The Rebel of Raleigh High (Raleigh Rebels #1)(104)

“S’okay, man. It’s just dinner. That okay? Silver told me Max likes to play Halo. Is that true, Max?”

Max’s never been shy a day in his life. He nods enthusiastically, grabbing Ben by the sleeve of his super smart blue button-down shirt. “I have my own room for gaming. There’s a forty-two-inch screen in there. Dad got it to watch the baseball, but it’s basically mine now. Have you got Red Dead Redemption two? I got it last week, but I’m not allowed to play it until I finish Halo. Which school do you go to?” He chatters the whole way down the hallway, leading Ben toward the game room. Alex leans against the door jamb, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he watches them go.

“He’ll be fine as soon as he gets some sugar in him,” he says.

“Well, there’s plenty of that down there. Max has a number of gummy bear caches hidden in the cupboards that he thinks Mom doesn’t know about.” I step back, making room for him to pass me. “You coming in?”

“I don’t know. I brought the kid as a human shield to use against your dad, but that you just disarmed me I’m wondering if it’s safe…”

“I have excellent hearing!” my father yells from the kitchen. “You are so screwed.”

I flinch, screwing my eyes shut. “He’s basically going to be unbearable all night,” I admit. “Just don’t pay any attention and you’ll be fine.”

“Hey, Alex? Any idea what cyanide tastes like?” Dad hollers.

Alex glares over my shoulder. “Is he serious?”

I try not to laugh, but I give in in the end. If I don’t laugh, I’m only going to end up crying. “If he asks, it’s probably better to tell him you slept on the couch when I came over the other night. Just…act natural.”

“No one in the history of being told to act natural has ever acted natural,” Alex fires back. He does step into the house, though, essentially sealing his fate. He wraps his arms around me, stealing a kiss. I’m flushed and a little breathless when he releases me, holding a finger to my lips, pretending to shush me.

I pretend to bite that finger in return. “I’m glad Jackie let you bring Ben.”

“Yeah. Well. She’s actually been okay with me recently. I know. Shocker. Still insisted on coming to pick him up from here, but I’ve got him until eight-thirty.”

“And after that?”

Alex shrugs. “I’m yours to torture as you see fit.”

My pulse quickens as I look up into his eyes, bracing myself for what I want to say next. He can’t have had any idea, but I do have something planned for after dinner, and it really is going to be torture. I’m panicking, my anxiety through the roof, my—

Alex cups his hands around my face, frowning deeply. “Hey. Hey, what is it? What’s wrong?”

He’s so damn attuned to me. I’m pretty sure my expression is still under control, but he can tell I’m freaking the fuck out. “I—I want to talk to them. About…what happened at Leon’s party. Tonight.”

Alex’s eyes round out. “Oh.”

“And…” Jesus Christ, this is hard. “I was wondering…”

“You want me to stay with you. You want me to be there,” he says quietly.

“Yes. I’m sorry, I know it’s a lot to ask. It’s definitely not going to be fun, but—”

He cuts me off with his mouth. The kiss is light and gentle, designed to reassure and calm. Pulling me to him, he presses me up against him, and suddenly I’m safe in the circle of his arms. Sweeping a piece of hair back behind my ear, he rests his forehead against mine, his eyes fierce and firm. “Silver, you don’t need to ask. I will always be wherever you need me to be. I will sit right beside you. I will hold your hand. I will carry you out of here and steal you away if that’s what you want. I’m not going anywhere.”

I’ve made it through so much recently without crying. The days I spent sitting in a chair next to Alex’s hospital bed, not sleeping, not eating, hoping and praying every second that he was going to be okay, were the worst days of my life, but I was determined to be there every time he opened his eyes. I was strong for him because he needed me. Now, it’s me who needs him once again, and boy is he showing up. “I love you, Argento. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be okay. Just you wait and see.”

And I do believe him. I trust him. I know that he’s right. He’s always right because he’s Alessandro Moretti…and despite everything, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, he managed to accomplish something that I told him couldn’t be done.

The Rebel of Raleigh High managed to pull down the moon…and now nothing is impossible.





A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR…





Dearest Reader,



Thank you so much for reading The Rebel of Raleigh High. Some pretty tough subject matter was covered within the pages of this book, and I know it might have been hard for some of you to read. I apologize for that. I tried my best to handle such sensitive topics with care and compassion, and I truly hope that came through in the story.

This isn’t a story about violence and hatred, though. It’s a story about strength and resilience, and at the end of the day I really have to hope that that shone through in the words.