Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32347 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“He fucking hurt you,” he said through clenched teeth.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, not knowing how this would go down.
“Break it up,” a teacher yelled, but the fight was already over with. The teacher pushed through the crowd of students still watching, their mouths slack. Devon was rising, but he looked drunk, like the hit had really fucked him up.
“I love you, Lyric,” was all Landon said before he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. For several seconds they stood there, kissing, not caring that anyone was watching.
She heard some gasps, a couple hushed murmurs, but it didn’t matter. This was about them and no one else.
Landon broke away, his face still hard, concentration making up his expression.
One teacher grabbed Devon’s arm, another pulled Landon away from her, but she reached out, grabbing his hand, holding onto him tight.
“If he goes I go.”
The teacher didn’t say anything as they were led away from everyone, ready to face whatever was their future.
Chapter
Seventeen
Lyric sat at the table with her father and stepmother across from her, and with Landon sitting beside her. Although she should care that she’d gotten in trouble right along with Landon, she couldn’t deny that she felt pretty damn good for bitch slapping Devon, and having him put in his place.
Her suspension had been well worth it.
She glanced at Landon, glad he’d only gotten a suspension, as well, and not thrown in jail. But Devon hadn’t pressed charges, and after she told the teachers what had happened, and another student, who had overheard what Devon had said, how he’d threatened her, they’d gotten a “slap on the wrist” so to speak.
They could have easily been expelled, gotten the police involved, and could have lost their graduation. Although she was thankful things hadn’t gone down that way, she couldn’t help the small sliver of pleasure she got at the fact Devon had gotten what he deserved.
“I…” Lyric’s father said, and looked over at Landon.
They knew about the fight, obviously, but they’d also been told about the kiss, and she didn’t know if they were more shocked about the violence or the fact they were … whatever they were.
“You two…” Landon’s mother said, not finishing the sentence.
Landon exhaled and leaned back in the chair, and Lyric glanced at him, wondering if she should say something, or wait and see what he’d say.
“Explain it to us,” Landon’s mom said. She didn’t sound upset, and Lyric’s father didn’t look angry. They looked confused, and maybe a little worried.
“Explain the fight, or—”
“Everything. Explain everything to us,” Lyric’s father said.
Landon glanced at her, but she didn’t know where to start. She was embarrassed to admit what had happened at the party, ashamed even, but before she was forced to tell that story Landon reached out and took her hand in his and started speaking.
For the next five minutes he told their parents about the party, about Devon assaulting her, what he would have done. He told them about why they’d gotten into the fight at school, and she could see the anger rising in his expression when he looked at the side of her face that sported a nasty bruise.
Her father looked upset, as well, and her stepmother looked horrified.
Landon finished explaining about the fight, and when he got to the part where he’d kissed her in front of everyone, he stopped. Maybe he didn’t know how to explain it either.
Lyric looked at her dad, who already had his focus on her.
“That all true, honey?”
She nodded. “I can’t explain how this happened between Landon and me, but it did.” She wasn’t about to tell them about how they’d had sex after the party, and that’s when she started really falling hard for him.
She’d wanted him before, when they’d talked at the creek and she’d really seen him, but that was personal, and not something her father needed to know.
“You two just happened?” her stepmother asked.
Landon gave Lyric’s hand a squeeze, maybe for support, or maybe this was all out of his comfort zone, as it was for her, too.
“Yeah.” Lyric was the one that answered. She focused on Landon now. “And I don’t regret it. I love him.”
She saw a moment of realization in Landon’s face, a happiness that she rarely saw. He cared for her, she knew that, but he also hid his emotions well.
“You saved my girl, Landon,” her father said.
“She’s my girl,” Landon responded. “I’d do it all over again, too. I won’t let anyone hurt Lyric.”
A moment of silence passed between them.
“And you love my daughter?”
Landon looked at Lyric for a second before looking at Brent again. “I do. I love her a lot.”
Her heart was beating so fast and hard she wondered if anyone else heard it. Looking at her stepmother, she saw that she had her hands by her mouth, her eyes looking watery.