A Heart to Heal by Synithia Williams Page B

weren’t just to fit in. She’d said Devin was the only person she could be herself around.
    Everyone assumed she and Devin would end up together; Shayla was the reason half his girlfriends in high school broke up with him. But he’d always hesitated to ask her out. Her father left when she was young and her mother only saw the worst in her. Her mom did nothing to combat the rumors that Shayla was just as easy as her dad. The rumors made every guy in high school try to get with her, and in turn she resented it. He didn’t want to be in the same boat. Even though he’d wanted more, he’d vowed to be her friend first.
    Until Homecoming. His latest girlfriend had broken up with him because he’d had a late night study session with Shayla, and she didn’t believe that the only thing going on was geometry. Shayla waited outside of the locker room after the game and admitted she wanted to be his girl. He said yes. She’d grinned from ear to ear and kissed him so hard he’d wanted to forget the Homecoming party and spend the night with her in the back seat of his dad’s car. From the way she’d snuggled into his side on the way to the party, and kissed his neck he’d thought she felt the same. He’d even suggested they skip, but she said they had to at least make an appearance.
    His grip tightened on the steering wheel when he thought about how badly the night went from there. Peaches had passed around drinks the minute they’d arrived. Tony was extra cocky, since he’d scored the winning touchdown. Devin would never forget the sneer Tony gave when he and Shayla announced they were a couple. From that moment Tony had spent the rest of the night keeping her from Devin’s side: dancing, playing cards, and wrapping his arm around her shoulder whenever he pulled her away. She’d rolled her eyes, but every time she tried to leave Tony’s side, somebody always pulled them back together.
    Memories he’d pushed away for years came rushing back in a blur: Shayla stumbling when she walked, him insisting that they leave, Peaches begging him to fix her flat tire before he left. Shayla had argued with him when he told her to lie down upstairs and wait on him, and said he was embarrassing her. Once the tire was changed and he’d brushed off Peaches attempt to kiss him, he’d gone upstairs to the last thing he ever expected to see. Tony and Shayla having sex.
    His heart broke in that instant. When she tried to explain the next day he’d refused to listen. What was there to explain? They barely spoke after that. He’d been too embarrassed to admit how badly she’d hurt him. Half the football team saw him kissing Shayla after the game and Tony told the other half he’d slept with Shayla later that night. Instead of showing that he cared, he went along with everyone else who treated Shayla like a slut. He’d watched her spiral down a path of self destruction: drinking, partying and smoking weed with Tony for the rest of the school year. But he’d never stopped and asked her why.
    He was so deep in thought he hadn’t realized he drove home instead of to her house until he pulled up in the driveway. He sighed and hung his head before turning to Shayla. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she curled up against the door, fast asleep. Too tired to drive across town to her house, he got out and carried her in.
    She woke up enough to wrap her arms around his shoulders. He took her upstairs to his guest bedroom. Shayla sighed and rubbed her nose against his neck. Despite the bitter aftertaste of high school memories, arousal heated his blood.
    â€œDevin,” she said.
    â€œWhat?”
    She gripped his neck tighter. “My Devin. I thought it was you.”
    He walked over and placed her on the bed. Her eyes cracked open and tears slipped down the side of her face. He sat beside her and wiped them away.
    â€œWhy are you crying?”
    She