Hate So Good: A High School Bully Romance (The Hate Series Book 2) by Nina Lincoln (first color ebook reader .txt) 📗

“Who?” I ask with defeat.

“Colt for one, Hayden. Maybe Ramie?”

“You trust them?”

“As much as I trust you.”

Giving her a disgruntled look, I mutter, “That didn’t answer the question.”

She just shrugs, and I’m left bewildered and a little unsettled.

*****

The following day, they all trudge into my living room with varying degrees of grimness. I’m less than thrilled to have both Hayden and Colt here, but I’m willing to put aside the bullshit for now if it means getting rid of my fan.

Ramie looks around curiously, wandering through the living room with a contemplative expression. Colt sits down on the sofa, refusing to make eye contact, which hurts, but I’m trying to be objective, not an easy feat.

Hayden barrels through the door with the same devilish smirk as always, laughing at my feisty glare, and finally, Melissa trails in behind, giving me an encouraging nod.

“Okay, why are we here?” Hayden asks as soon as we’re all gathered in the living room.

I glance at Melissa, and she smiles, but it’s all teeth and frankly looks a little serial killer-ish. “To find the dick harassing Finn.”

“How?” Colt says, leaning forward with glittering eyes, the first show of emotion since he walked through the door.

“We find Tiffany or Ben or both and ensure they give us the information.”

Colt glances at Hayden, who smiles grimly. Ramie looks around disturbed, and I don’t blame her because Ben’s an unknown and probably dangerous.

Before I can say anything, though, Melissa speaks. “Ramie, have you heard from Ben?”

With a bitter laugh, she says, “The jerk texts me every day, but it’s not from his phone. Maybe he buys prepaid? I don’t know.”

“What does he want?”

“Mostly its threats,” she says with a shrug.

It’s silent while the guys who clearly had no idea the extent of their broken relationship stare at her incredulous.

“What kind of threats?” Colt demands.

“I’m watching you. Don’t forget. I’m here. You better not step out of line.”

“Maybe we could use that?” Melissa says tentatively, “You know, convince him to meet up?”

“Absolutely not,” Hayden growls, with hard eyes, his mouth pulled back in a brutal snarl.

Surprised, I glance at Ramie. Her face is pale, her eyes wide as she considers Melissa’s words.

“If it would help Finn, I...I’ll do it,” Ramie says with a trembling smile.

“No! It’s too dangerous!” Hayden barks.

“She doesn’t have to be there,” Colt reasons, “and we can deliver him to the police when we’re done.”

“Fuck that!” Hayden says, standing abruptly and leaving the room, slamming the door so hard, I cringe.

We all look around a little bewildered, and I spy a suspicious flush to Ramie’s cheeks. Is there something more than just a crush there?

“Anyway,” Ramie says, clearing her throat. “I’d be willing to try if you are?”

“Maybe we should go for Tiffany first?” I say uneasily.

I’d hate for this to come back badly on Ramie - Ben’s a mean motherfucker.

Colt slowly nods, a grim resignation to his features, and my stomach swoops as he turns to stare at me with cold eyes.

“I can get to Tiffany,” he says heavily.

My mouth curls up in a sad smile, and he responds in kind before looking away. I want to beg him not to take it too far with Tiffany, but I’m afraid I no longer have the right. This is all so fucked up.

No one has seen Tiffany since she cornered me in the pizzeria. I assume she’s lying low, similar to Ben, because I told the police everything.

“By the way,” I say hesitantly. “I told the police about Sarah. I have a feeling they think I’m a whack job, but whatever.”

Colt’s face spasms with pain, and before anyone can react, he stands and walks to the door. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”

With that, he leaves, and I stare at the door sadly. I want him to come to me and beg, but I’m afraid too much has happened anyway. Besides, when has Colt Theroux ever begged for anything?

“That was...weird,” Ramie mutters.

“Yeah,” Melissa says, pulling out a bottle of whiskey. “Now we get shit faced.”

*****

We hear nothing from Colt the remainder of the evening, and after Melissa pulled out the booze, we downed the entire bottle. Now we’re laying around on the floor, basically, shit faced.

Blearily I stare at the ceiling while Melissa and Ramie argue the merits of all that is Hayden.

“He’s got beautiful eyes,” Ramie says dreamily.

Melissa snorts, “His eyes are fucking creepy. Like I’m gonna kill you in your sleep.”

“Whatever. What about his ass? Yum.”

Melissa pauses and then agrees, “Okay, you got me there. He does have a nice tight ass.”

Rolling my eyes and ignoring the way my head swishes when I do, I mutter in exasperation, “Can we stop talking about Hayden? Geez, you’d think he was the hottest guy on the planet.”

They both turn to me with similar looks of disbelief, and I shrug, heat suffusing my cheeks.

“What?”

“He is the hottest guy,” Ramie says. “You’d see it if you weren’t hung up on lover boy.”

Silently acknowledging her words, I smile sadly and say, “Yeah.”

“What’s the deal with you two anyway? I thought you were all hot and heavy again.”

“Apparently, he and Hayden and Nate like to play games,” I mutter sourly.

Sitting up, she moans, clutching her head, and I give a brief thought to be wickedly grateful, I’m not the only one who’s drunk as she lectures me.

“So? They’ve done that shit since they were kids. Get over it. Colt’s out there wooing a bitch for you. I could only be so lucky,” she says tartly.

“What if I don’t trust him?” I whisper.

“Do you?” she asks pointedly.

Glancing away, I refuse to respond, and she sighs, “Look, we only get one great love. Do you want to pass up yours because he’s stupid?”

Getting up, I stagger to the bathroom and stare at my reflection. Is Colt my one true love? I don’t know, but I may never know if I let him go.

Chapter Nine

The following morning, I throw up ten times to expel the evil I