Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“They don’t change, Jade. Don’t waste your time chasing guys like that. One minute you think they give a shit. The next…” I waved a hand toward Zepp and his flock. “They’re all the same.”
“Hey,” Chase pointed at himself. “I’m right here.”
“You don’t count.” I gave him a playful shove, and he nearly toppled into the hammock.
“So, I’m what, the token dick?”
“Pretty much.” Jade laughed. “You might as well be gay.”
“Gee, thanks.” He took our cups, and we followed him to the keg where other members of the football team and a few cheerleaders hung around in a group. Chase fell into easy conversation with them, but I instantly felt out of place.
This wasn’t me. When I chanced a glance at Zepp, his gaze fixed on me, while some girl pawed at him. God, I couldn’t do this.
Kreuger came by, dancing with bottles of liquor held above his dreadlocked head. He stopped to exchange a fist bump with Chase, then handed him a bottle of tequila, which I promptly snatched. I broke the seal, swallowing a few burning gulps before I nearly gagged.
“Hey.” Chase touched a hand to my back. “Go easy, Moe.”
I took another look at Zepp and those slutty girls. “Fuck that.” I tipped the liquor back again.
“Chug! Chug! Chug!” The football players chanted, then Jade grabbed the bottle off me.
She took a small swig, sticking out her tongue while she choked. “That’s awful. You’re so gonna throw up.”
Some time and a lot of tequila later, a warm tingle trickled through my veins. Suddenly, it felt like nothing mattered. Everything around me swirled in a blur of color while I danced with Jade.
The song ended, and when I stopped to catch my breath, a scrawny guy shoved a shirt at me. “Wanna do the wet T-shirt contest?” He grinned like the perverted guys I used to give lap dances to.
My gaze veered behind him to the group of girls surrounding Zepp and Wolf. Rebellion bled through my soul.
“No, she does not.” Chase went to shove him away, and I snatched the shirt from the guy’s hand as he stumbled backward.
“What do I win?” I asked.
“Ten bucks.”
“Sure.” God, I was cheap these days. “I’m not getting them out, though. That’ll cost at least fifty.”
Jade leaned in by my ear. “Zepp is giving you a death glare.”
“Fuck him!” I shouted, grabbing the tequila bottle from Chase and taking another swig.
Jade facepalmed before snatching the bottle from me. “You’re absolutely gonna puke.”
“Whatever.” I stumbled toward the house to find a bathroom. I made it past the double-doored fridge before someone grabbed my wrist.
“You are not doing this.” Chase moved in front of me, shaking his head. “Absolutely not.” It took me a moment to figure out how I felt about that, but when I did, I was pissed.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re not flashing your tits to everyone.”
“Let me make this clear.” I held my finger up, swaying when I tried to focus on it. “You have zero say in what I do.”
His brows creased before he took a step back, a fissure of disgust tearing across his face. “Is this because of him? Are you trying to make him jealous?”
Was I? I didn’t really know. The music of the party hummed through the walls. “No.”
“Because he’s not worth it. He doesn’t get you, Moe. You’re better than some street thug.”
My face heated. Chase didn’t know a thing about Zepp. “He’s not a street thug.”
“No?” He shook his head. “He’s a drug dealer, Moe, that’s it.”
“You don’t know him!”
“I know you!” He grabbed my arm, yanking me close to him. “You’re the best person I know, Monroe.” But he didn’t know me. Not now.
“I’m not, Chase.”
“You deserve someone who loves you. Really loves you.”
“I’m…” I didn’t know what to say to that. I’d never been loved—until Zepp. And he had broken me.
Chase’s lips suddenly pressed over mine, and my mind blinked out for a second. Like it couldn’t even comprehend what was happening. I slammed my palms against his chest and pushed him away.
I swiped my hand over the back of my mouth. “What the hell, Chase?” That unwelcomed kiss left me feeling violated, and that was a catalyst to a form of rage that burned me up. “You think you can just kiss me?”
“Shit. No, I just—”
“Just what, Chase? Just take what you want?”
“No.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“I will never want you like that.”
His face fell, pain crossing his features. Chase backed away like a kicked puppy before shouldering through the back door. For a second, I felt bad because I knew what that kind of rejection was like.
Guilt quickly jumped back to anger. Zepp had been right. And that just made everything worse, because I couldn’t see it. Just like I hadn’t seen it with Max. Chase was supposed to have been my friend. And Zepp was supposed to trust me and love me. Guess I was wrong on both accounts. Screw them both.