by Jade, Ashley
“Why?”
“Um…” She swallows hard. “Well…let’s just say he made a really bad mistake and your brother no longer thinks he’s a good person.”
“But he’s still your dad. Your family.”
Jace is the most stubborn person I’ve ever met, but I can’t see him forbidding Dylan to see her own father.
But if he did, well…I guess I can see why she’d want to sneak around.
“I know,” she whispers, sadness flickering in her eyes.
It makes sense now why Sawyer said she’s been putting her own pain on the backburner to be there for Jace.
For me.
The girl has been dealing with a lot.
“Boy, I really screwed up, huh?”
A small smirk touches her lips. “Kind of.” She shrugs, that sadness returning again. “But Jace and I were bound to have it out about this sooner or later.”
I know she’s only saying that to make me feel better, but it doesn’t.
In fact, it only makes me feel worse…about everything.
Wondering how wrong I’ve been about other things, I can’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you turn Liam down when he asked you to go to the dance?”
I need to know if she intentionally used him to get back at Jace.
She exhales sharply. “Because I had no idea Liam liked me like that. He told me he wanted to go as friends and that’s honestly what I thought we were.”
I’m not sure I believe that. “You had to know he had a crush on you.”
She looks me in the eyes. “I didn’t. Liam was always nice and sweet to me, but I never thought it was anything more than Liam being Liam because he was like that with almost everyone.” Her eyes close. “Plus, my feelings for Jace were so intense…he’s all I could see.” She looks down. “He’s all I ever wanted to see.”
My heart hurts for Liam. He never stood a chance.
“Oh.”
“Bianca?”
“Yeah?”
“If I could change everything about that night, I would.” Her eyes fill with tears. “Most nights I lay awake wishing my dad made us move one night earlier because then everything would be different.” She wipes her tears with the back of her hand. “I love Jace, more than anything or anyone…but if I had to give him up so he could still have Liam…I would.” A choked sob escapes her. “I swear to God, I would.”
Now, I’m the one who’s crying.
I’ve had it so wrong for so long.
Liam’s death wasn’t her fault.
It was just a horrible twist of events that ended in a terrible tragedy.
And hearing her profess that she’d give up Jace if it meant we’d have Liam back…
It’s not something a bad person would say.
“I can see why Liam loved you.” I cut my gaze to her. “And why Jace does.”
She sniffles. “Thank you for finally hearing me out.”
“Dylan?”
“Yeah?”
Nerves flutter in my stomach because there’s always a chance she can tell me to go fuck myself and she’d have every right to at this point. “Can we be friends?”
She gives me a small smile. “I’d really like that.”
I take a sip of my water. “Well, now that we got that out of the way—”
The sound of the door opening cuts me off mid-sentence.
A second later Jace storms inside like a man on a mission.
Dylan’s eyes widen and she stands up. “What are—”
She doesn’t get a chance to finish that sentence because Jace kisses her like she’s the oxygen he needs to breathe.
Dylan looks downright dizzy when they break apart. “What—”
“I told you I’d burn the world to the ground before I ever lost you again and I fucking meant it.”
With that, he kisses her again.
Getting off the couch, I gesture toward the door. “I’m gonna go.”
They’re both so into their little lovefest, they ignore me.
Good.
Chapter 26
“I heard there’s a party at Jordan Romano’s house tomorrow night,” I inform Stone at lunch. “Maybe we can go.”
I know he doesn’t like to hang out with kids from our school—or anyone for that matter—but I’ve been attending Royal Manor High for almost a month now and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to socialize a little.
Making a face, Stone bites into a chicken tender. “Jordan Romano is an asshole.” He takes a lengthy sip of his sports drink. “So are his friends.”
I can’t hide the flicker of disappointment I feel. “Oh.”
“Trust me, Bourne, you won’t be missing anything. Just a bunch of losers getting drunk and high.” Concern mars his features. “Besides, sometimes the parties he throws get out of hand and I really don’t want you around that.”
I love that he’s trying to protect me, but I need to interact with other people besides him and my family.
“All the more reason you should come with me.” I bat my eyelashes, hoping he’ll cave. “This way you can be my bodyguard.”
“I’m not going, Bianca.” He pushes his lunch tray away. “You shouldn’t either.”
I get what he’s saying but I’m tired of watching movies in his bedroom all the time. “But I—”
Grabbing his backpack, he stands. “I have to go. I’m helping Mr. Reiss in the chemistry lab and he wants me there early.”
I look down at my tray of uneaten food. “Right.”
He slides two fingers under my chin, tipping my face to look at him. “Don’t be mad at me, Bourne. It’s only because I care about you.” Leaning down, he kisses my lips. “A lot.”
I know he does.
* * *
I assess my outfit in the mirror.
The black material is silky soft, and the super short length makes my legs look miles long. Also, the strappy heels I paired it with are to die for.
It’s still missing something though.
I rummage through my closet. Old Bianca’s clothes mostly aren’t my style, but even I have to admit she’s got some great pieces in here.
Like the deep purple crop jacket.
A smile stretches across my lips as I look in the mirror for a second time. The pop of color was exactly what I needed.
After applying some lip gloss and checking my phone to see where my Uber is, I grab my crutches and head downstairs.
“Where are you running off to?” Jace questions when he spots me.
Shit on a stick.
I chew my bottom lip, pondering what I should tell him.
“Mercedes and I…we’re going out to dinner.” I lick my lips nervously as I recall the time. “A late-night dinner.”
“Oh.”
Jace shuffles his feet like he wants to say something, but he’s hesitant for some reason.
Finally, he speaks. “Bianca?”
“Yeah.”
“We never really talked about it before, and maybe we should have.”
He’s losing me. “Talked about what?”
He blows out a breath. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you and this Mercedes chick are more than friends…I don’t want you to feel like you can’t bring her around.” His eyes cut to mine. “Gay, straight, bi…whatever you identify as. You’re my baby sister and I will always love and support you.”
Oh, geez.
His words are touching, but they only serve to make me hate myself for lying to him.
Then again, if I came clean and told him the truth about dating Stone, he wouldn’t be nearly as supportive.
He’d be downright homicidal.
I smack a kiss on his cheek. “You’re an amazing brother, Jace.”
“Does that mean you’ll finally bring her to the house so I can meet her?”
I swallow hard. “Sure thing.”
File that under never.
* * *
The music is bumping, and people are packed inside Jordan’s house like sardines when I ar
rive.
Almost instantly, I regret coming here alone.
Especially when some drunk guy staggers over to me.
“Hey, baby. What’s a little hottie like you doing all by yourself?”
Gross.
“I have a boyfriend,” I tell him, hoping he leaves me alone.
He looks around. “Is he here?”
“He’s in the other room,” I fib before walking away.
“Hey,” another guy greets me.
Since he didn’t greet me with, hey baby, I decide to be nice. “Hey.”
He gestures to my crutches. “What happened?”
“Car accident.”
Wincing, he takes a sip from his Solo cup. “Damn. That sucks.” Leaning in, he whispers, “What do you say we go upstairs so I can kiss it better.”
Seriously?
“Hard pass.”
“Stuck up bitch,” he mutters as I brush past him.
I’m about to go into the kitchen because it’s way less crowded, but I spot Mercedes and her friends.
I quickly turn the other way and head out the patio doors.
Where I see a bunch of people sitting at a table…snorting some white powdery substance.
“Want a hit, beautiful?” some guy asks. “It’s fucking fire.”
Yeah, so not my scene. “No thanks.”
Sighing, I shuffle my way through the crowd of people dancing in the living room and head upstairs to find a bathroom.
* * *
Past…
“God, I’m so drunk,” Hayley slurs as I lead her up the staircase at Christian’s house.
“Me too.”
Only unlike the alcohol running through her system, I’m drunk on pure vengeance.
Tugging a fistful of her long blonde hair, I pull her in for another kiss.
Her tongue greedily brushes against mine, and I can taste the Malibu rum on her breath.
“Wow,” she whispers against my mouth. “You’re such a good kisser.”
Ugh. I definitely can’t say the same about her.
Hayley’s kisses are as sloppy as she is…and that’s saying something.
I twist the knob of the first door we come to and find it empty.
Closing it behind me, I utter, “Get on the bed.”
“Wha—”
I kiss her with more urgency as I walk us backward toward the bed. A moment later we’re tumbling onto the mattress with me on top of her.
Arching my back, I grind my pelvis against hers as I skim my lips along the column of her throat.
The perfume she wears is as cheap and trashy as she is.
“That feels so good,” she breathes.
Sticking to the plan, I cup my hand between her legs. The lace of her panties feels warm and damp against my fingers. “It’s about to feel even better.”
Hesitation flickers in her eyes. “I’ve never done this before…you know…with a girl.”
“Me either.” I skim the length of her pussy over the wet lace. “But like they say, there’s a first time for everything.”
And sometimes innocent people have to pay for the sins of others.
Smiling, she tugs down the top of my dress, exposing my tit.
Her tongue circles my nipple before she suctions her mouth around it. “You have really nice boobs.”
Christ. Even her dirty talk is boring as fuck.
Slowly, I slide down her body until I’m kneeling in front of her. “You’re so fucking sexy.”
About as sexy as a root canal.
She giggles. “Have you seen yourself? You’re like…out of this world gorgeous. So exotic.”
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes.
I press my lips to the inside of her thigh. “You know what would be really hot?”
Drawing herself up on her elbows, she looks down at me. “You eating me out?”
I’d rather fuck my cunt with a cactus.
Hooking my fingers into the sides of her panties, I slide them down her long legs. “If you gave me a little show.”
She blinks. “You want me to play with myself?”
Biting my lip, I nod.
She falters. “I’ve never done that in front of anyone before.”
No surprise. The girl is as alluring and exciting as wet toilet paper.
What the fuck did he ever see in her?
Inwardly groaning, I move my head between her legs, kissing her pubic bone. “If you want me to lick this pussy, you have to show me how you like it.”
She moans. “Damn. That feels so—”
“Do it.” I scrape my teeth along her flesh, hoping she feels the sting. “It will be fun.”
Parting her thighs, she circles her entrance with her finger. “Like this?”
“Give me more, sexy. Rub that clit for me.”
Head lulling back, she proceeds to do what I ask. “God, I’m so drunk right now.”
No, she’s not. If she was so drunk she’d be puking or passed out…not asking me to go down on her.
She just wants a crutch to blame her actions on—in this case, messing around with a girl—so she doesn’t have to take responsibility.
At least I own my shit.
“Just like that, babe.” Smirking, I take my phone out of my purse and press the record button. “Keep going.”
Closing her eyes, she bucks her hips, rubbing her clit with more vigor. “Feels so good.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile if I tried. The idiot is so into what she’s doing, she has no fucking idea what I’m doing.
“Good girl, Hayley,” I mewl as I angle the camera up a little, making sure I get a glimpse of her face. “Now show me what a dirty little slut you are and how hard you can make that pussy come for me.”
A few moments later, she orgasms with a furious shudder, moaning my name.
I make a mental note to bleep my name and disguise my voice before uploading it to every porn site I can think of.
“That was fun.” Her chest rises with deep exhales and beads of sweat trickle down her brow. “You gonna go down on me now?”
Nah, I’m gonna ruin your fucking life, bitch.
Yours and his.
Slipping my cell back into my purse, I stand. “Can’t, baby doll. Big bro number two keeps blowing up my phone asking where I am, so I’m pretty sure someone tipped him off about our little make-out sesh downstairs.” I blow her a kiss. “Thanks for the show, though. Maybe we can do it again sometime.”
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Chapter 27
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
Two thoughts hit me in rapid succession.
One—Hayley and I were definitely not friends because I clearly hated her for some reason. And two—given my severe hatred, why the hell was I in the car with her that night?
Rubbing my temples, I let out a silent scream.
I knew my former self was fucked up, but this is…setting her up like that…
It makes me sick.
Especially since I’ll never have the chance to apologize.
I ruined this poor girl’s life…and now she no longer has one.
Splashing some cold water on my face, I force myself to breathe.
Once I’m calm enough, I grab my crutches and hobble back down the staircase.
I might not be able to tell her I’m sorry, but it’s not too late to go home and do the right thing.
“Someone call the cops!” a girl screams as I walk into the living room.
Nerves bunch in my tummy as I watch two guys in what looks to be a very heated altercation.
“I want my money,” some guy barks.
“I told you,” the other guy says. “I don’t have it right now.”
The first guy pulls a gun out of his waistband and fires a bullet into the ceiling, causing my ears to ring so bad I automatically cover them with my hands. “Then I guess you give me no choice, motherfucker.”
Holy shit. Stone told me these parties got out of hand, but I
didn’t think he meant this.
My eyes flick to the front door. It’s about eight feet away from where I’m standing which means I can easily walk out.
“No one move,” the guy with the gun sneers. “I’m about to show all of you what happens when you fuck with me.”
I’m not sure about everyone else, but I definitely don’t need a demonstration. I’m good.
My heart is beating so hard I’m afraid it’s going to pound right out of my chest.
Stone was right. I never should have come here.
“Get on your knees,” he instructs, pointing his gun at the other guy.
Oh, God. He’s going to shoot him right here in front of everyone.
The sound of the gun cocking echoes throughout the room as he holds it up to his temple.
I can’t watch. “Please do—”
“Police,” a deep voice booms on the other side of the front door. “Open up.”
“Oh shit,” someone yells. “Run.”
Utter pandemonium breaks out as everyone starts rushing toward the exits.
Except me…the girl with crutches.
Fortunately, most people run out back which means the front door is wide open when the cops come busting through.
Frantically, I fish my phone out of my purse as I hobble past them.
Stone picks up on the second ring.
“Hey—”
“I should have listened to you. There was a guy with a gun and he—”
“Wait, what?” Stone yells. “Where the fuck are you?”
“I went to the party at Jordan’s—”
“Are you serious?” he shouts. “I told you not to go.”
I want to argue that he said I shouldn’t go, but now is not the time for semantics.
“Can you come get me? Please.”
“On my way.”
* * *
I spot Stone’s red chevi on the opposite end of the street in record time.
I’m about to walk over, but he steps out of his car, his long strides eating up the ground between us in no time.
His anger is so tangible I can practically taste it. “Are you fucking stupid or something? What part of do not fucking go to the party don’t you understand?”
