Fueled Hate: A Dark College Bully Romance

by A. J. Logan

  Grabbing my phone, I call my brother, and once again the call goes unanswered. What turned out to be a quick call to check in has turned into an all-day ordeal because Levi can’t answer the phone or send a text that he’s good. He’s fine. I know he is. But I want to talk to him. Maybe because my senior year was the hardest of my life, and it had nothing to do with school.

  Finally giving in, I tap my phone’s glass screen to call my dad.

  “Hey, Sadie.”

  A slight smile tugs at my cheeks when he answers. It’s not in response to his greeting but rather that his voice sounds more relaxed than the last few conversations we’ve had; there’s definitely an easiness that has been mostly missing, but if something were wrong, I’d hear it in his voice no matter the words he spoke. Why do I always listen for it? Why do I always expect the worst? “Hi, Dad. I was just calling to see how everything is going there.”

  “It’s going. Can’t complain. How’s everything on your end?”

  “No complaints here either.” None that I want to share with my dad, anyway. I listen as he tells a customer her car will be done shortly. He’s always spent a fair amount of his time at the shop, and after Mom died, he stayed there even more. We all had our ways of coping. His was burying himself in work to distract from burying his wife.

  “Good deal,” he says, telling another customer that she’s up next and it shouldn’t be much longer.

  “Is Levi around? I tried calling him but haven’t heard back.”

  “He’s not here, but I’ll tell him to give you a call. He’s been keeping busy since football practice started back.”

  “Really? He’s back on the team?” I’m unable to suppress my excitement at the news. Football had been Levi’s passion until our lives were flipped upside down. After that, my brother’s way of coping was causing trouble whenever possible, which resulted in him getting kicked off the team. And the thing that worried me the most was he didn’t seem to care at all. I could relate. The things that once brought me happiness seemed pointless, but eventually I decided to go through the motions. Levi didn’t go through any motions unless it involved something illegal or dangerous, or both.

  “Yep. But I’ll tell him to make some time to give you a call.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Dad.” I pause as he continues speaking to everyone around him. I know he’s listening to me but there’s still something lacking between us. I’ve felt so detached since Mom died. I thought time would get us back to normal, or at least we could find a new normal where we existed as a family. Instead, it’s like we’re all on separate paths, heading in different directions only straying further from each other … further from being a family. “I know you’re busy, so I’ll let you go.”

  “Later, Sadie,” he says, quickly disconnecting the call.

  “Bye, Dad,” I whisper even though I know he’s not there anymore. I’m only an hour away from home, but sometimes it feels so much farther. Dropping the phone on the bed, I cross my arms over my chest as I gaze across the room. I should be studying or doing something productive. Instead, I stare into space until a soft knock on my bedroom door catches my attention.

  Willow cracks the door enough to peek in before fully shoving it open. “Dumbass is here.”

  “Okay.” Ugh. I don’t need to ask who because I already know it’s Kyle. Willow dislikes very few people, but Kyle is at the top of the list—she intensely loathes him. I’ve avoided a few calls and messages from him in an effort to focus on my coursework, not that it’s helped much. Walking through the living room, I unlock and open the front door to find Kyle. “What?”

  “Hey, babe,” he says, smiling as he leans down to give me a kiss. I quickly shift to the side to avoid his advance. “What’s wrong with you? I’m the one who should be pissed after getting the door shut in my face. Again,” he says loudly, looking over my shoulder for Willow.

  “What do you want?” I ask as he all but shoves his way around me to walk into the apartment—uninvited.

  “I wanted to spend some time with my girlfriend.” His arm loops around my waist, pulling me to him, but I push him away.

  “I’m busy.”

  “Oh come on, Sadie. I said I’m sorry. What else do I have to do to make it up to you?”

  “Nothing. I don’t want your apologies. I wanted you to not bail on me for our anniversary.”

  “Let me have a redo. Go get all dressed up, and I’ll take you out tonight.”

  “I have to work.” Speaking of, I should already be getting ready to leave.

  “Perfect. You get a break or something, right? So I can stop by then and we can grab a bite to eat.”

  “No. It’s not perfect. I barely have a few minutes to swallow down a banana when I do get a break, much less time to sit down and actually eat a meal.” Big Tobe’s is the least romantic place for an anniversary meal but is one of the most popular joints around since it’s close to campus, and there’s usually a steady crowd.

  “Okay. Then we’ll celebrate another night.” Kyle steps forward but I move back.

  “It’s fine. It’s not a big deal.” I walk to my bedroom, grabbing my phone off the bed as Kyle follows behind.

  “It’s a big deal to me,” he says as I feel his fingers grip my hip before I turn to face him.

  “It wasn’t last night when you stood me up, so let’s just drop it. I need to go before I’m late for work.” As I step past him, his hand grips my wrist, holding me in place until I glance back at him.

  “Four years should mean something.”

  “Yes. It should,” I whisper. It should mean something. It does, otherwise I would’ve stopped putting up with Kyle long ago. It must. I’m just not sure what at this point.

  Grabbing my keys, I head out the door of the apartment and walk to my car. Kyle follows silently behind. I drop into the driver’s seat and look over to see him getting into his. He wastes no time cranking up his Corvette, reversing, and quickly speeding out of the parking lot. As I watch the ZR1 in my rearview mirror, I recall the day Kyle drove up to my house, showing off his brand-new shiny car. It was the first day of our senior year. I’d thought the car was amazing. All Kyle kept saying was how his dad bought the wrong color, purchasing a white model instead of the silver one. It was the first time I realized how wealthy Kyle’s family was and also how little Kyle appreciated it, especially when his dad decided to trade in the perfectly fine car for a silver model.

  I start up the Mustang that Mom and Dad surprised me with on my sixteenth birthday. I couldn’t have been more excited about my wonderful gift. It wasn’t a new, expensive car, it was better. The body is dented and patched up, but it’s well-loved and it’s mine. Dad suggested we could trade it in, but I don’t want a new car. I want the car my mom helped pick out for me—my car.

  Feeling no urgency to arrive at work, I take my time making my way there. It’s not that I don’t like the job. I’m just not in the mood to plaster the smile that’s required on my face. It’s exhausting on a good day.

  When I pull into the parking lot of Big Tobe’s, I still have a few minutes to spare. Remaining in my Mustang, I relish the quiet serenity that is about to be lost to the controlled chaos that is Big Tobe’s. That controlled chaos is more than welcome—it’ll distract me from everything and everyone else.

  Here goes. Pushing the door open, I hurry inside to start my shift. Tossing my purse into my assigned locker, I grab my waist apron and tie it around me before shutting the locker and heading out front.

  All hope of distraction is lost when I spot way too familiar (and ridiculously alluring) eyes staring at me.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” I mumble under my breath as I make my way over to the bar where Dylan is comfortably perched. There’s no way he’s here by chance. Is there no place in this damn town where he won’t be?

  “What are you doing here?” I ask as his arrogant smirk grows. He knows exactly what he’s doing. There’s no way all these run-ins are coincidental. If his goal is to dri
ve me insane, he’s doing a good fucking job.

  “Eating. What else would I be doing here?” Dylan says, picking up a fry and taking a bite.

  “Cut the shit. Are you following me? How is it possible that I can’t go anywhere without seeing your face?”

  “Well, I was here first, so should I ask if you’re following me. Maybe you just really want to see my face.”

  Clenching my jaw, I glare at him. Yes, his face isn’t bad to look at, but the fact that he’s showing up everywhere won’t allow me to think past anything else. Maybe if the first meeting had been different than him appearing on the side of the road when I was having a shitty night, I could feel better about this. But that first unsettling encounter has stuck with me. That’s what I’m telling myself has me unsettled, at least, because there’s nothing about him that should be getting to me this much. Yet here he is, driving me insane again with only his presence.

  “Hi, Sadie,” Jett says as he walks over, refilling Dylan’s drink and sliding it back across the wood bar. “Everything all right?”

  After giving Dylan another glare of irritation, I look over to Jett. “Hey. Yeah, everything is great.” My smile for Jett quickly fades when I turn back to Dylan. “Just stay away from me.”

  Yep. No chance I’ll be able to avoid thinking about this all night. Question is, why can’t I ignore him?

  5

  Dylan

  It hasn’t taken much for me to get her stirred up, and in fact, it’s gotten easier and easier.

  “What was that about?” the bartender—Jett, she’d called him—asks as we both watch her stomp away.

  “Not sure,” I respond, turning to face him. His eyes are still on Sadie. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does.

  “I’m guessing you’re not a friend of hers,” Jett says, finally removing his eyes from Sadie.

  “Nope. I tried to be her friend, but she wanted to whack me with a lug wrench instead.”

  “Sounds about right,” he says with amusement as he glances back to her.

  “Can I get a glass of water?” I ask more forcefully than intended.

  “You got it,” he says. Filling a glass with ice water, he slides it to me before he starts to step away. Hesitating a moment, he then says sternly, “Sadie is a good friend of mine. I don’t want to see her get hurt. She already has someone filling that spot in her life.”

  He doesn’t wait for a response to his clear message. Sadie has douchebag Kyle for a boyfriend. The asshole quota is maxed out, yet I doubt I’ll be able to back off even if I tried.

  “Well, well. Why am I not surprised to find you here?”

  Fuck. “The real question is how did you find me.”

  “Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?” Bryce slides onto the barstool beside me, signaling Jett for a beer.

  “Yeah. That’s what I was hoping.” This isn’t good. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  “No. I think you have that turned around. You are the one who shouldn’t be here.” Bryce takes a swig of his beer before plucking a fry off my plate.

  Leaning back, I shove the plate away. “You need to leave.”

  “You coming with me?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’m not leaving.” Bryce smirks as he downs the remainder of his drink. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “For you to leave.” It’s pointless. I know this already, but I don’t want Bryce here. He’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember. The last thing I want to do is drag him into my mess.

  “I leave when you leave, so just say the word.”

  “You’re such a pain in the ass,” I say.

  “Good, because you have been a royal pain in my ass lately.”

  “Then go. I’ll be home soon.”

  “Okay. I’ll leave, but my first stop is informing your mother on your new school location. She thinks you’re having a great time with your fresh start in Florida.” Bryce dramatically looks around the bar before turning back to me. Leaning closer, he says, “Florida sure does look a lot like Texas.”

  Shit. He knows I won’t argue with that. It’s not like she can stop me, no one can, but I don’t want to add any more stress or worry to her. She’s had more than enough of that recently. “Fine. Just stay out of my way.”

  “Psh. I’ll pave the way if you tell me what the hell your preposterous plan is.”

  “You already know. You wouldn’t have found me otherwise.”

  “True,” Bryce says, motioning to Jett for another drink. “Made any headway yet?”

  Glancing over my shoulder, I spot Sadie waiting on a table, smiling at her latest customers. I’ve known her less than twenty hours, and I somehow know it’s not a genuine smile. Those are probably few and far between. “Some.”

  “That doesn’t sound promising. Are you sure about this?”

  Turning back, my eyes drop to my hands as I focus on the scars across the knuckles. “I have to do this.”

  Bryce picks his drink up, holding it in the air for a toast I don’t share. “Cheers to the fuckery that’s about to go down.”

  I don’t meet his toast. There’s nothing about this I’d want to celebrate even before my best friend was pulled into it. “You really should go home.”

  “Yeah, probably. But when do I ever do what I’m supposed to?”

  “True.” He’s usually the head bad-decision maker; this time it’s all on me. I’m all-in. I have to be. “Just keep a low profile. The less attention we have on us, the better for now.”

  Giving me a thumbs-up, Bryce takes a scan of the restaurant. “I doubt anything exciting happens around here.”

  Bryce’s definition of excitement is far from mine, but I’m sure he’ll find something—or likely, someone—to occupy his time. That would be best for everyone involved. He’d still be here but not in the middle of everything. Looking over my shoulder, I watch as Sadie walks by, pushing the door open while giving me a pissy look.

  “Hm. I bet that one could make it exciting.”

  My fist clenches around my drink as I lift it to my mouth, taking a long swallow. It takes a second to rein in my irritation. “She’s off-limits.”

  “Is she now?” Bryce looks to me with a shit-eating grin.

  “Yes,” I say flatly as Sadie walks back through the doorway, the pissy stare still in place and directed at me. If my best friend weren’t undressing her with his eyes, I might be able to find humor in the situation. Right now, all I feel is a deep need to keep every fucking guy away from her. And I’m the last guy who should be anywhere near her. Well, maybe not the last, but damn near.

  Bryce asks a million questions but doesn’t wait for a response as he rambles on. My mind feels jumbled, and his never-ending jabbering isn’t helping as I sit and only half listen. Thankfully, Jett interrupts, asking if I’m done with my plate while refilling my drink.

  “Dickhead,” Jett mumbles under his breath.

  At first, I think he’s talking to me. When I glance up, I see his glare is fixed behind me, to someone near the entrance. As I turn around, I spot the source of his rage. Kyle and another guy stand there, and as soon as Kyle locks eyes with me, he heads in my direction.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  I look down to his balled-up fist then back to his revolting face. “Enjoying the scenery until you arrived.”

  Kyle steps forward, but his buddy holds up a hand, pressing it against Kyle’s chest, forcing him back. “Not here.”

  “You’re playing with fire,” he says to me.

  Bryce casually leans back, propping an elbow on the bar. “Sounds like a challenge to me.”

  “Who the fuck are you?” Kyle asks, doing a once-over of Bryce, who isn’t fazed in the least.

  “Your wet dream or worst nightmare, the choice is yours,” Bryce says.

  I can’t help but chuckle as Kyle remains silent, unable to respond as he tries to figure out if he should take Bryce seriously. And he should. Bryce puts up a mischievous, playf
ul front, but it’s a damn good cover for how much of a threat he actually is.

  Sadie appears, stepping between Kyle and I. Her back is to me as she speaks to him, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. Instead, I take the moment to trail my eyes down her body. I’d be lying if I said it was solely for Kyle’s sake, but his murderous glare is an added bonus. He moves to step forward, but Sadie shoves him back. “Go to the booth and I’ll get y’all a drink.”

  His face eases as his hand falls to her waist, brushing around to her backside as he looks to me. “Sure thing, babe.”

  It takes everything I have not to pry his fingers off of her ass. I feel very little satisfaction when she shifts, removing his hand from her body. It shouldn’t be there at all. Ever again.

  “Andrew, you too,” Sadie says sternly to Kyle’s idiot sidekick. He follows suit and walks away, then she turns to me and says, “Fuck off,” before darting away to retrieve water glasses.

  “He’s her boyfriend?” Bryce breaks out into a full-on belly laugh as he holds his side. “I take it back. Maybe there is some exciting shit going on around here. This might prove to be more entertaining than I first guessed. Tell me the plan.”

  I relay the high points to Bryce, glancing back at the table as I watch Sadie approach with two glasses of water in her hands. Setting them down, her arms fold across her chest. Kyle keeps his glare on me, ignoring whatever she’s saying because he’s not the least bit concerned with her, only me. That’s the smartest decision he’s made yet.

  6

  Sadie

  “Will you stop it?” I say, slapping my palms on the table. “Either order or leave because I don’t have time for whatever bullshit the two of you have going on.”