I wink and her cheeks flush, sending me into fucking heart failure. “Going back to hating you would imply that I ever stopped.”
I turn to leave and start making my way toward the fence to jump back down when her soft tone calls through the silence of the warm night. “Tanner?” she questions, hesitation in her tone.
Glancing back over my shoulder with furrowed brows, I pause, watching her struggle with the emotion written across her face and not understanding this need to console her. “What’s up?”
“I’m sorry about your sister,” she tells me. “I don’t know the details, and I’m not going to ask for them, but if you need to talk it out or just want to scream … I’ll keep quiet about it. You don’t need to worry about me spreading shit.”
My stare lingers on hers for a moment and I can’t bring myself to respond. The idea of breaking down in front of her scares the shit out of me. I don’t want her to see me as vulnerable or weak. I can’t … no. Tonight was already pushing the limits. I’ve already crossed a line that I shouldn’t have.
Seeing that a response isn’t coming, Brielle slips back into her bedroom and watches me through the window as she pulls it closed and reaches up to lock it. I can’t look away. My body craves her, needs her like an addict desperate for his next hit.
Before I do anything I’ll regret, I jump down from the second story roof and land in the grass, my hand already slipping into my pocket. I pull my phone out, press a few buttons as I dump the empty bottle and takeout container in the trash can and hold the phone to my ear.
It rings twice before Riley’s voice sounds through the phone. “What’s up, man? Your sister alright?”
“Nah, the fucker walked and now she’s on a ventilator.”
“What do you need?”
I step into my darkened home and move up the stairs until I’m standing in my bedroom, a clear view of Brielle Ashford directly across from me. I lean against the window frame, watching as she sits on her bed with her laptop, busily typing away. “I want to know every last thing there’s to know about Colby Fucking Jacobs, and then we’re going to fucking end him.”
Chapter 14
BRIELLE
The noise of the busy cafeteria drowns out the plaguing thoughts circling my head about my stupid decision to ask Tanner up on the roof. I can’t believe how bold I was. I labeled it … whatever it is. I was happier pretending that there was nothing between us, but I was too obvious. I called us both out and now, I can’t stop remembering his hands on my body, his cock grinding between my legs, and his warm lips tormenting me like the sweetest caress against my neck.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
When I woke this morning, there was no message scrawled on my mirror, and a part of me hated it. I’ve started to look forward to his creepy little lipstick messages and knowing he was in my room while I slept. How fucked up is that? Maybe I’m wrong and just missed it after oversleeping and waking up with a killer hangover. I had to grab the essay that I spent the rest of my night typing and then rush out of there in the hopes of making it to school on time.
I didn’t. I barely scraped by and barged into homeroom just as the teacher was marking off students’ names. He gave me a free pass because I’m new, but the warning in his tone was clear—I won’t be so lucky next time.
English was up first, and I handed in my essay, which took a weight off my shoulders. Following that, my day went back to normal … well, as normal as it’ll ever be at this school.
My phone buzzes on the table and I drop my gaze to find a text from Miranda, one of my friends from Hope Falls, and I welcome it greedily, scooping up my phone, more than grateful for the distraction. Only it doesn’t stop buzzing, message after message pops up, and I scan over them, my brows furrowing deeper the further I read along.
Miranda - Dude, WTF???? Where have you been? Erica is saying your mom moved you to Bradford. BRADFORD!!!!
Miranda - Fuck me! Tell me you’re not one of those hoity-toity uniform wearing rich bitches now, coz if you are, you know I’ll have to come and kick your ass.
Miranda - Alsooooo……. Colby? Why’s he telling everyone that you sucked every dick you could find over the summer and that he dumped you? He’s calling you a cunt to anyone who’ll listen.
Miranda - He’s lying right? You guys were tight and I know you’re not a cheater. He’s saying you’re being a stuck up bitch and not responding to any calls. Like he dumped you and then you just ghosted big time.
I let out a breath and get busy responding.
Brielle - The fuck! As if anyone is going to believe that shit. First up, yes. Mom moved us in with her rich boyfriend and kinda sprung it on me last minute, so I’m stuck in Bradford until he decides to break up with her. And second, you know I’m not some dick sucking whore! Colby was screwing around behind my back. I literally walked in on him mid-fuck and he’s pissed that he got caught! I cut all communication with him and he can’t handle it.
Miranda - No freaking way!
Brielle - How do you not know this? Didn’t Erica tell you guys?
Miranda - No, that bitch hasn’t told us shit!
What the hell? That doesn’t make sense. Erica told me that she was doing damage control all that first day. How can people not know this? But then, does it even really matter what they all think of me? As long as my friends know the truth and have my back, that’s all that matters.
Before I get to respond, another text comes in and my gaze drops down the screen.
Miranda - Is this why Colby was arrested? Did he do something?
My brows shoot right up into my hairline, my eyes widening like saucers. Colby got arrested? What the fuck? No, that couldn’t be right. Colby was an ass, but he’s not a criminal.
Brielle - What do you mean he got arrested? What happened? Have charges been pressed?
Miranda - I’ve got no idea. We’ve all been trying to figure it out, but since you’ve been MIA all week, I just assumed it had something to do with you. He’s at school today so I guess that means whatever he did couldn’t be that bad, right?
Brielle - Suppose so. Let me know if you find out anything.
Miranda - Sure, girl. Gotta run. Principal Fanning just sprung me on my phone and he’s coming this way!
I laugh, able to imagine the scene so clearly because the exact thing has happened to me so many times. Phones are prohibited to use at Hope Falls, but here, they seem chill about it, as long as phones are on silent and aren’t visible or distracting during class time.
Even knowing the strict phone rules of Hope Falls, I can’t resist scrolling through my recent contacts list and pressing on Erica’s name. Bringing the phone up to my ear, it rings twice before she accepts the call. “Colby got arrested?” I screech down the line. “How could you not tell me that? What happened?”
“Chill out,” she laughs. “Apparently the cops raided his house and arrested him on Monday night, but he was let go after twenty-four hours. I wasn’t at school yesterday. I was feeling sorry for myself at home after allowing you to get me wasted on mimosas, so I only just found out this morning. I’ve been trying to get a message off to you all morning, but it’s been a busy day.”