<b>Chapter </b><b>61 </b>


    <b>Chapter </b><b>61 </b>


    JESSICA


    I broke up with Grayson Westwood.


    It sounds like a lie when I say it out loud. I stare at my phone one more time and realized how fucked up it is that I was the one who broke <b>up </b>with him but here I am waiting for his messages.


    “You did the right thing,” I whisper to myself, shoving my phone into my pocket. But did I? I’m supposed to enjoy thest few weeks before the full moon<b>. </b>


    A blue sedan pulls up. Logan. He’s early for once, which is just my luck because I haven’t had time to pull myself together. When he told mest night he’ll pick me up, I quickly agreed.


    It’s been a long time since Ist saw him. Really long time.


    “Hey stranger,” he calls out, his smile fading when he sees my face. “Shit, what happened?”


    1 slide into the passenger seat, careful because my skirt is really small. “What do you think?”


    “You look different,” Logan says, eyeing my newly dyed blonde hair. The curls barely reach my shoulders now, a radical change from the long, straight locks Grayson used to run his fingers through. “Like, really different.”


    I tug at my too–short skirt, feeling exposed yet somehow safer in this new skin. “Needed a change.” My voice cracks. Fuck. Don’t cry. Don’t you dare <b>cry</b>.


    Logan starts driving, stealing nces at me. “So… Westwood, huh?”


    “Don’t wanna talk about it.” But I do. Goddess, I do. My chest feels like it’s caving in, like someone scooped out everything inside and left this hollow, aching space. Instead, I focus on something else. Somewhere. Anything that don’t make my heart aches.


    “Your eyes are all puffy.”


    “Thanks, asshole.” I try tough but ites out strangled. Logan made it to the warrior list. He’s been training all along. I was shock but proud when he told me about it. And now I am shock seeing how he’s kinda change.


    Well, he looks stronger. Muscr even.


    Logan turns down the music. “When did you even get time to transform yourself? It’s been what, two days since you dumped him?”


    “Twenty–seven hours.” The words slip out before I can stop them. I’ve been counting every miserable minute. My phone burns in my pocket<b>, </b>silent. No


    calls. No texts. Why would there be? I made it clear. Crystal fucking clear.


    “The makeup’s a bit much,” Logan says softly.


    I touch my face, the heavy foundation, the dramatic eyeliner. Armor. “Yeah, well.” I stare out the window, buildings blurring through unexpected tears. “Turns out breaking someone’s heart breaks yours too.”


    “And this someone else wears… that?” He gestures at my outfit–mini skirt, fis stockings,bat boots.


    “Eyes on the road, judgey.” I cross my arms over my chest. My reflection in the side mirror shows a stranger. Good. Maybe if I look different enough<b>, </b>I’ll feel different too..


    “Jess…” Logan’s voice trails off, and I can feel his eyes on me even as he drives.


    “What?” I snap, harsher than intended. “Don’t start with the pity party.”


    “I wasn’t going to-”


    <b>“</b>Sure you weren’t,<b>” </b>I roll my <b>eyes</b>, blinking back tears that keep threatening to spill, Stupid, stupid tears. <b>Twenty </b><b>seven </b><b>hours</b>, fourteen amates that a how long it’s been since I looked into Grayson’s eyes and told him we were done.


    Logan!


    <b>n </b>sighs<b>, </b>his knuckles white on the steering wheel. “You know you can talk to me, right? Like, actually talk. Not this bullshit deflection thing you’re doing.”


    “Me? Deflect? Never.” I force augh that sounds like broken ss. “Hey, speaking of bullshit, how’s being a warrior little guy<i>?</i><i>” </i>


    Logan jerk away andugh when I touch his shoulders. It’s funny how he tells me I look different when it’s him who looks amazing


    Some bitterness crawls in my throat knowing I can still do it too but instead, I’m forever stuck in my role as a caretake. No, not forever Probably <b>not </b>forever.


    “It’s… intense,” Logan admits, his eyes flickering to mine before returning to the road. “Honestly? Half the time I think I’m gonna die. The other <b>half </b><b>I’m </b>already dead and just haven’t noticed yet.”


    I snort. “Sounds thrilling.”


    “You should’ve been there.” His voice goes quiet. “You were always better than me, Jess.”


    Yeah but look where that got me?


    “Yeah, well.” I pick at my fis stockings, creating a tiny hole. “Some of us don’t get choices.“”


    Logan’s hand finds mine, warm and calloused now. When did that happen? He squeezes once, and the pressure makes my eyes sting. I think he’s going to say something meaningful, something that might actually crack me open, when suddenly his face changes.


    “Shit,” he whispers, eyes wide.


    I follow his gaze, and my stomach drops through the floor of the car. There’s Grayson–fucking Grayson–with his hands holding Aria inside the school parking lot.


    My heart stops. Literally stops. Then restarts with a painful jolt that leaves me breathless. His fingers on her arm.


    “Jess-” Logan’s voicees from somewhere far away.


    Heat crawls up my neck, behind my eyes. Pressure builds in my chest until I can’t breathe right. I’m drowning sitting perfectly still.


    “Don’t,” Logan says, his hand shooting out to grab my wrist as I reach for the door handle. “Just… don’t.”


    I can’t tear my eyes away. Grayson leans down to whisper something in her ear and sheughs. She fuckingughs.


    Goddess, how pathetic am I? I know I should stick with my decision but really? This fast? That’s all it took to make a liar out of him. Out of both of us.


    Aria’s gaze drifts over, catching mine through the windshield. Her eyes widen for just a beat, recognition flickering like a match being struck.


    She smiles at me, this little quirk of her lips that says everything words can’t. Holding my gaze, she reaches for Grayson’s face, turns it toward hers, and kisses him. Slow. Deep. Putting on a show with me as the only audience member.


    Something raw and primal rips through me. But I never know pain until I saw with my own two eyes how Grayson’s hands move to <b>Aria’s </b>waist<b>, </b><b>spinning </b>her around, backing her against the car. His body presses into hers, possessive, hungry. Like he’s trying to crawl inside her skin.


    My vision blurs, hot tears threatening to spill. I blink them back furiously because I refuse–absolutely refuse–to let them see me cry.


    “You know what?” I say, voice shaking but determined. “Good. Let him have her.”


    Logan nces at me, disbelief written across his features. “Jess-


    This is what I want. This is what I need. But fuck it, this is not how it should feel. I already know I love Grayson Westwood. I just didn’t know <b>i </b>love him <b>this </b>


    <b>Chapter </b>61


    <b>much</b>.


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