Page 9 of Too Hostile

But Josh was a lot cooler than we all thought and didn’t miss a beat when he found out his friend was gay.

Of course, I kind of fucked up that summer and fooled around with him too. And Christmas break. Thankfully, it was not a love connection between Josh and Bree or I’d feel like a total asshole.

But the reason I’m tense is that Bree has no idea about any of it. No one does. Because once she knows about it, she’d be fine with it. Just like Blair. Probably totally inappropriate but fine. But when I open my mouth to tell her about it, I can’t do it.

There’s some sort of weird block there I hate. I internally curse myself, and Bree doesn’t miss it. “You okay? You look pale.”

I clear my throat and start to walk toward her car. She follows along. “I’m fine.”

She unlocks her car and opens the door, climbing in. “Okay, well why don’t you go get your big ass some food?”

I smile and nod. “Okay. I will. Be careful.”

She waves to me. “See you at the party.” She closes her door, and I wave before moving out of her way, so she can leave the lot.

As I walk back to my car, I’m surprised yet again as my favorite professor approaches the gray Lexus next to my Jeep. His hazel glare meets mine as I unlock my Jeep, loving that the beep sound is extra obnoxious.

“Nice car,” I taunt him, opening my door.

“Thanks,” he bites out, clearly not happy to see me. “My mommy and daddy didn’t pay for it.”

Prick.

He got me though. He gives me a cold smile before he climbs behind the wheel of his fancy ass car, starting it, then leaving the parking lot without another look in my direction.

Damn, I love seeing that little hint of fight he has in him.

Nothing hotter, in my opinion.

He thinks it pushes me away, but really, all it is, is a beacon to my fucked-up soul.

FLETCHER

The drive didn’t really help. As much as I love messing with Professor Barlowe, I hate when he rattles me. And him dismissing me like he did today, for some reason, got to me.

But I nearly die of a heart attack when I unlock my apartment door and am instantly greeted by not my mom this time—no, this time it’s Rhett doing the breaking and entering.

“Seriously?” I ask, tossing my keys on the table next to the door and trying to calm my racing pulse. “Do we need to establish some boundaries?” I ask as I make my way to the couch and sit next to him on the sofa, where he’s made himself at home.

He gives a quick laugh. “Let’s just call it payback. I believe you broke into my apartment a few times.”

I grin because yes, yes I did. Our whole little makeshift family is totally free of boundaries.

“Where have you been?” he asks, and I sigh, tired from the day.

“Driving around.”

“What’s wrong?” He immediately becomes serious, and damn it, if there’s anyone on this planet who knows me better than myself, it’s Rhett. Blair, Rhys, and Bree know me well, but Rhett knows me the best.

“I have a professor who hates my guts.”

Rhett is quiet for a moment. I know he doesn’t miss when I go for a drive to nowhere, it’s because I’m dealing with stuff. It’s my little ritual. He sketches, but I drive with the music turned up loud on a path to nowhere. Just drive until I start to feel calm, or I give up and head home.

“And? That bothers you?” He sounds genuinely confused, and I laugh because yeah, people not liking me doesn’t usually get to me. I couldn’t give a flying fuck.

Usually.

I shrug. “He goes out of his way to remind me that he’s better than me. That I’m just a kid he looks down on,” I say, my voice thick with emotion I hate. “It’s reminiscent of every motherfucker I ever met before Rhys and Blair.”

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