“I’m taking her home,” Luca says, loudly enough for them to hear. “Is that okay?”

Chloe’s red-rimmed eyes clash with mine and she wipes her cheeks before nodding. “Yes, please. I need to speak to Dylan. I’ll ask Amanda or Jenny to drive me home.”

“Are you sure? I can wait.”

She shakes her head. “No, you go.”

It still doesn’t feel right, but I let Luca steer me toward his car. Before we turn the corner, I hear Chloe shout, “Don’t touch me! It’s over between us.”

“The fuck it is! You think I’ll let you go? You’re overreacting.”

Luca opens the door and guides me inside. I stare numbly at the house as he enters the car and pulls away from the curb. It really doesn’t feel right to leave like this.

“They’ll be fine.”

I drag my eyes away from the passenger window. “How do you know?”

“They’ve fought before. They always end up back together.”

“He’s never done something like this before, though. Fighting over silly shit is not the same as finding nudes on your boyfriend’s phone.”

Luca winces. “He messed up big this time.”

“You didn’t know?”

Our eyes lock, and he frowns. “Why would I know?”

“Boys talk.”

He blows out a breath as he flicks the blinker to turn right. “Not about this shit.”

“So you didn’t know he was cheating.”

“No.”

When we pull up outside my house, I look at my lap while I push down my cuticle with my nail. “I feel bad for leaving. What kind of a friend does that?”

Turning his body halfway, he replies, “They needed privacy. She’ll be fine.”

“You think?”

“Yeah.”

I chew on my lip nervously as the silence presses on. I don’t know what to say or do.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says finally.

Releasing a relieved breath, I push open the car door and exit the vehicle. Before I leave, I lean down. “Thanks for the lift.”

His lips spread in a barely-there, rueful smile. “Anytime.”

I shut the door and make my way up the front steps of my house. The silence that greets me does little to ease my growing anxiety. Flicking on the hallway light, I toe off my heels, releasing a soft moan. Fuck, my feet hurt.

I fish my phone out of my bag and send a quick text to Chloe.

Me: Message me when you get home so I know you’re safe.

CHAPTER 3

WILLOW

I wake up to an insistent banging on the front door. My head hurts this morning after the beer I drank last night. I don’t drink often, so it doesn’t take much.

Tossing the quilt off, I throw my legs over the side of the bed and hurry downstairs. “I’m coming.”

The banging continues, a hand smashing against the wood over and over again.

I unlock it and throw it open, coming face to face with a frantic Mr. Reid.

“Where is she? Is she with you?”

Before I can reply, he storms past me, his large steps carrying him down the hallway.