Path of Destruction (Broken Heartland, #2)(13)

“Stop,” she commanded, pulling back.

They couldn’t do this. It wasn’t just about his girlfriend, though that certainly made her feel pretty vile. It was Kyle. He would never kiss anyone again, would never be kissed again. He’d never been in love that she knew of, and it felt treacherous to have anything he hadn’t.

“We can’t do this. I-I can’t. If you care about me at all you’ll leave me alone.”





Between trying to figure out the labyrinth that was Summit Bluffs High School and keeping tabs on Ella Jane, Cooper was over school by the end of first hour. He’d heard that she stormed out of her first class like her ass was on fire but when found her in the hallway, she didn’t mention it. She just kept her lips pinched shut and pointed down at her crumbled schedule before leading him into gymnasium for the P.E. class they had together. It was the only class they shared, but he’d take whatever time he had with her. At least if they were in the same classroom, or gym, he could keep all the *s away from her. Luckily for them, the second-hour class was filled with Hope’s Grove students.

The two of them settled in on the bleachers and waited for the teacher to come out and give them their marching orders.

Coach Bowman, a middle-aged woman with a short, brown bob, stood before them. “Morning, everyone. No one has to dress out today. We’re going to assign lockers and get you all squared away with uniforms.”

Her tone was different from the history teacher he’d met last period. She was warm and had a look of understanding on her face as she greeted all of her new students. The last guy had acted as if he didn’t know—or at least didn’t give a shit about—what had happened in Hope’s Grove only two weeks ago.

SBHS T-shirts and shorts were passed out to all the students and they were each assigned lockers in their respective locker rooms. By the time all the students had funneled back out into the gym, there was only fifteen minutes left in the period. No one mentioned a word about Kyle or the tornado. It was as if they were all out of condolences and sick of reliving that horrible night. Coop knew he was.

He sat next to Ella Jane and looked around the gym.

Jackson Clark sat a few rows up, still sporting a cast and sling on his left arm. He’d driven past his house and seen that the damage was severe.

Kelli Lacey bit her nails furiously on the other side of EJ. She even used her fist to shove her cheek deeper into her teeth so she could devour the inside of her mouth once she’d finished with her nails. Coop knew from hearing his parents talk that her dad had been pinned beneath a support beam in their house and would be in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future. Seeing the obvious anxiety she wore reminded him that his family wasn’t the only one that had been affected. Everyone was suffering in his or her own way.

He knew that his senior year gym class wouldn’t include a pickup game with Kyle or cracking jokes in the locker room, not because he was gone to college, but because he was actually gone. It was a tough pill to swallow, and judging by the looks on his classmates’ faces, they too were getting hit with a heavy dose of the reality that was their lives now.

“Guess I’ll see you after school,” Coop said when the bell rang. “Meet you out front?”

Ella Jane nodded and walked away, still not saying a word. He could tell by the way she’d chewed her lip all period that she wanted to say something. To scream. To cuss.

He’d take her telling him to piss off at that point. But she didn’t. He wasn’t going to push her. She’d talk when she was ready. And he’d listen.



“I don’t want to talk to you.”

They were the first words Coop had heard her say in two weeks, and even though they were the exact words she should be saying to Hayden Prescott, it stung a little that he was the one she’d chosen to speak to first.

Coop had just pushed through the double doors that led out into the parking lot when he saw her standing, arms crossed, next to Kyle’s—now her—truck. Prescott was pushing his luck today. He’d already warned him to stay away and now he found him in the parking lot, entirely too close to her and visibly upsetting her once again.

“Can we please go somewhere and talk? I want to be here for you.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” she said with an adamant shake of her head. “It’s done and over with. We’re done and over with.”

“Stop saying that.” Hayden’s voice was filled with desperation as he slapped his hand down on the hood of the truck, garnering the attention of every person in the parking lot and startling Ella Jane.

Her eyes were wide, and Coop knew exactly what the loud noise was doing to her. The poor girl had been in the middle of a tornado for Christ’s sake.

“I’m sorry,” Hayden apologized, recognizing his mistake and reaching out to her. “Please, baby,” he pleaded, running his hand down her arm.

Cooper’s stomach turned. He’d asked her that morning if she wanted to stay and talk to Prescott or if she wanted him to handle it. She’d answered by walking away.

“Don’t.” She turned from him quickly, but he kept his hands on her.

The shade of red Coop was seeing shifted to black. He’d heard enough. He knew all about desperation and begging for second chances, but this dipshit did not deserve one. All he’d done was hurt her.