Page 142 of Dare To Break

I’m halfway across the campus when some sixth sense makes me look up. Eli is sitting on a wall, with a sketchbook balanced on his knee. Head down, he’s absorbed in drawing.

The dark-haired boy with angry green eyes.

My nemesis.

He sits alone, a shield of indifference wrapped around him.

The sight of him is like setting a match to a flame. Rage and betrayal swirl in a tight, fierce ball inside my chest. It adds to the weight of everything that’s been pouring into the dam of feelings I’ve kept in check for so long. Adding to all the years of the trauma of Elena’s failure to be the parent I need. My loneliness. The sense of never belonging.

I storm up to him, and I knock the sketchbook off his knee, rage overshadowing any fear I have for him.

“You’re disgusting and pathetic. Let me guess. You had Kellan lurking in the dark ready to take the photo? That’s why you kissed me, so you could just use it to humiliate me more.”

He’s silent for a beat, brow furrowing, and then his lips curl in a cruel smile. “Frightened Miles will dump you now, knowing you’re kissing other guys behind his back? It has to make him wonder if you’re spreading your legs for them too.”

I want to grab the padlock on its chain around his neck and choke him with it.

“You bastard.”

“I hope he wears a condom when you fuck. He wouldn’t want to be stuck with a little accident that comes with a price tag.”

I lunge at him, but an arm around my waist drags me back, preventing me from clawing his eyes out.

“Easy, Arabella.” Miles holds on tight.

Eli laughs, gathers his things, and walks away.

Struggling in my friend’s arms, I fight to charge after my stepbrother. “I’m going to kill him.”

“As much as I want to see Travers gone, I don’t want you being locked away for homicide.”

“There’s a photograph!” The three words leave my lips in a shriek, my eyes glaring at his back as he retreats.

Miles’ hold on me loosens. “A photograph?”

“Of him kissing me.”

“Shit.”

I straighten when he lets me go. “Tina showed it to the other girls on the cheer squad. You were right. It was a setup. Kellan must have been hiding in the bushes, waiting to snap the perfect shot. The worst part is Lacy told everyone that he’s my stepbrother.”

Miles groans. “There’s no way Tina is going to keep her mouth shut about that.”

I drop down onto my haunches, and cover my face with my hands, the anger leaving me in a rush. Tears blur my vision. “My life is over.”

Miles sinks down beside me. “No, it’s not.”

“Everyone is going to gossip about me because of him.”

He places a warm hand on my back. “They’ll be talking about something else in a few weeks.”

The sick feeling in my stomach only grows. “I’m not so sure about that. He did this on purpose! To alienate me from everyone. He’s dead set on making my life miserable.”

“Breathe.”

I swat at the tears blazing a path along my cheeks. “I hate him so much it hurts. I wish Eli Travers never existed.”

Chapter 92

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