Page 100 of Heart of Thorns

I back away and move closer to the door.

Just in case.

Lydia glances at me over her shoulder, and I mouth that I’m okay. The truth is—I’m not.

I’m even more frustrated when I find zero messages on my phone.

My attention bounces over every football player, lingering on a few familiar faces who I’ve seen talking to Thorne a time or two.

None of them seem to notice me.

It’s fine, Briar.

I yelp when an arm wraps around my waist.

“It’s me.”

My lungs fill with air. I tilt my head back against his chest and slow my breathing. Thorne’s warm eyes are like a safety net.

“You didn’t text me back,” I note.

His brows crowd. “That’s because as soon as I saw your text, Rhys and I rushed over.”

“Worried about me?” I tease, but also,is he?

“After you cut me with a knife, I’m not sure I need to be.” His chuckle rumbles over my back. “But yeah, kitten. I am.”

It shouldn’t make me happy to hear him say that, butGod,it does.

“You’ve been quiet,” I state, moving my attention back to the cage in the center of the warehouse.

“I know,” he whispers in my ear. “I’m sorry.”

I shrug, playing it off. “Don’t be. I just figured your parents finally forbade you to see me.”

He grunts. “I wouldn’t listen.” I flinch when the lacrosse player lands a hard hit to the other guy.Jeez.“They did try to set me up on another date, though.”

“Oh, did they?”

Thorne takes a beer from Rhys, who comes to stand near us. He seems more serious than usual, like he’s about to jump in the ring next.

“Yeah, I told them that I’d make sure to run it past my girlfriend and get back to them.”

I snort. “I’m sure they loved that.”

“I’m not sure I care.”

Rhys leans over to Thorne and says something in a low voice. It’s too echoey in the warehouse for me to hear what he said, but Thorne’s arm around my waist tightens, like he’s afraid I’m going to slip away at any second.

Maybe I should.

Just to see if he’ll chase me.

Wait, stop it.

I’m losing focus on the real goal here—finding out who the hell tried to burn me alive.

Rhys leans away, and I peek back at both guys. Their jaws are tight, and they’re staring out into the crowd. Neither of them are watching the fight.