e P

was, bleeding on the pavement, my ex-boyfriend and my best friend standing over me. Shame burned th

ching for my face in a strange, hesitant gesture, froze mid-air. He flin

's friend?" he stam

es! Kloe, I told you about Holden. H

na, his voice stiff

ened, a burning ache spreading through me. He was denying me, e

hould take her to get it bandaged, not just stand here." She looked g

again, not truly. I pushed myself up, gritting my teeth against the pain. "No, Jana

Jana, Holden, you two go on ahead. We'll take care of Kloe. Don'

f her. We don't want to keep your parents waiting to meet my family." He pulled her away, his

ed. One of them stepped forward. "Look, you broke up with Holden. It's do

oice low and menacing. "Don't you dare try to mess t

ruel game. "I won't," I said, my voice hoarse. "I want nothing to do with any of you." I turned a

ain was a dull ache that matched the ache in my heart. My phone buzzed. It

wrong with you? Why are you ignoring me? You th

deeper. You dumped me, Kloe. You broke up with me. Don't blame me for

ould have dated her. You know that. His words were a sickening lie. He

responsibility. He still twisted everything to make himself look innocent, to blame me. Did he think so lit

e ambitious partner, shattered into a million pieces. He

and blocked him. All of him. Every avenue of c

en leg. As I stepped out of my room, someone grabbed my arm, yanking me roughly into

s inches from mine, his eyes blazing wi

sted, trying to pull away. Th

? Are you going to ruin everything for me?" His

ld, steady. "I told you, Holden. It's over. I'm leaving. I don't care about yo

walk away? You think I'll believe you? You're just trying to play

pressing close. His breath was hot on my

pushing against his chest. "Wh

you? See? I knew you still wanted me." He brought his face closer, his lip

throat. I swung my arm, my palm connecting sharply w

ed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, a dangerous smirk forming on his lips. "You think that changes anythi

a venomous snake, coiling around me. This wasn't the Hold