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He slams the door and turns on the heels of his combat boots, heading back toward the science department.

“Jordan!” I blurt his name before I can stop myself.

Instead of turning toward me, he flinches and starts back toward his car.

“Wait!”

The closer to the Jeep he gets, the more frantic I become.

“Please!”

He finally stops, his shoulders deflating with each sharp exhale. “What is it, Kennedy?”

“How are you?” The words tumble past my lips, and I regret them immediately.

He spins to face me, his mouth dropping open as the spike in his eyebrow jumps. “How do you think?”

“I . . .” Words fail me again. “I haven’t seen you since—”

“Since you ripped out my heart?” He hikes his backpack over his shoulder and crosses his arms like a shield between us. “I wonder why.”

I’ve changed my mind. His anger isn’t better than nothing. I miss his smile.

“Jordan—”

“Are you still going through with it?” He glares at me as the aloof mask settles over his features.

I ignore his question for one of my own. “Why didn’t you tell me? About your parents?”

The mask slips just enough to reveal the pain beneath. “So you could use that against me, too?”

“I wouldn’t do that! I love—”

“You love me? Is that what you were about to say?” His lips tilt into a bitter smile.

I nod.

The muscle in his jaw flexes. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”

“You lied to me!”

He exhales roughly. “I get that I hurt you. And I’m deeply sorry for that. But I didn’t know you then. When I read what Nicole wrote, I lashed out in anger. And yes, I should’ve told you it was me long before I ever kissed you. I’ll regret that mistake as long as I live. But what you did is worse.”

A weak protest lodges itself in my throat.

“I spent two years running from my past, two years walling myself off from anyone who could hurt me . . . then I let you in.” A dark chuckle rumbles up his throat. “And you traded me in for a little fame and fortune.”

“That’s not what I’m—”

“Are you still going through with it?” he asks again, stepping toward me and raising his hand as if reaching for my curls.

Without thinking, I nod, repeating the word scholarship on autopilot. Even I don’t believe me anymore.

His arm falls to his side, and he steps back as the last shred of light in his eyes dims and then goes out completely.

“Kennedy!” Elijah calls my name from across the parking lot where he and Grant wave like a pair of car lot inflatables.

Jordan glances toward them. “You’d better go. Wouldn’t want to keep your boyfriends waiting.”