Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Hey! Tiana!”
My head snaps up from my phone when Carter calls out to her, lifting a hand overhead to wave at the girl now walking toward us wearing a shit-eating grin. “Way to go! You should be a professional photographer!”
“What can I say?” she asks with a shrug. “When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s easy.”
“You’re passionate about this?” Jerking my head to the side, I signal for her to join me behind a thick tree, where we might have a little bit of privacy.
Of course, Carter takes it the wrong way. “Maybe you two should get a room to celebrate,” he suggests with a laugh, lifting a hand as he walks away. I notice him approaching a group of guys who are all laughing and whistling at the photo.
They have no right to see her that way. The way I’ve seen her. The way she looked when she gazed up at me, so full of trust, maybe a little worried but willing to take a chance.
Look where that chance got me.
Tiana leans against the tree, folding her arms, giving me a coy smile that turns my stomach. “You’re welcome,” she purrs.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Her smile slips, her brows drawing together like she’s confused. Of course she’s confused. She never thinks in the first place. “I don’t get it. You said you hate her. I did it for you!” she tells me in a fierce whisper.
“You did it for me? I don’t remember ever asking you to do a damn thing for me, especially not this.”
How can she stare at me like she’s not sure whether she can believe what I most definitely mean? “Are you serious?” she asks in a voice that trembles. If anything, it pisses me off more.
“Do I look like I’m fucking joking? You dumb bitch,” I hiss, relishing the pain that touches her eyes. Now I can’t believe I ever let her anywhere near my dick, much less the rest of me. I must’ve been pretty goddamn desperate last night.
“You don’t mean that.”
“Tell me again what I do and don’t mean.” Leaning in, I place a hand on either side of her head, the bark rough under my palms. I focus on the sensation. It centers me. “Go ahead. I dare you.”
And she is still searching my face for understanding, waiting for the punchline. “Why are you being like this? You said you hate her. I hate her, too.”
“Because of me? I didn’t ask for that.”
Pouting, she murmurs, “You didn’t have to.”
“Let’s get this straight.” Leaning in, my eyes crawl over her face, registering the fear that is starting to leak through her disbelief. “Maya is my problem. That means she is mine to torment. You don’t get the satisfaction. Understood?”
“You can’t mean that.”
“Don’t tell me what I do and don’t mean.” I can barely get the words out through my clenched teeth. “Got it?”
Even now, she still doesn’t want to believe me. “Got it?” I demand, sharp enough to make her eyes fly open wide.
“Okay,” she whispers. Her chin trembles, but she takes a deep breath and lifts it. “Whatever you say.” Something tells me it’s not going to be that simple, especially since she sounds so hateful. For now, I need to let it go. I wouldn’t want her to start throwing accusations and insults around. Loudly.
“Good. Let’s keep it that way.” Pushing away from the tree, I give her one last disgusted look before walking away. I’ve got to get out of here. I can’t stand hearing the snide, stupid laughter of so many people who don’t know the first thing about what’s really going on. It is so easy to lead them around, to tell them how to think and how to act. There’s no way any of them could understand how pathetic they look to me right now. I have a reason to hate her. Not them.
Because I know what it’s like to trust her. To feel vulnerable around her. To have that vulnerability thrown back in my face.
The worst part is, I liked her. I really did. I thought she was special. At that time, I was naïve enough to believe there was such a thing as a special girl, somebody I could trust and relate to, somebody I could let my guard down in front of. I’ve been cursing myself for my stupidity ever since.
I had to park pretty far back in the lot when I got here, since I was late and so many people had already come in for class by then. I walk down a row of cars, then another, not seeing any of them. Instead, all I see is the past, and all the regrettable choices I’ve made.
Until a familiar cloud of strawberry blonde hair catches my eye over the roof of the car next to my truck. Even now, my stupid heart clenches in recognition. I figured she would’ve fled campus by now, with that picture going around. She has to know Tiana sent it to everybody.