Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 447(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
I pulled into a spot, cracked the window, and then placed him in the passenger seat. “Stay there.”
Dog huffed when I reached for the door. “Don’t dig up the seat, and I’ll get you Doritos.” Promising Doritos to a dog if he behaved felt oddly familiar to how I handled Hendrix.
I went straight to the back of the store, scanning the selection of chips. When the bell over the door dinged, I glanced over the shelves. A habit born of years of shoplifting and watching for cops. A cop would have been a more welcoming sight than Blocked-My-Number Brent strolling in, the black eye I’d given him now a nasty yellowish-green. He either didn’t notice me on his way to the restrooms, or he’d chosen to ignore me.
I grabbed a bag of Original Doritos, trying to tamp down the anger rising in my chest like a provoked cobra, fangs out and hissing. That motherfucker was the reason for half the emotional bullshit I’d endured the past two years, not to mention my suspension.
The bag crinkled in my hand when I imagined the smug-ass expression that must have crossed his stupid face when he’d blocked my number. When he’d kept me out of the way and stolen my girl. Of course he had to manipulate Jade into dating his sorry ass.
He’d destroyed not one but two of my dreams.
I told myself he wasn’t worth it. To be the bigger person, pay for the damn chips, and leave the store, but the thought of him snaking his way into Jade’s bed had me frozen in rage. Then I thought about him possibly having slashed her tires. I told myself that was the reason I chucked the chips onto the shelf and headed to the back of the store. That he’d crossed a line by fucking with her, but the truth was, he’d crossed my line a long time ago.
I rounded the coolers, snatching open the restroom door.
Brent stood at the urinal, dick in hand. He didn’t glance over his shoulder until the lock clicked, then his face washed white. “I just…” He crammed his dick back into his jeans. When he went to move around me, I snatched him by the shirt and slammed him against the cinderblock wall hard enough to force a grunt from his lips.
“You slashed her fucking tires on Friday night?”
“What? No.” He shook his head. “I haven’t seen her since…since Tuesday.”
I used more of my weight to press him to the wall, and he winced.
“I’m serious. I wouldn’t do that. I swear.”
“You think I’m going to believe your bullshit?” My grip tightened.
He clawed at my hand, panic crawling over his face like a little bitch. “I-I love her.” Those words were akin to acid burning through my veins. “I wouldn’t—”
“Shut the fuck up!”
He paled a little more.
“You blocked my number. You cheated on her.” God, I wanted to grab the little shit by his throat and choke him out. “Why the fuck should I believe you?”
“I went to my mom’s for the weekend. I can show you receipts. Whatever will prove it to you. Just…” He struggled against my hold. “Don’t hit me.”
But my grip didn’t loosen. If anything, it tightened. Frustration and anger pushed me harder by the second.
“I care about her. I would never do anything to hurt Jade. Okay?”
“Oh, you care about her?” I snorted back an angry laugh. “You have the audacity to tell me that you care about her?” My hand had moved to his throat, squeezing a little too tightly. “You blocked my number to get her. Pretended to be her friend. Took advantage.”
“I didn’t do it so she’d date me.” Gasping, he clawed at my hand, attempting to pry it loose. “I was just trying to help her. With her exams, and her dad losing his job—” The words spewed out like vomit. “She was a mess. Then you guys broke up, and she cried all the time, and…”
His blabbering faded to the background, none of his words audible over my own thoughts. Her dad had lost his job when we were still together? Before fuckface had blocked my number? I’d thought we told each other everything back then, but no. She’d told Brent—her “friend”—and not me. Hurt wormed its way deep inside me. Jade must have been checked out months before she wanted that break. And this little shit was there to be her white-fucking-knight. My jaw tensed, and I gave him one last shove, bringing my face inches from his.
“Leave her the fuck alone. You see her on campus, your ass better turn the other way. She walks into a bar you’re in, you leave. Lose her number. Forget she exists, or I’ll fucking kill you. Understood?”
After he gave a frantic nod, I dropped him onto the grimy restroom floor and left. Pissed as hell, without the damn Doritos.