Val’s P.O.V

I froze, half-chewed taco suddenly like cement in my mouth. He said I should go to them for forgiveness but brought them to me. It felt more like a coincidence than a setup. My friends subtly closed ranks around me. Brielle straightened up, and the taco bag was held like a potential shield. Talia slipped her notebook into her backpack, her expression carefully neutral. Juliette stopped fidgeting, standing a little taller, radiating a low-level protective vibe.

We all seemed ...