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

snap to mine, growing dark before his mouth quirks up in a smirk, “In the flesh. Charming, eh?”

“Most definitely,” I say dryly.

He turns to the counter, straightening the tchotchkes displayed there, and I recognize the avoidance tactic. Colt’s never been good about sharing his emotions. I guess in this case, I don’t blame him.

“What did she mean? About you doing as you're told?” I ask tentatively.

His entire body stiffens like a live wire, his head falling back to the ceiling before he laughs bitterly and says, “If I don’t cause any trouble, she’ll allow my dad to keep seeing Mom.”

“Allow?”

“She holds the purse strings, owns the company. Dad’s just the puppet.”

“Wow, that’s fucked up. Why doesn't she care?”

Shrugging, he says, “I don’t think there’s any love lost between them. Maybe this gives her power, although she doesn’t need it with all the money. Dad sure isn’t leaving as long as she’s willing to give him access.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur.

Turning back to me, he smiles, and my breath hitches at the way his grey eyes light up the room, and overwhelmed, I turn away. I guess it’s my turn to avoid deep feelings. Maybe we’re both equally fucked in the head.

“Why are you here?” he asks softly.

Shrugging, I turn back to him and mutter, “I was going crazy at the house and here…”

“Here?” he asks, taking a single step toward me.

“I feel safe here.”

“Do you?”

“Yes,” I say, raising my face to his.

Reaching up, he runs the tip of his finger down my cheek, and I shiver under his touch, my veins liquefying as his eyes smolder with fire, but just as quickly as it came, he banks it and steps away.

To hide my discomfort and disappointment, I ask, “How did you know I was here?”

“I saw you sleeping,” he says with a devilish smirk.

“Oh.” Shrugging my shoulders helplessly, I laugh uncomfortably to cover the heat suffusing my cheeks.

“Anyway, you can stay. But I have to go.”

“Oh, okay,” I say awkwardly, turning away from him and the slicing pain in my chest.

I want to run to him and hold him tight, but I’m afraid that unlike with Tiffany, his arms would be loose and lackluster around me. Have I lost him already?

“Finn,” he says hesitantly.

“Yes,” I say, glancing back.

He stares at me intently before shaking his head, “Nothing.”

With that, he walks away, taking my bruised heart with him.

*****

The following week, Melissa’s MIA, Colt’s more distant than ever, and I’m avoiding Teddy. To say I’m lonely would be an understatement, and to add insult to injury, Colt’s seemingly dating some girl, a junior maybe.

Because I can’t stand the sight and I’m a fucking moron, I hide away in the library, nursing my wounds. Dully, I spend the time reading through my work and daydreaming about things better left in the dark.

It’s been a few weeks since the gym incident, so I’m not surprised, but I am filled with dread when I get a new text from my fan.

Well, hello, dear Finn. I’m disappointed our meeting got cut short, but don’t worry, I’ve been making plans for a reunion.

Staring at the phone with a sigh, I finally give in and type out a response.

Finn: What do you want with me?

For us to be together

Finn: Why?

Because you’re special, Finn, don’t you know?

Finn: If that’s the case, why won’t you tell me who you are?

Because dear Finn, what's the fun in that? No, I want it to be a surprise! Isn’t that delicious?

Finn: You’re not very nice for someone who claims to like me

Now don’t be petulant. This is all part of the fun. Before we get too off-topic, you should know, I punish those who betray me

You should remember that before you try seeking out my followers.

It won’t end well for them.

Setting down the phone with trembling fingers, I glance around, but I’m alone. Still, I can’t shake the feeling of being watched, which follows me everywhere I go. This guy is fucking insane, and there’s no way out of this, at least not without someone getting hurt.

Tell me you understand Finn, or this won’t go well for you. Stop trying to ruin my surprise.

Finn: I understand

Closing out the phone, I turn away, my stomach clenched with anger. This fucker is never going to give in, and every person I involve makes them vulnerable. I’m on my own.

Chapter Ten

March turns into April with barely a blink of the eye, but I’m too caught up in a fog of depression that weighs me down to notice. Avoiding everyone, afraid to put them in harm's way, I stick to myself and wallow in my misery, and as the days grow longer, my anxiety grows with it, the knowledge that my time is running out, weighing heavily on me.

I’m exhausted because I can’t sleep for fear my fan will appear the minute I close my eyes. I’m jumpy and damned if I’m not as paranoid as Tiffany was the last time I saw her. I guess now I know why she was acting so fucking weird. This jerk, whoever he is, burrows under your skin and lives like a fucking foreign invader waiting for the time to erupt.

Last night, as I laid awake staring at the ceiling, I came to the bitter realization my stalker is no different than my dad. We existed in a perpetual state of fear, always walking on eggshells waiting for the other shoe to drop around him. He cycled so quickly between his emotions that we were always on edge and exhausted. I thought I was free of that when my mom died, and he went to prison, but apparently, there is no escaping it.

In some fucked up way, I wonder if this isn't my penance. Maybe convincing myself, Mom was saying goodbye is a fucking lie. Perhaps she was begging me to do something, and instead, I sat there in petrified horror, and now it’s my fucking turn because I was a coward then.

Who knows?

Melissa’s been avoiding me, although she