The Vincent Boys (The Vincent Boys #1)(62)

“You coming in?”

I turned to see Kayla standing beside me. Her hand on the door. My heart rate picked up and I decided no. I wasn’t ready to face the crowd inside. I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

“Why? No one is going to harm a hair on your head after Beau’s performance this morning.”

I wasn’t ready to bank on that.

“What’s wrong?” Beau’s voice startled me and I spun around to see him standing behind me with a territorial gleam in his eyes.

“Nothing,” I stuttered and quickly stepped around him.

His hand reached out and grabbed my arm gently but firmly enough that I was forced to stop.

“Where are you going? The cafeteria is this way.”

“The library. Ever since Nicole poured a Coke over her head during lunch she’s been hiding out in the library to eat her food.” The utter delight in Kayla’s voice as she told on Nicole was obvious. I knew she wasn’t telling Beau for my sake. She was telling him so he’d react. The fire that ignited in his eyes put a huge smile on Kayla’s face before she twirled around and headed inside the cafeteria.

“You’re not hiding in the damn library, Ash. If anyone even looks at you wrong I’ll fix it.” Beau was staring down at me for the first time since this morning. I soaked up the little shred of attention. I was pathetic.

“Okay,” I replied. Telling him no was impossible.

He reached around me and pushed the door open. “Let’s go.”

I walked in ahead of him and the entire room fell silent. This might possibly be worse than the laughing and snickers.

“Do you need anything from the line?” Beau asked, taking my elbow. I shook my head, scanning the crowd for any sign of Sawyer.

“Where’s Sawyer?” I whispered when I didn’t see him anywhere.

“At home. He has a concussion.”

I froze and stared up at him. “What?” I asked, horrified.

Beau’s frown deepened. “He shouldn’t have let them harass you. It was his mistake. He knows that . . . now.”

“Beau!” I hissed, jerking my elbow out of his grasp. This was why I couldn’t have what I wanted. Because of me Beau had given his cousin—NO—his brother a concussion. I couldn’t let this keep happening. “Why would you do that? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. You can go check on him after school.” He paused and clenched his jaw. “No, I take that back. You need to stay away from him. I’m not sure I can handle you worrying over him right now. I need time.”

“Beau, I . . .”

“Go sit with Kayla. She’s motioning you over. You’re safe, Ash.”

He turned and left me standing there, watching him retreat to the far side of the cafeteria.

Chapter 27

I figured what Beau didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. I’d sat in my room debating over going to check on Sawyer for hours. Finally my conscience got the best of me and I’d driven over there. Facing his mother wasn’t high up on my list of things I wanted to do. This year or possibly ever. I passed by his driveway and turned down the dirt road leading down to the hole.

Once I got back there I parked the car and sent Sawyer a text letting him know I’d come to check on him. If he wanted to see me he would. While I waited I figured I would go enjoy our favorite childhood spot one last time.

Climbing up a tree wasn’t as easy as it used to be. But our favorite limb wasn’t as high as it used to be either and it just took one small boost from the tree trunk to get myself securely on the branch I’d shared with the Vincent boys during our childhood.

“Impressive. You made it look easy.” Sawyer’s voice surprised me. I glanced over to see him leaning against a nearby tree. His dark curls danced in the breeze, reminding me of the times I used to watch it do that exact same thing with fascination. I loved burying my fingers in his thick hair and wrapping his curls around them. He really was beautiful.

“I was already here when you sent the text,” he replied with an amused grin. My expression must have shown my confusion.

“Oh,” I replied.

“To what do I owe this visit?” he asked, standing up and walking over to stand beside my legs. He barely had to look up to meet my gaze.

“I wanted to check on you. Beau said you had a concussion.”

Sawyer chuckled and skipped a rock he’d been holding in his hand across the water. “He tell you how I got the concussion?”

“Yes,” I answered him, feeling guilty.

“I deserved it. I was shitty to you all week.”

Had Sawyer just cursed?

“Um . . .” I didn’t know what to say. He was right, he had been, but he didn’t deserve to be beat up by his brother over it.

“I shouldn’t have let them do those things to you. Honestly, Beau beating the crap out of me was a relief. I’d been beating myself up. Having someone physically beat me was a nice release.”

“What?” I asked.

Sawyer turned his blue eyes back up toward me.

“Ash, you were my girl for years. But before that we were friends. The best of friends. I should have never let one snag in the road cause me to turn on you like I did. It was wrong. You took all the blame for something that wasn’t entirely your fault. It was Beau’s and it was mine.”