Page 78 of White Hole

“Kinsley, please stop talking. Please for once in your life. Stop.”

“No! Everyone needs to know. And you’re a prick for covering it up, too.” I had to reach up, but I smacked him hard across the face, then turned around and swiftly walked to the mansion.

Before I could reach the entrance to the house, however, Mr. Cardell got up and made an announcement. Standing near the door, I listened as Xavier proposed to my friend, Marissa. Despite the absolute beauty of the moment, it made me want to cry and run away. Wiping a few tears from my eyes, I walked back to congratulate the happy couple.

Putting on a happy face, I hugged Marissa, wishing her a happy new life. George stood near the back of our group of friends, away from me. If he came any closer, I may have slapped him again. Shifting from foot to foot, I plastered a fake smile on until it felt like I could leave without making an even bigger scene than I already had. When the timing was right, I slipped out of the party unnoticed.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

GEORGE

It all came crashing down,imploding like a dying sun. I watched Kinsley run away and didn’t stop her. Why should I? It was always going to end up this way.

My best friend was there with his girl proposing, and I couldn’t even congratulate them. Xavier’s eyes met mine and I nodded. He winked.

Others surrounded the happy couple, and I let myself get pushed to the back of the crowd. We were called to our seats for dinner. Millie Cardell must have forgotten my hatred for my father because my assigned seat was next to him. The mayor was on the other side. Barrett Grant sat to my right with an empty seat between us where my date would have sat. Barrett’s smug face stared at me as I grabbed my water goblet and chugged. I needed something stronger.

Barrett kept his eyes on me as I looked around for a waiter to bring me some whiskey. “What?” I finally asked, annoyed.

“Told you she was trouble. Saw the whole thing.”

He wasn’t wrong. She was trouble. I shrugged my shoulders at him. Barrett moved away from his date and into the seat left for Kinsley. Leaning in closer, he spoke softly. My father and his were also engaged in a quiet conversation.

“We can take care of that trouble.”

I lifted my eyebrows. Curious, I waited, wondering what he had in mind.

“Yeah. I mean, your play to fuck her into submission was a good one, but obviously not good enough.” He glanced up at his father. “We’ve had someone following her.” I waited for him to continue. “Are you in this with us?”

A large hand clasped my shoulder, and my father spoke quietly in my ear, “Listen to Barrett, son. We need to end this problem.”

My face hardened, and I popped my jaw. Nodding slowly, I agreed. “She deserves it.”

Barrett’s smile widened. “Fuck yeah, she does.”

“Bitch thought she could embarrass me in front of everyone. Leave me like everyone else does.” I spoke through my teeth, mainly to myself. The waiter finally brought a whiskey. “Bring me another.” Downing the double, I slammed the glass onto the table. “What’s the plan?”

“How far do you want to go?”

Before I could speak, my father and the mayor left the table. They knew. They probably had told Barrett to plan this. “Far.”

Barrett nodded. “Have dinner with us next Friday, my father and me. I think your father will be there, too.”

“Where?”

“We’ll send a car for you. You live at Theta Rho Zeta manor, right?”

I nodded.

“Stan will pick you up at 8 p.m.”

* * *

Somehow, I made it through the week and finals without failing. Kinsley’s Chanel scent was everywhere in my room, despite me doing laundry. My lowest point was jerking off with her pillow over my face, huffing the smell of her hair like it was a can of spray paint. No, that was probably the second lowest. The worst was when I slept with it every night, pretending she was there with me. I even found myself saying her name one night, waking myself up and reaching for her, only to remember she wasn’t with me.

When the mayor’s car came to pick me up, I was prepared. Ready for everything to be over. I needed it over. Nothing would stop me. I had nothing left. This was revenge.

I wasn’t even angry anymore. All of that had gone away. In its place was resolution, confidence, focus.

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