Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (reading tree txt) 📕

here, Lex.” Jared speaks up, “We want to help. We want to protect you and make sure you come out the other end of this in one piece.”

More tears come then, and Jared moves from the couch to wrap me in his arms. I relax into his hold, trying to fight the tears off because I’m so sick of crying. The room is still quiet around me while I stand in Jared’s arms, trying to compose myself.

When I pull back, I can tell Ayden isn’t happy. It’s clear that he’s struggling to see me receive comfort from Jared, but he doesn’t share his annoyance with anyone this time. Smart man!

I look around the room at the guys, my family, knowing that Jared’s words spoke the truth. They do want to help me. They do want to protect me. I don’t deserve them.

“Since this seems to be a Q & A session, I have a question I’d like to ask you all, and I want the truth.” Although my words are demanding, my tone isn’t. I feel flat and sad again, and I’m just so sick of being kept in the dark.

“Absolutely. Anything.” Ayden answers for all of them, watching me as I take a couple of steps away from Jared.

“What is the agreement Marcus was talking about yesterday?”

I’m met with silence, and I glance at each of the boy’s as they look anywhere, but at me, so I focus my glare on Marcus and Ayden.

“It’s not fair to keep me in the dark, you know?” I add, hoping they will cave.

Ayden does.

“I asked Marcus to look out for you when I realised you had left my dad’s apartment. The prick lied to me and told me you were okay, though. Then on Monday, I received a video of you and Tasha fighting in the girl’s bathroom at school. I wasn’t meant to be looking at my phone while staying at the clinic, but I couldn’t help but keep reading over the message you sent on Saturday night whenever I got a free moment. That’s how I came across the video.”

“What message did you get?” Marcus asks, confused, his dark brows furrowing.

Ayden chuckles when I feel my cheeks heat before he looks at Marcus. “Nothing you need to worry about, man.”

Marcus frowns, but Ayden ignores it and continues. “When I saw that fucking video, I called Marcus and made him tell me the truth this time. So, that’s when I asked him to stick to you like glue and make sure no one else messed with you. I didn’t ask these other fuckers to join in, and I sure as shit didn’t ask anyone to fucking sleep with you!”

“Dude, we were already sticking to Lexi like glue before you even asked.” Shaun’s grey eyes are fierce as he glares at Ayden.

“You didn’t do a good fucking job at sticking then, did you? She managed to ditch you fuckers at school more than once.” Ayden retorts, but Shaun just rolls his eyes.

I guess that explains the whole agreement thing. At the end of the day, they all meant well. They just forgot that we live in the 21st century and that girls don’t need guys to do everything for them.

“Ayden?” My voice is soft, and he looks at me with hopeful eyes, “Did you really have to punch them?”

Ayden grins, “Yep.”

The boys snicker.

“Man, Ayden, your face looked crazy as fuck when you stormed into Mr Hall’s class. You’re lucky he didn’t see you swing that punch, or you would be stuck at home sharing a suspension with Lexi.” Simon laughs, and the boys join him. Ayden tries to hide his grin by turning away, but I see it.

“I bet that’s exactly what he was trying to do.” Marcus teases, triggering more laughter. Ayden doesn’t deny it.

Males are weird. How can they be punching on one minute and then joking around the next? It’s a pity girls can’t be more like that.

Marcus turns on the TV, and before I know it, Simon and Shaun are setting up some car racing game on the Play Station. That’s my cue to leave. I’m sure they’ve been eager for some boy time without having to worry about me, and now that I’m here under Andrea’s care, they can have their lives back.

“Come talk with me for a bit?” Ayden’s voice is close, and I jump a little, surprised to see him at my side. I give him a nod and follow him back out to the kitchen, joining him at the kitchen counter on one of the bar stools. He seems nervous, which is unusual for Ayden, but I wait. He doesn’t say anything.

“So, you gonna talk?” I push, biting the inside of my cheek to fight off a smirk.

“Well, now that I have you alone, I don’t really know what to say.” His blue eyes look up at me through dark lashes.

I move to stand, “I can do us both a favour and leave.” I’m in a bitch of a mood right now. Ayden is better off not having to endure it.

I don’t even make it off my seat before Ayden has me caged in, trapped on the barstool.

“Don’t do that, Lex. Don’t act like you hate me.”

“Maybe I do.” I lean back on the stool, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to get a little space.

“No, you don’t.” Ayden gives me a dimply grin.

“How do you know Ayden? We hardly know each other.”

“You know that’s not true. You didn’t sound like you hated me last night on the phone. I may not know all of your history Lex, but I know you. I know your heart. I know you think I betrayed you in Melbourne…” Ayden sucks in a breath looking down for a moment before returning his blue eyes to mine. “I was just trying to stop you from being dragged into that world. I know you said I did nothing wrong, but I disagree. I should have fought harder to keep