Page 100 of Hate To Love You

Hotshot ??

Me

Where are you?

I shove my phone back into my pocket and begin to head for the bathroom to check myself. I’m sure I look like a mess since I’ve been sweating from the heat downstairs.

When I turn the corner, I bump into someone. God, I really do have a habit of running into people.

I’m surprised when I look up to see a girl I recognize.

I recognize her blonde hair and large hazel eyes framed by thick lashes as her lips twist in a mischievous smile. Jealousy surges through my veins as I remember her talking to Ryker in the library during our first session.

I don’t really know what they were speaking about, but Ryker seemed really uninterested in the conversation, and she seemed butthurt over it.

“Oh, hi,” the girl purrs, her voice low and smoky. “You must be Gwen.”

My heart stutters. “Y-yes, I am. Do I know you?” I try my best to sound confident but I’m doing a shit job at it.

The girl laughs, and it’s a sound that sends a shiver down my spine. “Not yet, but I certainly know you. Or at least, I know who you're looking for.” Her gaze flicks over my shoulder, and her smile turns bitter. “Ryker, right?”

I feel a rush of embarrassment that this girl has seen right through me. Am I that obvious?

“Yeah… Do you know where he is?” I’m not sure why I’m even asking her. But she might know something about where Ryker is right now.

The girl steps closer, her perfume intoxicating, and goosebumps run down my arms as she whispers in my ear.

“Oh, I don’t know where he is right now. But I do know where he was last night,” she says ominously. My eyes narrow, and my heart picks up speed. What is she talking about? “He really likes it when you do this thing with your tongue while you, well, you know. I mean, you must know,” she shrugs, and the bitter smile turns into the bitchiest smile I’ve ever seen.

My heart feels like it stops all together. I picture Ryker's face and his easy smile, remembering the way my pulse quickened whenever he was near.

I trusted him, and I'd allowed myself to hope that he felt the same way about me. Now, all I feel is the sting of betrayal, a bitter taste in my mouth.

The girl must see the effect her words have on me because she takes a step back, her expression transforming into one of false empathy.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blindside you. I'm Amy, by the way. Ryker and I have been hooking up for a while. I think he might even want to make it official,”she smiles, and I have a strong urge to slap her across her bitchy face.

I feel a rising sense of anger as I look into her hazel eyes. “Why are you telling me this?”

Amy's eyes flash with a mixture of emotions, what looks like regret, resentment, and something like satisfaction.

“Because I’ve seen you two around campus together, and it looked like you were getting a little too comfortable, so I wanted you to know the truth. You seem like a good girl, and I wouldn’t want to see you get crushed by a guy like Ryker,” she explains, not sounding the least bit sincere.

My mind is reeling, and I feel nauseous. I let my guard down, I let myself feel, I let Ryker make me look like a fucking idiot. Why would he do this?

Amy's eyes darken. “Ryker likes to keep his options open. He always has, and you don’t strike me as the kind of girl that likes to have casual relationships,” she says, her eyes wandering down my body and back up to my face.

“Are you okay?” Amy asks, her voice turning soft as my ears begin to ring. “Look, I didn't come here to ruin your night. I just wanted you to know the truth. Ryker's a manwhore, and I didn't think it was fair for him to lead you on.”

I know she doesn’t actually give a shit about me or my feelings. She only wanted to rub it in my face that Ryker has also been sleeping with her. “Thanks,” I say, barely audible as I turn and head down the steps, my heart heavy and my thoughts racing.

I need to get out of here, to escape the stifling air of deception that now seemed to permeate the party.

As I walk toward the front door, Lainey and Ellie find me, their eyes wide with concern.

“There you are!” Lainey exclaims. “We've been looking everywhere for you. Ellie said you went to the bathroom, but you’ve been gone a while.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “I want to leave,” I state.

---