Glass Heart Hero: A Dark High School Romance by Lindsey Iler (free ebook reader for iphone .TXT) 📕

second of this mess. “See you tomorrow, Laney, and think about calling your dad. He means well.”

Tripp is gone in a flash. A phone in his hand, full of his secrets, and me left behind like the doting girlfriend. The problem with that is I’m not his anything.

I put on my jacket, waiting a few minutes to make sure Tripp isn’t lingering around the dorms. When I’m sure he’s gone, I open the door enough to make sure the coast is clear, then tiptoe into the hallway.

As I lock the door, footsteps startle me, and I spin, screeching loud enough to wake up the entire floor.

“Fuck, Delaney. Chill out.” Reagan giggles. “Are you okay?”

It must be me clutching at my chest that gives away my unstable state of mind.

“Yeah, you scared the fuck out of me.” I exhale a lungful of air to help regulate my steadily increasing heartbeat.

“Yeah, clearly.” She swats at my arm. “What has you so damn jumpy?”

“I don’t know how to say this, but I think Tripp’s up to something.” Uttering those words brings a chill to my bones. So much so, I wrap my arms around myself as if that will shield me.

Reagan’s door opens, and Dixon is there, shirtless. I glance at Reagan, wiggling my eyebrows. Clearly, these two are doing much better than before. Dixon makes a show of holding the top of the doorway, stretching every muscle in his abdomen.

“It’s about damn time you realize what a piece of shit he is.” Dixon lets his arms fall, making a show of moving out of the way for me to come inside. “And yes, I was eavesdropping. Now, let’s see how I can help you figure out his game.”

Reagan huffs, rolling her eyes, while smiling as she passes him. “It’s like he lives for digging in other people’s business.”

“No, I prefer to dig around yours, sweetheart.” He winks at her.

“You know, if I’d known this was buried under your clothes, I may have chosen a different Glass House Boy.” I grin, knowing damn well he knows what I’m saying isn’t true.

“Quit flirting with my boy . . .” Reagan’s voice trails off at her slip up.

“Did you hear her?” I giggle, eating up the awkward tension lacing around Dixon and Reagan.

“Can’t be your boyfriend, Reagan, if you won’t even let me see the best parts of you,” Dixon says, closing and locking the door once we are inside.

“Is the best part of her under her skirt?” I flop onto her bed, observing the clothes strewn about the small room. Most of them belong to Dixon.

“Is that the only thing you guys ever think about?” Reagan looks between Dixon and me. “Is it sex all day long?”

“Well . . .” Dixon shrugs, dropping a kiss on the crown of her head. I’ve never seen him be so gentle. It’s strange and yet, completely reassuring. “And the best part isn’t in your skirt. It’s in here.” He taps her forehead, smiling like a boy who’s hit his first homerun in Little League.

Dixon walks around the corner, disappearing from sight. Once the bathroom door shuts, I grin at Reagan.

“Wipe the scheming smirk off your face,” she says.

“What? You trying to say that shit wasn’t the cutest thing anyone has ever said to you?” I tap my feet, trying to grab her attention as she gazes at the wall separating Dixon from us.

“There’s nothing cute about that boy. He’s made up of shards of glass and a lifetime of future horrible decisions. The boy is damaged.”

“Look around.” I sit up and spin around, making a show of proving my point. “We’re all damaged. Don’t go looking for a hero in a place that’s full of monsters.”

“She already knows she won’t find a hero in me,” Dixon says, rounding the corner. “The hero shit is Breaker’s domain. Now that we’ve cleared up that confusion, why don’t you tell me what you need from me?”

“I need to know everything you can find out about my father and the DuPonts,” I confess. “Whatever their business is with each other, I need every last bit of information.”

“I may find things you don’t want to know.” It’s a warning, but I see the brightened hue in his eyes. I’ve asked him to open Christmas presents early.

“I’m a big girl, Dixon.” I challenge. “If he’s hiding something, I need to know.”

“Before I do this, what’s going on with you and my boy?” He smirks.

“Your boy is a thorn in my side.” Memories of him reading my journal come to mind. Breaker Davenport is awfully talented in getting what he wants.

“True, but everyone likes to get poked once in a while.” Dixon heads for the door.

“Hey, where’re you going?” Reagan asks, urgency in her voice.

I grin the entire time watching Dixon gazing at her. He has her in his trap, and she has no idea her leg is stuck. A thrilled smile etches onto his face.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” He winks at her. “And you”—his head swings towards me—“whatever I find, it will change everything. It always does. Be ready for that.”

I nod in understanding, and he’s gone, off to expose the cracks in my not-so-perfect life.

Chapter Eleven

Breaker

My comforter must be made of lead, heavy and restricting, keeping me locked in this bed like a vise around my body. Dread creeps in as I realize what today is. Gauntlet day.

Before that happens, I have some past due business to tend to.

I throw off my covers, force myself out of bed, and into the shower. The hot water cascades over my body, and I allow it to go cold until I can no longer handle it. Through washing my hair and body, my mind races with ideas of what today could hold.

Avoidance is my favorite coping mechanism. Most would agree it’s the safest way to keep demons at bay. My demons like to come out and play, far too often, and they don’t hold any punches. My demons bite.

I wrap a towel around my