Saint

28

Saint and I spend the majority of fall break together at his family’s home having sex, getting drunk on his parents’ expensive booze, and talking. As great as the sex and booze parts are, it’s the talking part that I end up enjoying the most. We actually get to know each other in those few days together in a way I wouldn’t have dreamed possible. I’m careful about what I reveal, steering clear of the accident and James, but since he knows about my mom, I’m able to tell him more about my childhood. It’s such a relief to be able to open up to someone, at least partially, after going so long guarding my past with every ounce of strength I possess.

I almost regret having to return to school because that meant popping the little bubble Saint and I had built up around each other. I briefly worry that once we’re back on campus with the other students, he’ll somehow revert back to his old, horrible self. To my relief, he doesn’t do that, though there is some distance that grows between us. That’s more of a result of our conflicting schedules than anything, especially as I train for my first swim meet and begin preparing for finals before winter break.

He still comes to my room every night, or I go to his. I’ve noticed he’s grown somewhat quiet and seems distracted, but I don’t pry. If he wants me to know what’s wrong, he’ll tell me. I don’t want to do anything to upend the balance we’ve found with each other.

It’s feeling more and more like we’re in a relationship, and I’m not sure exactly how I feel about that. We’re spending nearly every night together, and he’s been eating multiple meals with me each day. It’s confusing, to say the least, and I need a little headspace just to sort out what I’m feeling and thinking.

When Loni invites me to a charity fight her dad’s participating in in Pomona, I eagerly accept, thinking an evening away from Saint would be good for clearing my head. Plus, no way in hell would I pass up the chance to watch an MMA fight in person.

Loni’s dad sends a car to the school to take us to the fight, and when we arrive, we have front row seats.

“Holy shit, Loni,” I murmur, gazing around and taking in the bright lights of the venue, which is packed full of spectators eager for the fights to begin. “This is fucking incredible.”

She grins. “Right? I always thought I’d get used to the craziness someday, but I never have. These events are madhouses, and they’re so fun.”

We settle in our seats, talking excitedly, letting ourselves be overwhelmed by the chaos around us.

All of a sudden, Loni looks over my shoulder and her eyes bug.

“Holy fuck,” she murmurs.

I frown. “What is it?”

I turn around to look before she answers me, and I freeze. Liam and Gabe are walking toward us, and their own gazes go wide when they spot me. I’m surprised to see Liam in a black t-shirt, his tattoos on full display, but of course we’re not on school grounds so he has no reason to hide them.

They come to a stop next to us, and it’s only then that I notice the two empty chairs next to me.

Oh, shit.

“Hey guys,” I say in a voice that is embarrassingly squeaky. “What’re you doing here?”

“Are you kidding? We wouldn’t miss this,” Gabe answers with a wide grin. “Fucking love MMA.”

“Yeah, big fans.” Liam nods, and I’m surprised by the lack of venom in his tone. We haven’t spoken since before fall break, so I was expecting icy silence at worst and sharp barbed speech at best. Right now, he sounds almost civil.

To my further shock, he settles into the seat directly next to mine. I glance back at Loni, but her attention has been snagged by an older man, I’m sure a friend or acquaintance of her dad. The unfortunate reality, though, is that I have no one to speak to in order to avoid talking to Liam. With a resigned sigh, I turn back to him, knowing I can’t simply ignore his presence. He’s looking at me with a half-smile, as if he knew I’d have no choice but to talk to him.

“Hey,” I say, feeling lame and unprepared for this confrontation.

“Hey,” he replies smoothly.

“How’ve you been?”

He shrugs. “I suppose fine. How’re you? Still getting a regular dicking from Saint?”

“Jesus Christ, Liam,” I growl. I’m not going to put up with his bullshit if this is what he’s going to talk to me about all night. I move to push to my feet, but he lays a hand on my arm to keep me seated.

“Hold on, I’m joking,” he blurts out, dipping his head slightly. “Sorry. I promise, I won’t be a dick. Just, don’t go.”

I settle back in my seat and glare at him. “Fine, but if you say one more thing like that to me, I’ll get Loni’s dad to kick your ass. Got it?”

“Got it.” Lips quirking, he nods. “Look, Mallory, I owe you an apology for more than that comment. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did to you and Saint hooking up. It’s your life, and you can do whatever you want with it.”

I’m suspicious of his apology, but I murmur, “I … appreciate that.”

He nods and opens his mouth to say more, but at that moment, the crowd erupts into a roar and I can’t hear a word. I shake my head to let him know I didn’t catch anything he just said. He leans in close, so his lips are right at my ear.

“I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting into with him. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

He leans back and meets my gaze, and I can see that he really means what he’s saying. I can’t help the small smile that curls my lips, or the wave of relief that rushes through me. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to hear me over the noise of the crowd, I simply nod.

I won’t tell him, though, that I’m not certain I do know what I’m getting into with Saint, and that I’m begi

The next morning, I walk into the dining hall for breakfast, and can instantly tell that something is different. And by different, I mean very, very wrong.

As soon as I walk in the door, the glares and whispers start up. Before Saint and I were a thing, this would’ve been nothing out of the ordinary. However, after weeks of being treated with near reverence, it’s a little startling to be thrust back out into the cold with no warning.

I move through the dining hall, and the whispers grow in volume, and the glares more vicious. My brows sink together as I try to figure out what may have happened to cause the other students to turn on me again.

Loni suddenly appears in my path and hurries up to me, her eyes wide and expression tight.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, Mallory!” she gasps, reaching me.

“What’s going on?” I ask, startled.

Before Loni can get a word out, however, a vicious voice snaps from behind me.

“Hey, slut. Have any good gangbangs lately?”

Releasing a deep breath through my nostrils, I clench my fists and slowly turn to face Laurel.

“What is it now, Bipolar Betty?” I snap. She’s clearly done being anything close to decent to me.

She’s smirking and looking so superior, I swear I can see her head swelling.

“Just couldn’t keep it in your pants, could you? Saint wasn’t enough for you?”

I’m totally lost, but I tilt my chin and give her a hard look. “What are you talking about?”

Laurel digs her phone out of her pocket and pulls something up on the screen. Turning it toward me, she jostles it in my face, showing me a photo. It’s from the night before. It’s of me and Liam.