“You’re bluffing,” I say. She has to be.
“I am?” She tilts her head to the side. “Wanna take that chance, Cole?”
My eyes narrow on her as “Go to War” by Nothing More starts to play in the room.
She jerks her arm out of my hold. “I didn’t think so.” With that, she walks out.
Shane runs a hand through his hair. “She has to be joking.”
“Doubtful,” I say. She’s a shark just like us, after all.
“What the fuck?” Kellan shouts. “This is all your fault.” He points at me. “You wanted to bring her in. You wanted to fuck her. And you kept secrets from her.”
“Me?” I demand. “You gave me a dare to fuck another girl when you knew we were together.”
He snorts. “You were never together. You have forced her along this entire time.” He reaches for the closed door. “And now she’s gonna fuck us! Just like I told you she would!”
Bennett and Shane both turn and follow him out.
“What do you want me to do?” Deke asks as Becky runs out after her.
“Nothing you can do. I fucked up.” I should have just come out and told her the truth in the beginning.
He sighs heavily. “You could tell her about—”
“She doesn’t wanna hear about that right now,” I interrupt him.
“Why did you come, man?”
I turn around and face him. “Why wouldn’t I?” I snap.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Are you trying to piss her off?”
“No!”
“Then maybe just give her some time to cool off,” he offers.
“It’s been two weeks. How long does she fucking need?” I demand.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” He throws his hands up in the air. “Or what you want me to do. Fuck! You two are going round and round in circles and not getting anywhere,” he growls. “You hated her. Now she hates you …”
“I never hated her.” I wanted to destroy her. There’s a difference.
He sighs heavily. “I … don’t know why you can’t just tell her.”
My heart starts to pound in my chest. “Tell her what?”
“Come on, Cole? Playing dumb with her may work, but it’s not going to work with me. I’ve known you all my life.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “And?”
He steps into me, eyes narrowed. “And I don’t know why it’s so fucking hard for you to be a man and tell the girl you love her.”
“I don’t!” I snap.
He throws his head back, laughing. “So you don’t plan on her moving to Texas with you after graduation?”
“That is for her to be close to Lilly,” I growl. I should have never told him my plans.
He stares at me, and I arch a brow. Throw something else at me, Deke. I’ll block it.
“You know.” He uncrosses his arms over his chest. “Everyone always talks about how fucked up you are.” My hands clench. “But I never believed them. Until now. You can kill someone without a second thought, but you can’t admit you love someone?” He shakes his head. “Never thought I’d see the day when you actually surprise me.” Then he turns and exits the room.
AUSTIN
I walk into the kitchen and grab the Fireball and take a sip from the bottle.
“What the hell was that?” Becky demands, running up to me.
“Me putting them in their place,” I say and tip it back again.
She sighs. “What do you have on them?”
“Enough.”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s not what I asked, Austin.”
I take another drink as Deke walks into the kitchen. I don’t expect to be invited back to the clubhouse anytime soon. But too bad. Because my ass isn’t walking away. Not this far into the game.
He comes over to us, his eyes on Becky. “We’re leaving, babe,” he says, and my eyes catch Cole storming past the kitchen and out the front door.
I take another drink.
“I’m staying again tonight,” she tells him.
He nods, already knowing that. Then he looks at me. He opens his mouth to speak and then closes it.
“What?” I snap.
He just shakes his head. “Nothing.” Then gives Becky a kiss before he turns and walks out.
“You can go with him if you want,” I offer.
She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. I’m your only friend, remember?” She gives me a smile before taking the bottle from my hand. “Someone has to watch over you.”
I roll my eyes but sigh in disappointment. I’ve never had a good birthday. I’ve never spent it with family or real friends. Since I left California, I’ve learned a lot. And one thing is that those friends were as fake as a blow-up doll. I hate that I’m fighting with Cole. I hate that he put me in this position. That he lied to me about something so important it could change my life.
Where do we go from here? Will I ever get to see Lilly after we graduate? My chest tightens with that thought.
Becky places her hand on mine and gives me a soft smile. “You should give him a chance.”
“Some people don’t deserve a chance,” I say simply.
“Austin—”
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I interrupt her. “Can we just get drunk?”
She chuckles, handing me back the bottle. “Drink up, birthday girl.”
_______________
I open my eyes at the sound of thunder and groan.
My head pounds, and my mouth is dry. Lightning strikes, lighting up my room, and I run my hand along my bed, looking for my phone. I find it face down and press the button to light up the screen. I squint and it reads 4:25 a.m. I’ve only been asleep for an hour. The party ended hours ago, but Becky and I weren’t ready to call it quits just yet.
My hand grips my cell, and I sit up slowly, letting my body adjust to being awake. Everything aches.
Becky is passed out in bed, her back toward me. Throwing the covers off, I make my way into the bathroom. I come to a stop in front of the sink and turn on the water. Lightning lights up the room through my large oval window and then thunder booms, rattling the walls.
I place my phone on the countertop and open the medicine cabinet. I pick up the Advil and shut the glass cabinet just as the lights go out.
“Shit.” I sigh.
The lightning strikes, lighting up the bathroom once again, and I see a dark form in the mirror. “What the …?”
A hand fists my hair, and when my head is yanked back, I drop the pill bottle to grab at them. But before I can get a hold of anything, my head is slammed forward.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
COLE
I WAKE UP to my phone ringing.
“Hello?” I mumble, without looking to see who it is.
“Get your ass up!” Deke says in greeting.
I run a hand down my face. “What do you want? What time is it?”
“Eight. Get up and get your ass over to Shelby’s.”
“Why?” I yawn.
“Because Becky just called me, and the girls are there.”
I sit up in a rush. “Why are they at Shelby’s?”