by Ashley Jade
Chapter 35
Bianca
Holy shit.
Emotions tangle in my chest as I place the note down and try to process everything.
I told Oakley about my mom.
I knew we had a bond and we were close, but didn’t know I trusted him so much that I’d tell him the one thing I’ve never told anyone.
Tears prickle my eyes as I get off the floor.
Oakley was right. We were way more than fuck buddies who didn’t fuck.
What we had between us was…real.
I’m so lost in my thoughts I don’t even hear the latch on my door click open.
“Are you ready?” Stone questions, striding inside my dorm room.
I seriously regret making him a spare key now because just the sight of him fills me with anger.
I can’t help but feel like he took something precious from me by lying about that poem.
I glare at him. “No, I’m not.”
To say he’s taken aback would be an understatement. “Wh—”
“You didn’t write that poem.”
“What poem?”
He looks so confused and it only makes me more irate.
It’s all I can do not to tear my hair out as I stalk toward him. “The one that said I was a beautiful nightmare.”
He thinks about this for a moment before making a face like he tastes something rancid. “That thing?” His eyes roll. “Okay, fine, I didn’t write it. I don’t know why it’s such a big dea—”
“Because you lied about it,” I scream so loud the windows vibrate. “I loved that poem. It made me feel special and important and I thought you wrote it from your heart, but you didn’t.”
Oakley did.
Hands on his hips, he blows out a breath. “You’re right, I lied.”
I’m about to start screaming again, but he closes the distance between us and locks his arms around me. “But I only did it because I wanted to impress you.” He looks sheepish. “And because I got scared that maybe some other guy was trying to woo you by writing poems. I didn’t want him to steal you away from me.”
His remorseful expression makes it clear he regrets it, but still.
“You shouldn’t have lied.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Bourne.” He glances at his watch. “Not to be a jerk, but can we shelf this for a bit? We’re supposed to be at Ruth’s parents’ house by nine.”
I should tell him to go fuck himself and go there alone.
But that’s the thing about guilt…
Sometimes it makes you do things you shouldn’t.
Like avoid conversations you need to have.
The party’s in full swing by the time we arrive at Ruth’s house.
Stone whistles as we look around the giant atrium filled with fancy people wearing even fancier clothes. “I knew her parents were loaded, but not this loaded.”
He’s right. This isn’t a typical college party by any means.
Sure, there are some college students buzzing around, but instead of beer pong, flip cup, and rap music…there are waiters passing around champagne and caviar on silver trays.
I’m starting to feel underdressed in my short silky black dress and red heels.
I can tell Stone’s uncomfortable too, because he always is when it comes to wealthy people.
“Breathe, Stone,” I whisper. “They’re just people.”
“Easy for you to say,” he hisses as he adjusts his tie. “You grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth.”
I have to stifle the urge to tell him that he grew up with a stick lodged in his asshole, but you don’t see me constantly ridiculing him about it.
“You’re here,” someone shouts behind us.
A moment later a very bubbly Ruth runs over to us.
Her fiancé Eugene follows behind her like a lost puppy.
After exchanging quick hugs, she focuses on Stone. “I was just telling my dad all about you.” She smiles. “He’s dying to meet you. Stay here while I go get him.”
Before anyone can say a word, she runs off.
Stone looks like he’s going to puke. “Her dad is the head of the neurology department at Stonybrook Hospital.” His voice shakes a little. “He has a lot of connections so don’t say anything that will embarrass me, okay?”
Yeah…I’m going to pretend like he didn’t just say that.
Stuffing down my irritation, I grab a champagne glass from one of the passing waiters.
I’m not a drinker, but holy hell I could use one right about now.
Ruth comes back with a tall, older gentleman in tow who I can only assume must be her dad.
Appearing green now, Stone straightens his spine and holds out his hand. “Hello, Dr. Kelp, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
The older man smiles as he shakes it. “I can say the same.” He places his arm around Ruth’s shoulders. “My Ruthie here has told me nothing but great things about you.” He winks and does that stupid mock gun thing. “Great job killing it on your last exam. Ruthie said you received the highest score in class.”
Yes, he did. Because it’s all he could talk about last week.
I down my glass of champagne and grab another.
Stone tries to act modest, but he doesn’t do a very good job. “Well, what can I say? Your daughter makes a terrific study partner.”
Does she now?
Ruth beams like he handed her all the stars in the sky. “Only because you’re so smart.”
My eyes drift to poor Eugene who looks like a fish out of water.
Mr. Kelp slaps him on the back. “Eugene, why don’t you do us a favor and fetch us some of those spring rolls.”
My mouth practically drops open because rude.
“Actually,” I interject. “I’ll do it.” I give Mr. Kelp a sugary sweet smile. “I’m Bianca by the way.”
I shoot Stone a menacing glare as I trek off.
After tracking down a tray of spring rolls, and another glass of champagne for myself, I head back over.
“It’s been two years since the accident,” I overhear Ruth say as I approach their little circle.
I halt in my tracks, hoping like hell I’m hallucinating their conversation.
“Such a shame,” Mr. Kelp hums. “In my experience, if memories don’t return to the patient before then, they never will. Poor girl sounds like a lost cause.”
White-hot rage surges through me and I clear my throat. Loudly.
“Here’s the thing,” I start. “I don’t appreciate being talked about behind my back.” And because I’m enraged, I don’t stop there. “I know they don’t teach this in medical school, but patients are human beings. They don’t deserve to be talked about like goddamn lab rats or reduced to a lost cause.” I shove my tray of eggrolls into Mr. Kelp’s hands. “Here.” Mocking him, I add, “In my experience, if you eat them too fast, you’ll choke on them.”
With that, I stalk off.
Unfortunately, Stone’s right on my heels.
“What the hell are you doing?” Grabbing me by my elbow, he steers me into an empty room. “Do you have any idea how much you’ve just embarrassed me?”
Wow. The fact that he cares about what Mr. Kelp thinks more than me is just…
Straight-up nauseating.
I down my glass of champagne and set the empty glass on a nearby table. “You know what? Fuck this shit.” I pat his shoulder. “Enjoy the rest of your evening with Mr. Kelp and your—” I make air quotes. “’Terrific study buddy.’” Waving both my middle fingers in the air, I saunter toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
He seizes my arm. “What the hell is going on with you, Bianca? You’re not acting like yourself right now. It’s like I don’t even know you.”
I laugh, but there’s not a single ounce of humor. “Funny. I can say the same about you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Gee, where should I start?” I begin ticking things off with my fingers. “How about the fact that y
ou’ve recently become fond of having sex with me while I’m sleeping. Or, that you let your friends talk about me like I’m some kind of science experiment whether I’m there or not. Or, that you tell me to shut up—”
“Because you were defending him,” he roars. “The guy who almost killed you.” He snorts. “And yeah, maybe I do try to turn you on when you’re sleeping in hopes you spare me some attention and affection, but it’s only because you turned into a frigid snob who’s not interested in screwing her fiancé anymore.”
Holy hell. Fuck him.
“Well, don’t worry, champ. It seems like Ruthie is very interested in screwing you.”
Taking a step back, he laughs. “Oh, Jesus. Is that what you think? That I’m interested in her? For Christ’s sake have you seen her? There are dogs that are better looking.”
Revulsion rolls through me like a boulder going downhill and picking up speed.
Placing his hand on his chest, he says, “I’m not saying I’m perfect, Bourne. But I’m trying to make our relationship a priority. Which is a hell of a lot more than I can say about you these days.”
I am trying to make our relationship a priority. I’m trying so hard I’m practically turning myself inside out doing it.
Irritated, I cross my arms. “What in the actual fuck are you talking about?”
“I asked you how dress shopping went the other day and you didn’t even answer me. It’s like our wedding is the farthest thing from your mind—”
“Because I don’t want to get married!” I shout before I can stop myself.
Oh, God. There it is.
Out in the universe.
I should feel bad, but all I can feel is a strange sense of…freedom.
Stone looks like I just sucked all the oxygen out of the room and left him to suffocate.
“What? What do you mean you don’t want to get married?” Slowly, he shakes his head, like he’s trying to process the atomic bomb I’ve just placed on his lap. “You don’t…you don’t love me?”
“No,” I quickly say because it’s not that. “I still care about you, but…” I close my eyes. “Everything happened so fast between us. We got engaged so quickly that I barely had a chance to wrap my head around the accident, graduating, and leaving for college before we were planning a wedding and—”
“Leave,” he croaks.
When I look up, I notice his eyes are glassy.
“I’m sorry, Stone. This isn’t how I wanted to tell you—”
“Leave,” he repeats, harsher this time. “It hurts too much to look at you right now.”
I’m at a loss for what to do because I don’t want to abandon him while he’s so upset…
But I know I’m the one who caused it.
So, I do what I should have done a long time ago.
I walk away so we can have some space.
Chapter 36
Bianca
I probably shouldn’t have drunk all that champagne.
By the time Oakley arrives at Ruth’s house to pick me up, I’m so buzzed I start giggling when I see him pull up on his motorcycle.
“What did the pirate say on his eightieth birthday?”
A curious expression lights his face as he gets off his bike. “What?”
I punch the air. “Aye ‘maighty.”
His eyebrows shoot up to the sky. “Are you drunk?”
A weary sigh escapes me. “Not nearly enough for the shit night I’ve had.”
He joins me on the curb. “Yeah, you sounded pretty upset on the phone when you called.” I can feel him studying me, worry etching his features. “What happened?”
I shake my head. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
Because if I do? I’m afraid I’ll crack wide open and he’ll see everything I’ve been keeping inside.
Like the fact that I’ve spent so much time hating and resenting my former self instead of trying to figure out why I became that way in the first place.
Most people would push, but Oakley doesn’t. He cocks his head to the side, looking around. “Nice neighborhood.”
“Yeah.” I touch his arm to get his attention. “Can we get out of here? Stone’s still in the house and I don’t want him to come out here and...”
“See me?” he finishes for me.
“Yeah.” I look down, wondering how the hell I can even begin to untangle the mess I’m trapped in. “We got into a big fight and I kind of, sort of…ended the engagement.”
Welp. The cat’s out of the bag now.
I’m not sure what to make of his expression, but Oakley’s definitely not upset about the news. “Oh.”
“I’m not ready to get married yet,” I explain, even though he didn’t ask for one. “I don’t know what that means or where that leaves things between Stone and I, but I feel like a gigantic weight’s been lifted off my chest.”
Like I’m no longer drowning.
He gives my hand a small squeeze. The contact causes a shiver to run down my spine. “Then you know you did the right thing.”
That may be true, but right now it just hurts.
Like an open wound that won’t heal.
Oakley stands and reaches for my hand to help me up. “Let’s get you home.” He pauses. “Shit.”
“Shit? What’s shit? Nothing’s shit.”
Well, other than my life at the moment.
His jaw hardens. “I have my bike.”
I shrug, not understanding. “So?”
I’ve never been on a motorcycle before, but it seems like a lot of fun.
Heat rushes over my face when his eyes peruse my body from head to toe.
“That dress might be an issue.” A frown pulls at his mouth and his entire demeanor changes. “I don’t want you on my bike.”
Color me confused. “Why?”
Those blue orbs harden. “Because the last time I drove with you I almost—”
“But you didn’t,” I argue before he can finish that sentence. “Sure, I have a few scars, but someone once told me that scars meant I was stronger than what tried to kill me.” Rising on my tiptoes, I fold my arms around his neck and look deep into his eyes. “I forgive you, Oakley.”
His nostrils flare as pain illuminates his face. “Don’t.”
Not the reaction I was hoping for. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t say shit like that when you don’t even know what it is you’re forgiving me for.”
“Then tell me.” A groan of frustration leaves me. “Tell me everything that happened between us.”
I’m so tired of not knowing.
He unlocks my arms from his neck and walks over to his bike.
I open my mouth to argue some more, but he chucks his helmet at me. “Put this on.”
I hold up the shiny black helmet. “Do you have one for you?”
“Let’s go,” he grunts as he straddles the bike, ignoring my concern.
After securing the helmet on my head, I hop on and wrap my arms around his waist.
I’m not prepared for how it feels to have our bodies so close or the way it makes my heart race.
Looking over his shoulder, he grinds out, “Hold on tight.”
Pressing my cheek against his back, I constrict my grip…
Holding on to him with everything I have.
“We’re gonna get arrested,” Oakley warns.
I launch another egg at the car then duck behind the bushes. “Not if no one sees us.”
He gestures to the carton of eggs on the ground. “Why are we doing this again?”
I pick up another egg. “Because Stone’s mom is a bitch, but it would be wrong to punch her. Plus, this is way more fun.” I wind my arm back. “This is for forcing me to go with lilies instead of roses like I wanted.”
I squeal in delight when the egg goes splat against her windshield.
Take that, bitch.
I pick up another one. “This is for saying it would be weird and attention-seeking to have both my brothers and my dad walk me d
own the aisle.”
Oakley picks up the next egg. “This is for driving a Ford when everyone knows they suck.”
When I give him a look, he shrugs. “What? It’s all I got.”
I laugh when he throws it and it lands on the Ford emblem.
“Nice shot.”
He flexes. “Thanks, I’ve been practicing.” He points to her car. “She has giant dice hanging from her mirror.”
“Basic bitch move,” I note.
We throw our eggs at the same time.
Only they don’t hit her car…
They hit the car pulling up beside it.
Which happens to belong to her son.
Well, shit.
Oakley yanks me behind the bush just as Stone exits his vehicle.
When I see Oakley’s lips twitch, I place a finger over mine, reminding him to be quiet.
A moment later we hear, “What the fuck?” Followed by, “Goddamn kids.”
And that’s all it takes.
I start laughing so hard it hurts.
“Who’s there?” Stone barks.
Next thing I know, I’m on my back and Oakley’s hovering above me. “You’re gonna get us caught, chuckles.”
I’m honest to God trying to stop, but I can’t. I haven’t had this much fun in forever.
“I can hear you laughing, you little shit,” Stone yells.
A snort escapes me.
Shooting me a warning look, Oakley places his hand over my mouth, but I can tell he’s close to giving in himself.
“Next time you punks pull this crap, I’m calling your parents,” Stone gripes.
The moment his footsteps fade away, the laughter we were both trying to suppress breaks free.
“It’s not funny,” I say through laughter.
“It’s not funny,” Oakley agrees as his head dips to the crook of my neck and he starts laughing so hard he shakes. “It’s fucking hysterical.”
Another round hits us and I start wheezing…
And then I feel it.
His cock growing hard and heavy against my thigh.
A tremble runs through my body when he shifts so he’s nestled between my legs, brushing right against my core. When I take a breath to gather my bearings, our lips almost touch.
