“Do you think he would go there?”
“Yes, I do. He went to Oregon where Cush—he’s the guy I lost my virginity to—moved. He visited his school and asked if they had any new students. Any new girls, specifically. He even went to Cush’s house and knocked on his door. Thankfully, Cush didn’t know anything. So, even though it was hard to just leave my friends without telling them what happened, I know it was in their best interests. And that’s part of why I didn’t want to tell you the truth. I didn’t want you to be in danger. After B won the tournament, a photo was delivered to him. One photoshopped to show him being shot, his brains blown out of the back of his head. It was awful. Vincent sent a similar one of Tommy to my mom.”
Aiden studies my face then runs his hand down the side of it. “You’re amazing, you know that? I knew who you were, and surmised that you were the one who was being stalked, but I didn’t imagine it to be this bad. How have you been handling it all?”
“My acting skills have come in handy. But those times in the chapel were when I couldn’t hide it. I couldn’t act. Not with you.”
“After that girl was killed, Riley said you told him that you were being stalked. Something about a guy in Miami.”
“That was Vincent, too. He showed up at the club because he heard Damian was doing a surprise performance. He made me dance with him. He’d gotten a tattoo just like mine, only on his wrist. When we were dancing, he rubbed his tattoo on mine. Said it was like our tattoos were making love. It was horrible. He was going to make me leave with him. Said he had a gun and would shoot Damian if I didn’t go quietly.”
“Were you going to go with him?”
“Probably. I was running my hands all over him, pretending like I was into dancing with him, but I was really frisking him. I had checked everywhere but his ankles when he rubbed the tattoo against me. I couldn’t pretend anymore. I’m sure it was my horrified look that made Riley knock him down. When I told Dallas that I was afraid he had a gun, he panicked because of his situation.”
“His situation?”
“Yeah. His dad is a senator and has received threats against his family. The story in his home state is that Dallas was arrested for drugs then sent to military school. Instead, he came to Eastbrooke. Apparently, Eastbrooke’s campus is very secure.”
“So, if you’re supposed to be in hiding, how are you going to be in the movie?”
“What did I tell you about the role?”
“That you got a really small part in a really big movie.”
“It’s the third Trinity movie, Retribution. I play Trinity’s daughter, who gets kidnapped.”
Aiden’s eyes get big.
“I know, right? It’s crazy if you think about it. I was going to have to leave Eastbrooke in March to shoot the action scenes. They got the cast to sign non-disclosure agreements so that word wouldn’t leak out about me being in the movie until it was officially announced. Although, lately, things have not been going according to plan.”
“Tell me about your plan. I want to help.”
“No. You can’t help.”
“I want to.”
“That’s part of why I didn’t want you to know, Aiden. I’m very serious about this. You have to promise me, that no matter what, you won’t get involved.”
“I can’t promise that.”
“Then I can’t see you anymore.” I turn away from him, my eyes quickly filling with tears. We made it through all of this. All the lies. But this is a deal breaker.
“Keatyn,” he says, trying to turn my face toward him.
I hold my chin firm, then get up. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”
He grabs ahold of my arms and looks deep into my eyes. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I told you everything.”
“No, you haven’t.”
“I may look fine on the surface, Aiden, but there’s only so much I can take.” I pull out of his arms and start shoving stuff into my bag.
And crying.
He grabs me again and pushes me against the wall.
He’s strong, but I know I can take him if I have to.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Aiden.”
He looks like he’s going to try to kiss me, but he pulls me into a tight hug instead. Just like he did that night outside my dorm.
Which makes me cry harder.
“You’ve got to tell me why you’re crying,” he whispers. “Stop trying to deal with it all yourself.”
“Let go of me.”
“Will you tell me?”
“Yes.”
He lets go of me, so I grab my phone, scroll to a photo, and hand it to him.
“This is why I’m leaving. I can’t take having one more person I care about threatened. Zoom in. Look closely at his head. He’s in danger because he said he loved me. I can’t be seen with you. I can’t be with you if you won’t promise me!”