“Yep. Cole has fucked the love of his life and his twin sister.”
“Is there anyone in this school Cole hasn’t fucked?” I growl.
She comes to a stop at our first period. “Me.”
I laugh, shaking my head, and open the door. The teacher throws us a glare, but I just give her a smile. I have a hard time getting myself to school on time, and this week, I gotta get a six-year-old too. And my best friend since Deke is also busy with swimming. Who likes to spend too much time deciding what to wear.
We sit down in our seats, and I look over at Becky.
“What?” she whispers when she sees me staring at her.
“Do you really think Cole will sleep with Kaitlin?” I ask the question that I haven’t had the courage to ask. Because I know the answer.
Her eyes look down at my bag by my feet, avoiding eye contact with me.
“That’s what I thought.” I sit back in my seat.
I hate that I fucking care so much. That the thought of him with anyone else makes my stomach knot and my chest hurt.
“Maybe not,” she says, surprising me. “I mean, something’s keeping him from doing it.”
“That’s true …” I trail off.
She leans over her desk toward me. “Deke told me that Cole always completes his dare the very next day.” I frown. “I know he’s not the greatest guy, Austin, but he feels something for you. I didn’t need to watch him put off a dare to know that, though.”
I tap my pencil on my desk. “So I have to stop it.”
She shakes her head. “They will kick you out of the group if you mess with a dare.”
I snort, and the girl who sits in front of me turns to glare at me. I give her a big smile, and she rolls her eyes before turning back to face the front of the classroom. “I don’t wanna be in their boy group. They would be doing me a favor.”
She smiles. “So do you have a plan?”
I nod. “Yes, I do.”
“Need my help?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Absolutely.”
_______________
The next three weeks flew by faster than I wanted them to. Cole and Deke were busy with practice, so I got to spend a lot of time with Becky. I even convinced Cole to let Blanche have her afternoons free, and I continued to pick Lilly up from school. Becky and I would take her to get ice cream or go to my house and swim. She loved having “girl time” as she called it. I don’t think she gets much of it other than the time she spends with Celeste. And she has been up my father’s ass. He’s avoided me, and I’ve stayed out of his way, praying he leaves town soon.
But I couldn’t help noticing the way Cole’s mood got worse as he neared the end of his deadline. He was agitated. His attitude dark. His hands were always fisted, and he didn’t speak much. But that hasn’t slowed down his affection toward me. He’s been over the top ever since I told him we were going to put on a show. And that’s exactly what we have done.
It’s officially Friday. And tomorrow is the big day. He hasn’t said much to me today, but I haven’t taken it personally.
“You guys don’t have a meet this weekend?” Becky asks Deke.
He shakes his head and pops a chip in his mouth. He too is on edge. I caught him and Cole arguing earlier this morning, but they both shut up the moment they saw me walking toward them. I never did catch what they were saying, and I know Cole wouldn’t tell me even if I asked.
I open my mouth to speak but close it when Kellan walks up to the table. “Afternoon, guys,” he says with a sinister smile.
I glare up at him.
Cole ignores him as he looks down at his phone.
“Party at my house tomorrow night,” he says, looking straight at Cole. “And of course, you’re invited, Austin. Wouldn’t want you to miss it.”
Cole looks up at him through his lashes, showing indifference. But I can feel the heat rolling off him.
“Oh, she’ll be there,” Becky answers for me, and I refrain from laughing.
“See you then,” he says cheerfully and then places his hands in his pockets and walks away, whistling like he did when he told me to walk away from Cole.
I smile at Becky, and she smiles back.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
COLE
I WALK OUT of the cafeteria and stop at my locker. I yank the door open, grab what I need, and then slam it shut.
“You can’t go,” Deke growls, coming up to me.
“I’m getting really fucking tired of arguing with you about this,” I snap.
“Then do the right thing.”
“Why do you fucking care?” I shout, making a kid jump who was walking by. “Huh, Deke? Why do you fucking care what I do?”
He lowers his eyes to the floor and runs his hand through his hair. “Becky was right.”
“Fuck! Not this again …”
“I’ve seen a difference in you too, Cole.” His eyes meet mine. “Haven’t you felt the difference?” I snort, rolling my eyes. “Ever since Eli died …”
“Don’t,” I snap, stopping whatever he was about to say.
“No, you’re gonna hear this.” He steps to me, and I fist my hands, ready to punch his ass. “Austin was just someone you wanted to destroy. You wanted someone as fucked up as you, Cole. So bad that you couldn’t stand it. Even I could see that.”
“Deke,” I warn.
“But no matter what you throw at her, she dishes it back. You like the fight better than if she was to lie down and cry. Beg you to stop.” I hate how right he is. “If you fuck Kaitlin tomorrow night, are you prepared for what she’s gonna do to retaliate?”
“What does that mean?” I demand, not liking where he’s going. This thought had never crossed my mind.
He lowers his voice. “It means she’s gonna run right to Bryan and fuck him. That’s what she does. She fucks you back twice as hard. And he’s gonna jump all over that. Finally getting his chance with her and be able to fuck you over at the same time.”
I see red and punch him at the thought of Austin and Bryan together. He stumbles back into another kid, knocking him to his ass. Deke stays standing and chuckles like I softly slapped him. “When was the last time you hit someone, Cole?” I lower my hands. “When was the last time you needed to release that anger since she came into your life that night?”
“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.”