Broken Beautiful Hearts(12)

For a second, Tess stares at me as if she couldn’t have heard me correctly.

“That’s not what happened, Peyton,” Reed says calmly. He kneels beside me, and I recoil.

“Get away from me!”

“Peyton? What’s wrong with you?” Tess’ voice trembles. “Reed would never hurt you.”

“You lost your balance,” he says patiently.

“You mean after you pushed me?”

Tess’ eyes dart between her brother and me. “Maybe it seemed that way, or—” She glances at the people crowding around us and presses her lips together, making it clear she doesn’t want them to hear our argument.

Another shot of pain races up behind my knee and I hold my breath until it subsides.

Oh god. It must be serious if it hurts this much. I can’t even bend it. How can I play soccer if I can’t bend my knee?

Lucia and Gwen push their way to the front. They drop down at my side, between Reed and me—providing a buffer without realizing it.

Tess takes out her phone. “We should call an ambulance.”

“No! Just take me to the emergency room.” I need a doctor to look at my knee. My whole body aches, but I try to push up with my elbows and get into a seated position. Another flash of pain races up the back of my leg and I suck in a sharp breath.

“I don’t think you should move,” Reed says. “What if you hurt your back?”

“I don’t give a shit what you think!” I shout. My friends and the other people gathered around us seem confused.

Tess and Lucia support my back and help me sit up. My injured leg is stretched out in front of me, but I can’t move it more than an inch without sending another shock of pain through my body. I’m not sure if I can stand, but I doubt it.

And there’s no way I can walk.

“You’ll have to carry her to the car, Reed,” Tess says.

He looks at me and I lose it. “Don’t even think about touching me.”

Reed rubs the back of his head. “Come on, Peyton. Don’t do this. Just let me carry you so we can get you to the ER.”

I ignore him and turn to Tess. “Find someone else. Anyone else.” She looks hurt, as if I’m talking about her.

“I’ll get Lorenzo,” Lucia offers.

I nod and grit my teeth against the pain. The back of my knee feels like a rubber band that’s being pulled too tight, and the smallest movement sends daggers up my leg.

“Are you okay?” Tess squeezes my arm.

“It just hurts,” I manage.

And I’m scared to death. What if it’s my ACL? Or a fracture? What if there’s permanent damage?

Tess turns to Reed. “I don’t understand what happened. Were you guys still fighting about how much you’ve been working?”

His eyes flash to mine.

“Go ahead, Reed. Tell her.”

He looks at Tess. “It’s a misunderstanding.”

“You’re a lying asshole.” The sight of him makes me sick. I look over at Tess. “He’s been doping. When I went out to the car to look for my phone, I found his stash in his gym bag.”

“I told you it’s not mine,” he says.

“You admitted it was yours.”

“No.” He stays calm. “You kept saying it was mine.”

Tess holds up a hand, cutting us both off. “Then whose is it?”

“It belongs to a friend.” Reed glances at TJ. “Someone on my team.”

“Think about it, Tess,” I plead. “Reed’s mood swings and his temper, the street fights … it’s because he’s doping.”

“Please don’t do this, Peyton,” Reed whispers, loud enough for Tess to hear. “I know you think the drugs are mine, but they’re not.”

Tess’ bottom lip quivers, and her eyes flicker between her brother and me. She pulls her arm out from under my hand, making it clear she believes Reed.

My eyes burn and I blink back tears. One escapes and rolls down my cheek.

Thankfully, Lucia and Lorenzo plow through the crowd. He bends down next to me and Lucia hovers behind him.

“Are you in a lot of pain?” he asks loud enough for everyone to hear.

At least people think I’m on the verge of tears because of my knee and not my best friend’s betrayal.

I sniffle. “I don’t feel great.”

Lucia squeezes his shoulder. “Let’s get her to the hospital, babe.”

“On it.” Lorenzo picks me up gently, but even the smallest movement hurts my knee.

Reed rushes to his car and opens the passenger door, as if he thinks he’s driving me.

“I’m not going anywhere with him,” I tell Lorenzo.

Reed hears me and stands on the sidewalk with his shoulders sagging. He doesn’t look like the kind of guy who would push his girlfriend down the stairs. But that’s exactly who he is, even if I’m the only person who can see it.

The crowd around us begins to whisper. Lorenzo stops, unsure what to do or where to go.

Lucia takes over. “Tess, why don’t you drive Reed’s car? He can ride to the emergency room with Lorenzo and me.”

Reed nods at Tess, as if she needs his permission. “Peyton has the keys.”