yes, dear, we know. Well,” Anne said with a sigh, gathering her Coke can and the shoes she’d flipped off at some point. “I’m tired. I’m going upstairs to read for a while. It was very nice to meet you, Willow. I hope I’ll be seeing more of you.”

“It was nice meeting you too, Ms. Victor.”

She squeezed my shoulder as she walked by. “Anne, remember?”