Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 688(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 459(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 688(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 459(@300wpm)
“What …?” I trail off confused by his words.
“She has changed you. You may not see it, but we all have. You only hit someone when she is the reason. When you’re protecting her. When someone threatens to take her from you. And that is exactly why Kellan is doing this to you.”
“Deke,” Becky calls out from down the hall with Austin, hearing the commotion. Austin spins around, her hair slapping her in the face, and her eyes land on mine. They start heading for us.
I fist my hand, and my shoulder throbs. I look at Deke. “You’re wrong.”
He shakes his head with a chuckle. “Go ahead. Fuck Kaitlin and see what happens. Austin will hate you, and you’ll hate yourself more than you already do.” I flinch at his words. “Because this is something you can’t control, Cole. She will be your living nightmare. Not one you only see when you close your eyes. But every minute of every day.”
“Are you okay, babe?” Becky asks him, coming up to us.
“I’m fine.”
She spins around to face me. Her crystal blue eyes hard and she fists her hands like she plans on hitting me. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she demands.
“Stop,” Austin says, coming to stand between us. Becky turns back around to face Deke, and Austin turns toward me. Her green eyes are void of any emotion. “Do what you need to do,” she says.
Deke’s head snaps up to look at the back of her head.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest from Deke’s words.
Let’s give them a show.
He’s right once again. She would go to Bryan and do just that. And it would drive me mad. More than I already am. “Austin …”
“Exactly what I said,” she interrupts me. “Tomorrow night at the party. Do what you need to do, Cole.” She leans up and softly kisses me on the lips. I don’t move or kiss her back. Then she walks off with Becky right behind her. Deke and I turn to watch them walk down the hall.
He comes to stand beside me and sighs. “She’s gonna eat you alive, man.”
“FUCK!” I turn and punch my locker.
_________________________________
I stand in the kitchen of Kellan’s parents’ house with my back against the countertop. My arms crossed over my chest and a pissed-off look on my face.
Austin’s words have continued to swim in my mind since yesterday.
Do what you have to do.
What kind of bullshit is that?
She’s fucking with my mind. She does it so well.
Was that her way of telling me to fuck Kaitlin? If so, it’s a trap. No woman willingly tells a man to fuck another woman. No matter what the circumstances. Or was that her way of telling me to choose her and withdraw from the group?
“Here. You’re gonna need it,” Deke says, handing me his Solo cup.
“No.” I don’t drink at parties unless it’s at my house. That was a rule I made after I lost three friends. I’m not gonna let Kellan force me to go against that. He’s already forcing me to do enough.
“Hello, boys,” Kellan says, joining us.
Bennett ignores him as he drinks from a Solo cup.
Deke throws him a glare. I watch the entrance to the kitchen, waiting for either Kaitlin or Austin to walk in. At this point, I’m not sure who I want to see less.
“I’d choose Becky.”
“What?” I snap, looking over at Deke.
He ignores my harsh tone. But no one can miss the cut on his bottom lip from my fist yesterday.
“Becky was so mad when I told her about your dare. She was afraid the same thing would happen to me. And I never made her think that I would choose her. But that’s why I was so pissed at Kellan.” He takes a quick sip of his drink. “Because the moment I heard you read the dare, I knew I’d pick her over the group.” He looks me in the eyes. “It’s okay to choose her, Cole. This group will come to an end soon. After graduation, they’ll go their separate ways, but where will Austin go? Will you willingly leave her?” He shakes his head as if he already knows my answer.
“You make it sound like I love her,” I growl.
“Don’t you?”
“No,” I snap. She’s supposed to fall in love with me. I’m the one who is supposed to have all the control and ruin her. Not the other way around. I’ve seen what loving someone can do to another person. And it’s pathetic.
He just smiles.
“Fuck you, Deke.”
“Showtime,” Kellan says, getting our attention. He rubs his hands together excitedly, and my eyes follow where his are. Kaitlin just walked into the kitchen. She has her red hair down. She’s wearing a tight pair of blue jeans and a black top. A big smile on her face.