Page 31 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“Why?” he asks her.

She turns on the spot, her fists planted on her hips. “Because I just found my new room.”

I gape at her, and all she does is smile.

“Now, I think this satisfies your requirements, Stone?”

CHAPTER13

WREN

I have livedin worse places. I have slept in smaller spaces too. The room is hardly bigger than a Harry Potter closet, but it works. I made a makeshift bed on the floor with the promise of Evan getting me a twin mattress, which I refused. I have my textbooks stacked beside my pillow and a small lamp placed on top, giving my new room a romantic ambiance. My clothes are folded nicely at the bottom of my “bed,” and although there isn’t much space to do homework, I can always use the kitchen table or go to the library like I have done in the past.

Truthfully, anything is better than sleeping in Stone’s room.

This tiny room could have spiders hanging in the corners, and I’d consider them a friend over considering Stone one.

I lie and stare out the window at the moon and feel the uptick in my blood pressure. The way Stone ripped me away from Archer was completely uncalled for. I was shocked at first and then completely overtaken by a disarray of emotions.

It felt nice, for half a second, to have someone defend me.

Then came the blinding anger and betrayal. The entire reason I was shaken up was because of Stone posting that stupid picture of me.

Now, I have to watch my back even more than before.

I squeeze my eyes shut tightly and breathe out through my nose. I hate that I let my guard down.

Not with Stone. I’m not sure I would ever trust him, even if he did attempt to come to my rescue with Archer’s arms around me. I meant with myself and my father.

One month ago, I thought I was free.Content. Relaxed.

Now I’m stuck in a house with hockey players, careful of my every move, struggling to keep up with my demanding school schedule and cursing my sore feet from my extra shifts at Shadow’s.

I turn to my side after switching my phone to silent and curl up on the wood floor blanketed by a warm quilt. I ignore the stiffness of my hip and attempt to block out my father’s cold voice.

Do you want my death on your hands, Wren?

Do you want my death on your hands, Wren?

Do you want my death on your hands, Wren?

Do you want my death on your hands, Wren?

I sit up quickly and bring my knees to my chin, wrapping my arms tightly around my shins. My forehead is tacky, and my pulse is thundering behind my skin. I fling the blankets off my legs, hopeful that no one is awake in the house.

As tempting as it is to piss Stone off, the last thing my anxiety needs right now is another sparring with him—or better yet, another potential fight at his surprising need to be protective over me.

Like he has any right to do so.Dick.

The door creaks loud enough to wake each guy upstairs, but I pad on my tiptoes to the darkened kitchen and pray they all mind their own business. Especially Stone. The glow of the fridge illuminates the room, and I think back to when I used to live at Evan’s house and his mom would already be in the kitchen with milk and cookies the night after I was thrust back into their care.

She never poked or made me talk.

She was just there.

The front door opens, and I quickly slam the fridge shut and peek down the hall. My erratic heartbeat is even faster than before, and I swallow my fear before I realize that it’s just Evan prowling down the hall in his school jacket and sweats.

“Looking for these?”