Chapter 14

At first, I couldn’t find my voice. My breathing was still shaky, and tears had left imprints on my cheeks. I hid my face behind my hair. I took a deep breath to steady the shudders in my chest.

I looked up at Rowan, his concerned eyes meeting mine, and lied. “Y-yeah,” I stuttered, my eyes darting away from his because I couldn’t look him in the eye. I was so upset that I couldn’t breathe properly. I tried to say something else, but all my words came out in stupid, pathetic wheezes.

Rowan took his bag off of his shoulder and sat on the bench next to me. We sat there quietly for what felt like forever. I could feel his eyes on me, but they didn’t feel scrutinizing or cold. Then he finally spoke. “I don’t know if you need to hear this or not,” he started. “You don’t have to hide. I don’t think any less of you for it.”