Page 45 of With This Mask
For once, I allow myself to be swept away in the storm that is Alec Vanderholt.
I hear my name being said. I hear calls for explanation. Jess and Josh are going to be hurt that I didn’t tell them, that only Isabella knew this secret.
But it’s impossible to think when Alec’s lips are taking mine.
As we finally break apart, Alec's eyes shine with mischief, fully aware of the chaos he's just unleashed. "What are you doing?" I breathe, my cheeks flushed, trying to ignore the disapproving stares and whispered judgments. "This is going to make our lives so much harder."
"Fuck them, Salem,” he whispers, his thumb tracing circles on my cheek. "I'm tired of hiding. I’m done fighting the urge to kiss you whenever I want. I want the whole world to know how I feel about you." His words are a mix of rebellion and vulnerability, and they send a thrill through me.
"Really?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. The weight of his confession is both exhilarating and terrifying.
"Really," he confirms, that roguish smile playing at the corner of his lips.
The talking has started back up in the courtyard. I hear both of our names being called out, trying to get a personal explanation.
But this really is enough for one day. “Get me out of here?” I say with an excited, shaky voice.
Alec slips his hand into mine. His fingers grip around mine tightly. And he strides forward. He doesn’t look around for approval. He doesn’t search his friends faces for shocked displays of disbelief.
His head has never been held higher.
Lifting my free hand, I flip Victoria off as we make our exit. My heart races, a mix of adrenaline and fear coursing through me, but I refuse to let her win.
“Twelve days,” I muse as I shake my head. “Twelve damn days we managed to keep our relationship a secret.”
"Shall we make a bet?" Alec asks when we’ve cleared the courtyard. He looks down, his eyes locked on mine, his own full of mischief. "How long do you think it'll be before my father calls to threaten to disown me?"
"Ten minutes," I say, my voice laced with equal parts amusement and dread. It's only a matter of time before the news reaches him, and I know there will be consequences for both of us.
"Eh, he’s a very busy man. I’ll give it an hour," Alec chuckles. He slows then, pulling my hand to bring me to a stop now that we’ve reached a quiet sidewalk. We stand face to face, and gently, he brings his hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. "Either way, I'll deal with him. This," he gestures between us, "is worth it."
"How can I be worth the Vanderholt fortune?" I joke, but truly, I’m asking. Because his statement, the one about his father disowning him, scares me. To ostracize someone from their own family like that? I could never be the cause of that kind of division. And as much as Alec hates it, he is a legacy. The family’s name with the company isn’t anything to be discarded. “Alec, are you sure I’m worth it?” A part of me still fears that our exposure will jeopardize everything we've worked so hard for - our education, our careers, our future.
"More than you know," he replies, his eyes softening as he looks at me. "You're worth every ounce of trouble, Salem Winters."
In that moment, standing beside Alec, with the world watching and waiting for us to falter, I allow myself to believe him. Together, we'll face whatever comes next, refusing to let fear dictate our lives.
chapter fifteen
The bell rings, and the knot in my stomach tightens. Josh and Jess have been bombarding me with texts, demanding explanation. I’ve given the briefest version I can, but without a face to face, it’s hard to give them the information they need. And I’m definitely not sharing everything.
They’re understandably hurt. And pissed.
I've spent the entire day dodging cruel comments and inappropriate questions about Alec and me from random students. Every corner I turn, there's someone with a snide remark or invasive query.
"Hey, Winters, is it true you two fucked in the library?" one guy asks, smirking like he just won the damn gossip lottery.
"How is it, being his newest sugar baby, Salem?" another girl sneers as she flips her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder.
I clench my fists, biting back retorts that would only fuel the fire. It's not worth it. Just keep your head down and get through the day, I tell myself. But it's hard to ignore the weight of their gazes and the sting of their words.
Finally, my last class ends, and I snag my bag immediately, ready to bolt home. As I speed-walk down the hall, my eyes locked on the exit, I almost miss him. Alec leans casually against the wall outside by the exit door, looking every bit the rich, untouchable prince that he is. But the moment his eyes meet mine, something shifts.
"Hey," he says softly, his voice so different from the biting remarks I've been dealing with all day.
"Hey," I reply, feeling my muscles relax just a little.
He grins, and something inside me melts. He pushes away from the wall and strides toward me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a searing kiss. Is it appropriate for school? I kind of don’t give a fuck in this moment.