Page 111 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“Stone! You have one fucking minute, and you’re driving yourself.”

“Fucking hell,” he says against my mouth. He shoots an angry gaze at our bedroom door.

I try to climb off him, but he doesn’t let me. His palms clamp to my hips, and he keeps me still.

“What are you doing?” I’m out of breath, so it comes out as a whisper.

“Waiting.”

“For what?” I try to get up again.

He’s going to be late.

I have never seen him look so sincere. His hardened gaze is nowhere to be found, and instead, his blue eyes are pleading.

“For you to stop hating me.”

I suck in my lip, and he finally lets me go this time. I stand on shaky legs and wrap the blanket around me and watch him hastily move around the room to get dressed. His bag is slung over his shoulder, and his tie is loose around his neck. My heart pounds harder with each second that goes by.

“I don’t hate you.” I glance away. “But I wish I did.”

My chest squeezes. I stomp my foot and clench my teeth. I pull the blanket tighter around my body.

His finger is soft when it lands on my cheek. My blurry eyes betray me, and a tear slips down, but Stone swipes it away before it has a chance to fall to the floor.

“I don’t hate you either,” he says, bouncing his gaze back and forth between mine.

“I’m still mad at you,” I say.

“I don’t care,” he replies.

“Stone! Let’s fucking go.”

He doesn’t even glance at the door.

“You hurt me.” I push at his chest. He can’t be late for the bus. His coach will murder him.

“I’m sorry.” He looks away.

“Go.” I nod toward the door.

“I can’t.”

My brows furrow.

His blue eyes snap to mine, like something just clicked into place. He grips my blanket and cups my cheek.

“I can’t go without telling you that I love you.”

My world stops.

My heart skips a beat.

I want to bang my fists on his chest and say,Howdareyouloveme!

Because I love him too, and all love does is make you vulnerable.

But sure enough, I reach up on my tiptoes and whisper against his mouth, “I love you too.”