WHAT WE NEVER SAID

Zara was not at the party

g about getting out of her head, putting on makeup, and wearing the tiny s

a Solo cup and pretending to enjoy herself while the bass ra

ing against a wall, watching couples grind like the world was ending. Sh

a

hat fit him a little too

d. Then her

la

e from th

hiny. Jace wasn't even saying much-just nodding, smiling, respondin

stomach

gnetic had yanked her in his direction. She stopped just behind him, close enough to hear De

lmost

e said, voice swe

ly, his eyes wideni

her shoulder, clearl

errupt. I just thought I'd

through his ha

inished for him, s

's brow

eat rising to her face. Wh

rd her, his voice

m ch

e not

ng with Delane

ted talki

didn't

a. What's y

sliced t

back like he

. "Z, I di

tight smile. "You're right

but she shook him off.

n the steps, onto the street where cool ai

buzzed i

ere are

Don't be

coming a

phone off and

me twenty mi

rown her phone onto the couch when she he

th, his curls windblown from

ar

back inside. He followed, s

that," he said immediat

dn't mean what? That I'm

er sai

dn't ha

retched be

he started the conversation. I didn

exactly spr

n realize you

act

d. "What do you

cracked. "I

want to say, I'm scared y

stopp

o her sides. "What

ike I'm your emotional crutch and nothing more. But then you fall asleep on me, or you

tared

nything," he said, voice rough now. "I've been trying to respec

mouth, but no

he was

red. Confused. And worse-she

ow to have him withou

y," she w

mad. I just... I can't keep

eyes

he looked up at him-at the face that had been her safe pla

hat this is," s

barely a whisper.

move. Nei

d taut between them. A brea

ys, neither of the

back first. "

dn't st

im, her heart breaking in a way that had nothing