My breathing picks up. Fucking Kellan, I knew he’d fuck me over. That’s what these guys do. Their loyalty is only to one another, and even that weakened over the years as they grew older. “They’ll never believe you.” I decide on.
“Oh, they will. Especially when I show them proof.” My breath gets caught in my lungs. “What do you think Austin will do to you when she finds out what you’ve done?” I don’t answer. “What do you think Cole will do to you?” I stiffen. “Or Deke? He loves her like a fucking sister.”
I slap him again. “Fuck you.”
He slaps me, and this time, it has me stumbling back. He grabs me and throws me against a wall. My heart races, and I cry out from his force.
“What do you wanna do, babe?” His voice drops to a whisper, and he leans his body into mine, pinning me to the wall. “How about I just take care of you right here? Right now? I can tell the boys what you’ve done and then show them your body lying in a shallow grave. I’ll be their hero.”
I try to shove him away, but it doesn’t work. His lips find my earlobe, and he sucks on it. Bile begins to rise. “Shane, please …”
His free hand grips my right thigh and lifts it, wrapping it around his hip. “Do you remember? Me and you?”
“I try to forget.” I sniff.
“I was the first one to touch, lick, and fuck that pussy. Before you went and passed it around like a joint at a party.” His hand slides up my thigh to cup my ass, and he grinds his hips into mine.
I whimper, hating the fact that I gave my virginity to Shane. I was fifteen, and he was gorgeous with a car. He had just turned sixteen, and Cole threw him a party at his father’s house. I had snuck out to go. After countless drinks, I ran into him in the backyard. He wanted to go to the beach and get some fresh air. Even though I knew it was bullshit, I left with him. I had spread my legs for him in the back seat of his car that night at the beach. Then he took me home, and he never looked at me again. I knew it was gonna be that way. That’s how all the sharks were. Months later, Deke kissed me by the football field. A short time after that, I got with David. Somehow, my numbers just kept climbing. I hate how much criticism I get for doing what they do without a second thought. A guy can fuck four girls in one night, but a girl can’t fuck two guys in the same month without being tainted.
Such bullshit!
“I always kept that fun fact a secret from Deke, knowing he’d be pissed at me, but I don’t think he’d give a fuck now.”
I close my eyes, hating how much that thought hurts. How he betrayed me more than I ever could him. I could sleep with every fucking GWS, and it wouldn’t even come close to the fact he fucked my sister. “Shane …”
He pulls away from me with a smirk on his face as though he just won some fucking bet. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. They dare each other to do all kinds of shit, and nothing is off-limits. Not even women. “Don’t worry, Becky. I just fucked you then ’cause I knew it’d be easy. I sure as hell don’t want you now.”
My chest tightens. That’s all I ever am—a fuck! No one ever wants to love me. “Fuck you, Shane …” I shove him away.
He just smiles at me. “Did you know you were a dare?”
“What?”
“Eli dared Deke …”
“No.” I shake my head. “You’re lying.” I had asked Deke this very question four months ago when he stood in my bedroom at my father’s house.
“Was I a bet that night at the party? Did Cole bet you to take me home?” We were finally able to be with one another. Cole was claiming Austin for all to see. It was our time. After all the secret hookups and quiet whispers, we were able to be together. But was it true?
“You can’t be serious. That night was not our first night together, or have you forgotten?” He growls.
I jab my finger into his chest, and he takes a step back. “So? And I’m dead serious. Did you record us that night too?” I went home with him and stayed in his pool house.
“Fuck, no!” he snaps. “I would never do that to us.”
“How am I supposed to know that?” I shout. I bow my head and sigh. I’ve lied to him for so long, maybe I missed his lies. “The bottom line, Deke, is I don’t trust you. And I can’t be with someone I don’t trust. I’ve done it before, and I won’t do it again.”
“You can trust me. I would never cheat on you. Or film you. Fuck, I love you.”
“You’re lying,” I repeat. “He was not dared to take me home the night of the party.”
“Party?” He laughs. “No, I’m talking about the day he kissed you at Collins High by the football field.”
“What?” I gasp.
“I won’t lie. Somewhere along the way, Deke managed to fall in love with you, but you’ve fucked him over too many times. See, Becky, you always were nothing more than a game to us.” He tilts his head to the side. “A game that has come to an end.” Then he turns and walks over to the small kitchen.
Without another word, I walk out of the clubhouse, fall into my father’s car, and start it up. “The Best You Had” by Nina Nesbitt plays through the speakers. Removing my cell from my pocket, I pull up Deke’s number, and fresh tears begin to fall. I need to make it right with him. He’s the only one who can save me at this point.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DEKE
I SIT BY the pool in the cool night air, and I’m on my third cigarette while Cole does his laps. Now that it’s November, he’s turned the heater on in the pool.
My phone dings, and I pick it up off the table next to me to see it’s a text from Becky. It’s like all the others she’s sent me. She’s relentless.
Becky: Why her?
Becky: Did you think she was me?
Becky: Why didn’t you tell me?
Becky: Do you not love me anymore?
Same ole, same ole.
I ignore them and drop the phone onto my lap. Cole pops his head out of the water, sucking in a deep breath, but says nothing.
My phone begins to ring, but I don’t even bother looking at it. I have nothing to say to Becky. I didn’t sleep with Demi for any other reason than I wanted her. Simple as that. And I was single. Am single. I don’t have to explain myself, especially to her. She’d kill me if she knew I did it for a second time. Third time. Fourth time. They were all better than the first, if that’s even possible. And it’s all I’ve thought about. I’ve been hard for the last three days.
It stops for a second and then starts up again.
“You gonna answer that?” Cole asks.
“Nope.” I take another drag. It stops after the second ring this time, and I sit back in the lounge chair.
“Wanna talk about it?” he asks.
I almost laugh. “Not much to say.” At this point, I’m not sure who fucked me over more. Demi or Becky. One cheated on me, and the other used me.
Fuck, I’m starting to sound like a bitch whining to her girlfriends about a guy she expected to love her.
I hear the sliding glass door open, and a moment later, Austin comes to stand beside me. “Get your ass out of the pool,” she tells Cole in a rush.
“Austin, what …?”
“Get the fuck up.” She ignores him, smacking my arm so hard I drop my cigarette in my lap.
“What the hell?” I bark, trying to shove it off before it burns my fucking dick through my jeans.
“What’s going on?” Cole demands, jumping out of the pool.
“Demi is here.”
My teeth grind at the mention of her name. I can’t do this again. I don’t see it ending well. I hated that I felt the slightest bit sorry for her when she confessed she wanted to be anyone but herself. It’s just another trick. Now that I haven’t seen her in days, I’ve been able to think clearly. She picked Seth over me. And I refuse to do this again. I’ve already done it with Becky.
“And?” Cole growls.
“And she needs our help.”
I snort. “Tell the bitch to go to hell.”
&nbs
p; Austin shocks the shit out me when she slaps me across the face. And fucking hard, I might add. I jump to my feet.
“Get the fuck over it,” she yells. “This is serious.”
Cole grabs her arm, forcing her to face him. “What is going on?”
She takes in a deep breath. “It’s about Seth.”
“That doesn’t help her case.” I growl.
She pulls away from Cole and places her hands on her hips. “Every time I forget how big of dicks you guys can be, you remind me.” Then she spins around and enters the house, slamming the sliding glass door shut.
Cole grabs his towel and dries off with a hard look on his face. I step on my cigarette, making sure it’s out before I go inside to face whatever bullshit is going on.
Cole and I enter the house and find Demi sitting on the couch with her head down between her hands. Austin sits beside her, rubbing her back and speaking softly.
“Why the fuck are you here?” I demand, coming to stand in front of them.
Austin’s head snaps up, and she glares at me. “Deke …”
“No, he’s right. I shouldn’t have come,” Demi whispers.
“This is my house, and you are welcome here anytime you want. This is a safe place.”
What the fuck is Austin talking about? Safe place? Is she trying to say I hurt her last time she was here? ’Cause Demi never told me no or to stop. She was very willing. “Get the fuck out.”
“Deke!” Austin shouts my name, jumping to her feet. “Don’t fucking talk to her that way!” She steps into me, but Cole pulls her back. She spins around on him. “Cole …”
“Austin.” He growls her name in warning, but what Cole doesn’t understand is that he no longer holds any kind of power over Austin Lowes. “This doesn’t concern us.”
“It does,” she argues.
“It doesn’t …”
“He tried to rape her!” she shouts, yanking free of him.
Silence fills the large living room at her words. I look down at Demi, and she still sits with her head down, but I now see the trembling in her small body.
Austin lets out a long breath and sits down next to her again. When she reaches out to touch Demi’s back, she jumps slightly. “It’s okay,” she whispers to her.
I run a hand through my hair. “What happened?” I ask through gritted teeth. This better not be another damn trick! Her sister pretended to be pregnant so who knows what Demi is capable of?
That silence continues, and it makes my jaw tighten. If it’s true, it doesn’t make any sense. First, he hurt her at the Halloween party, and now he tried to rape her? What the fuck is his deal? And why the hell is she with him?
“Demi?” I snap her name.
She stands, keeping her head down. “I’m leaving,” she says in a soft voice, and she turns to exit the living room.
I reach out, grab her arm, and spin her around to face us, about to scream at her, demanding to know what the fuck happened, but the words die on my tongue when I see her beautiful face streaked with tears. And my heart begins to beat faster as I look her over. Her T-shirt has been stretched out; it hangs off her right shoulder, showing the strap of her nude-colored bra. She has a rug burn on her elbow, and her hair is tangled. Her cheek has a small cut on it. But it’s her eyes that make my chest tighten. They look like the saddest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.
I step into her, placing my hands on her face. “What happened?”
She licks her trembling lips. “He was gonna rape me.”
DEMI
I expect him to push me away. To throw me out. I didn’t come here for him. I came here for Austin. I read her journal, so I know what she went through with her mom’s boyfriend. Not only would he slap her, but he also touched her inappropriately, and I wanted to talk to her. Not explain to Deke how my fake boyfriend decided he wanted to fuck me and wasn’t gonna take no for an answer. At least that’s what he told me his plan was.
“What makes you think that?” Cole is the one who breaks the silence.
I reach up and push Deke’s hands from my face. Thankfully, he doesn’t fight me. “He …” I swallow. “I went to go see him, and he was acting weird.” I drop my head to the floor. “When I tried to leave, he grabbed me. I told him to stop, and he said he wished he could. Then he threw me face down onto the floor. I started screaming, and he kept saying sorry, over and over. I felt him undo his jeans, and he flipped me over. That’s when I lost it.” A tear runs down my cheek. “I clawed at his face, bit his arm, and managed to kick him off. Then I just ran.” My body shakes. “I left … and … I didn’t know where else to go.” I choke out the words. I can’t tell my mother this. She thinks I was with Lauren. And I can’t tell Lauren because she thinks we are already sexually active. I had nowhere else to go.
Strong arms wrap around me, and I bury my face into Deke’s shirt. “You’re safe now, princess,” he says, kissing my hair.
And I sniff. “I shouldn’t have come here …”
He pulls back and places his hands on my face, forcing me to look up at him. “You’re exactly where you need to be, Demi.” His clouded blue eyes search mine before they look at Cole’s. He nods at Deke once.
“Where was he?” Cole asks me.
I’m not sure what they plan on doing, but Seth deserves it. After everything I’ve done for him … “At his parents’ cabin on Lake Travis.”
Deke’s body stiffens against mine, and Cole’s eyes narrow on me.
“Lake Travis?” Cole yanks Austin back from me and Deke, cutting her off, placing himself between her and us.
“What were you doing there?” Deke demands.
I pull away from him, wiping my face confused to what is happening. “I told you. He messaged me to come over.”
“Bullshit!” Cole snaps, taking a step closer to me.
Deke reaches out, placing a hand on Cole’s bare chest bringing him to a stop. But his next words say he doesn’t believe me either. “Can you prove that?”
I’m starting to get pissed off. I’ve had one hell of a fucking night. I cross my arms over my chest. “Why does it matter? I just told you that he confessed he was gonna rape me. Why do I need to prove that?” I snap.
“’Cause I don’t believe you,” Cole answers.
I snort in disbelief at these guys.
“Cole, stop!” Austin tells him.
“No.” He turns to face her. “The guys and I get a message from Evan Scott and possibly go to the very same cabin that Demi’s boyfriend owns, and you don’t think that’s a coincidence.”
She opens her mouth, but I speak first. “Evan Scott? You got a message from him?”
This time, it’s Deke who steps into me. “You mean the message you sent us?”
My eyes widen. What the fuck?
“And it’s game over for you, Demi.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DEKE
MY BLOOD IS pumping, my fists are clenched, and my mind is screaming that this bitch played us better than anyone else ever has. I reach out for her, and she takes a step back from me. Her eyes are wide, and her face drained of any color. Finally, she shows true fucking fear. Good for her to realize that I can and will hurt her.
“There has to be an explanation.” Austin speaks.
“That was why your name was on the list,” I say more to myself than anyone else. “You put it there to throw us off.” Fuck, Shane was right.
“List? What list?” Demi asks.
Her eyes going from mine to Cole’s. He wants to murder her. I can feel it. Anything that threatens his sweetheart, he would destroy without thought. But I won’t let him have Demi. I’ll handle her myself. She’s had it coming since she pretended to be her sister at Silence.
Austin steps out from behind Cole. He tries to grab her, but she manages to get away from him. “Demi, you have to explain why you wrote that note. Did Seth make you do it? Was he the one who sent out the messages?” She rattles off questions, the next one sounding even more desperate
than the first.
“The one from Evan Scott?” Demi asks still putting on her best fucking show of confusion. Like a little lost girl in a forest that is about to swallow her up.
She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out her cell. “I got a friend request from him the night of my Halloween party. I have yet to accept it, but I showed it to Becky a couple of days later and she got pissed. Sent him a message. He responded earlier this week, but I blew it off.”
I yank her phone from her hands and look at it. She has her messenger pulled up, and sure enough it has a message to him a few days ago.
“She said it was an ex of hers.” Demi adds.
Her: I will fucking kill you.
“Becky sent this to him?” I ask, still skeptical.
“Yes. I don’t know the guy. We only had one mutual friend, and it was her. Why?”
I look over at Cole and hand him the phone so he can read it. “He responded to you.”
She nods frantically. And Cole reads it out loud. “Not if I kill you first.”
“It didn’t make any sense, so I ignored it,” she whispers. “Is Seth Evan Scott?”
“Fuck!” Cole hisses. “This explains why Becky was so pissed to begin with. Demi slept with you the night of the Halloween party and then shows this to Becky. She knows you’re Evan Scott …”
“You’re Evan Scott?” Demi interrupts him.
We all ignore her. “She probably thinks you both set her up,” Cole finishes.
A cell begins to ring, and Cole looks down at the one he holds in his hands. “It’s Seth,” he announces.
I rip Demi’s cell out of his hands and hit answer. He begins to ramble instantly.
“I’m so sorry, Demi. You have to understand. I had no choice. I tried to think of a way around it. I even offered them money. You know I’m good for it. I would never hurt you, not like that, if I didn’t have to. If you would have just taken the drink, I wouldn’t have had to force you. You probably wouldn’t have even remembered it.”
DARE SERIES COLLECTION Page 79
