The thought rips me apart.
Defeats me.
No, it straight up disqualifies me from our maddening game of cat and mouse. I used to be unbeatable. Number one player through and through.
I always won the game until winning meant losing her.
It’s more than lust.
A lot more.
I like this girl.
And I want to give this a shot.
Screw the consequences.
I have to find her. I have to tell her. Even if there’s a chance that I’m too late. Walking off, I begin my search, but luck isn’t on my side, because I can’t find her anywhere. I must seek her blonde hair for five minutes before stopping by the beer keg. Who knows if she’s even here?
A voice startles me. “Drinking by yourself?”
Zoey.
“Can I help you?” I barely spare her a glance.
“Nope. But I’m hoping I can help you.” She leans forward, feeling my bicep. I move away with a cringe. When is Kass going to accept this Zoey chick is a backstabbing bitch?
“I’d rather poke my eyes out with a fork, but thanks.”
“Ouch.” She pouts. “Kendrick is much nicer than you.”
“Kendrick wants to fuck you, I don’t.”
She looks at me like I’ve just slapped her in the face.
“Is Kass here? You know, your best friend?” I remind her.
She quickly collects herself. “Nah, she couldn’t be bothered. She’s too busy with Luke.”
I squeeze the glass bottle so tightly at her statement I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter in my hands.
“What’s going on between those two anyway?” I ask.
“Oh, you don’t know?” She chuckles. “They’re a thing now. She told me they sealed the deal a few hours ago.”
They what?
She fucking slept with him?
She let him touch her… like I did?
When?
After I left?
After I didn’t say what I should’ve?
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“They… They slept together?” I nearly choke, hating myself for how transparent I’m being.
She nods. “Yep, she finally opened her legs. About time, if you ask me. She could use the experience.”
I told Kass the same thing once. Biggest lie I’ve ever told in my life. She knows exactly what to do in bed. My dick can attest to that. Jesus, is that what she meant by “What if it is” earlier?
She warned me.
Said it straight to my face.
I shouldn’t be surprised.
“Apparently, he’s huge,” Zoey says.
It feels like sandpaper is scrubbing my insides.
“Oh, don’t look so sad, Willy.” Zoey steps forward, and I flinch at the nickname—Kass’s nickname for me. Is this the Universe messing with me? Chill, Universe.
I’m already fucking dying.
“Forget her. She doesn’t appreciate you. I, on the other hand…”
I stare blankly into space.
“In fact, she said not to bother her tonight. Luke’s probably banging her as we speak.”
Explains why I can’t find her.
I lost her.
The girl who talks back at me.
The girl who cares.
I lost her because I can’t treat her right.
“It’s just you and I, Willy,” Zoey adds.
“Stop calling me that,” I hiss.
Zoey crowds my space, pushing to the tip of her toes with a vicious smirk covering her red lips. I can’t move. All I see is Kass moaning beneath Riverside’s golden fucking boy. Happy that she dodged a bullet—happy that she dodged me. Zoey’s mouth crashes against mine.
Will, wake the hell up!
It must last two seconds tops. I shove Zoey away from me, ready to bite her head off.
That’s when I see Kass.
Standing by the fire. Staring at us, eyes brimming with tears.
Then she runs off.
Kassidy
I want to scream.
Scream until my voice is so broken no sound comes out. But most of all, I want to cry until I can’t feel my face. We must’ve gotten here less than five minutes ago and I’m already dying to leave. I only realize how fast I’m running when I bump into someone.
“Sorry,” I mutter, rounding the stranger, whose arm goes out to stop me.
“Kass?”
I look up.
It’s Luke.
“We really have to stop meeting like this.” I wipe my cheeks, my embarrassment deepening. That’s the second time he’s seen me sob today. That’s got to be some kind of record.
His eyes are pointed straight at me.
Those green eyes.
Those kind, loving, I would never kiss your best friend eyes.
“Are you crying? What’s wrong?”
“Will… he…” I croak. “I can’t believe him.”
“What happened?”
“With… with Zoey,” I manage.
He puts it together, shaking his head in disgust.
“Come on, let’s get you out of here. I’ll drive you.”
“But Morgan…” I realize. “We came together. She just left to get us a drink. I-I can’t leave her.”
“Text her what happened. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Defeated, I shoot Morgan a text and mirror Luke’s steps to the parking lot near the beach. I’d rather not have to wait for a ride in this state. Luke manually unlocks his door, climbing into the driver’s seat as I stand by, waiting for him to unlock my side. Then the last voice I wanted to hear echoes in the distance.
“Kass, wait!”
I flick my head to see Will charging toward us.
He must be ten feet away.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Luke unlocks my door, the familiar click halting Will’s race. Our eyes meet across the parking lot.
“Don’t,” he begs, his voice strained. “Please.”
He doesn’t elaborate, but I know exactly what he’s saying: Please don’t get in the car. Please don’t leave with him. So, as a fuck-you for kissing my ex-best friend, I do just that. I slide into Luke’s passenger seat and shut the door.
“Where are we going?” Luke asks as we drive away.
Heartbroken, I say, “Let’s go back to my place.”
Kassidy
“He’s an idiot, whatever he did,” Luke says as I swing the door to my bedroom open. I don’t know why I told him to follow me up. The last thing I want is to give him the wrong impression, but I also really, really don’t want to be alone right now.
My mom is having dinner at an old friend’s house tonight, and my brother is at the kegger. Oh, and Winter is probably somewhere making out with Haze Adams.
Silent, I take a seat on the edge of my bed and swab down my tears with the heels of my hands.
I am so freaking sick of crying. I feel like I’ve been weeping all day.
Luke sits next to me. “Do you… want to talk about it?”
“Nope.” I sniffle.
My phone pings with a text.
It’s Morgan.
Morgan: I just thought you’d like to know I roasted the living heck out of Will, then he went right back to Zoey and dumped a whole beer on her head. Safe to say that girl’s luck with beverages is not improving?