Page 4 of His Brave Girl

The next text is also from Sarah.

Sarah:Sorry I sent the pic. Just thought you’d want to know. Don’t let it ruin your day, gurl. Hugs

Yeah right. I call bullshit. I can read right through the lines on that one. She couldn’t wait to tell me the news. I bet Sarah was hoping it would send me crying in a corner. In fact, I’d bet a hundred bucks Chelsea was standing right by her side as she wrote it out, waiting to see what my response would be. I hate to break it to them, but their attack didn’t strike down their target like they’d hoped, and I won’t be giving them what they’re eagerly waiting for: my pain.

Me:Please look out for her. Don’t want her to end up in my same shoes. Btw, if you see him, can you please tell him to stop texting and calling me. Thanks for the update! Hugs

As soon as I hit send, I block her number in my phone. I’m done with them. All of them. And I’m not going to continue to pretend like we’re all friends and have each other’s backs. I always had theirs, but they never had mine. I know it goes with the Elite territory, so I shouldn’t have been shocked, but knowing they were only pretending to be my friend for all that time still stings. I guess no matter how strong your armor is, deceit still penetrates.

The last three texts I have are all from the prick.

Maddock:I know you’re not answering your phone because you saw the picture.

Maddock:Quit being stubborn, babe, and let me explain. She means nothing to me. You’re it for me.

I roll my eyes. He’s such a lying ass. I’m contemplating whether I should unblock Sarah’s number and send her a screenshot of this message so she can share it with Chelsea. You know what, I’m done playing the nice guy. Chelsea knows what he did to me, and she also saw what happened to Sophie, so she only has herself to blame when she gets burned by him too.

I’m not even going to bother listening to his voicemails right now. I’m sure they’re all the same. Him telling me how much he loves me, how sorry he is, and how if I just take him back, he’ll never do it again. And yet, here is living proof that he’s an asshole. Because if he wanted to win me back, he wouldn’t be hooking up with my “friend”—even if it meant nothing to him. Thank goodness for this picture, by the way, because now I can finally use it to get him to leave me alone.

Maddock: Why the fuck aren’t you answering your phone? You always were such a stubborn bitch.

“I’m not answering my phone because I don’t want to talk to you, you cheating bastard.”

Besides that, I’m in school, you stupid idiot. I flip him off through my phone, wishing he could see me. The jerk. I just want him to leave me alone, but unfortunately, I don’t think he will. Which means I’m going to have to block his number too. Something I’m finally more than ready to do.

I push the buttons on my phone and turn to head toward the cafeteria but slam right into a wall of muscle. I quickly latch onto the very rigid chest, realizing too late who it belongs to. A rush of heat courses through me. Butterflies start fluttering in my stomach. It’s like he’s a magnet to my every sense. Awakening me and drawing me towards him. Every part of my body feels like it’s being electrocuted. And by the look in his eyes, I know he feels it too, making those warning bells blare louder.

“Aren’t you going to give your old friend a hug, Presley?”

My breath flows out of me in a whoosh. If it weren’t for my hands still pressed against his chest, I’d probably be sinking. I need to take a step back, but before I can find the strength, I lose my chance. He tugs me in closer, wrapping me up in a tight embrace. My own arms find their way around his back and my body melts into him. He’s no longer that twelve-year-old boy Iused to play tag with; no, Kyler is all man. One seriously dark and dangerous man.

The longer he holds me, the more eager his body becomes. His head nuzzles into the side of my neck and his lips begin brushing across my skin. It’s like he can’t get close enough. My own hands cling to his shirt, wanting to snuggle into the familiar comfort. I turn my head to the side and that’s when his mouth runs up my jawline, leaving a trail of sparks in its path. When he gets to my mouth, he stops. Hovering in the air. Near millimeters away from me. Eyes boring into mine, seeking permission.

God, I want to grant it. I want to drag his mouth to mine and devour his lips more than I want to take my next breath. But…I can’t. I need to put a stop to this. This isn’t going to happen. It can’t.

I take a step back, pushing out of his embrace. “It’s good to see you, Kyler. I’ll see you around.”

CHAPTER 3

Kyler

Ican’t believe she’s back. Except, she hasn’t returned as that sparky kid I once called my best friend, the girl who was my very first crush and my everything when I was a young boy. She came back as a walking wet dream, with tits girls envy and a body men crave. That feeling that was once a mere crush is now a force so strong it nearly knocked me on my ass the moment I caught sight of her. But she’s trying to avoid me, acting as if we didn’t spend every day together when we were kids.

I walk into the cafeteria and join my friends at our usual table. Not surprised to find Chase and Cassie in an argument. I take my seat and scan the room for Presley while I listen to see what Cassie is bitching about today. That girl is always pissed about something. It’s still a fucking mystery to me what Chase even sees in her.

Ah, there she is. Presley is sitting in the back corner next to Ruby. Huh…that’s interesting. It’s the last table I’d expect her to be at. She should be sitting with us, the leaders of the pack, butI won’t be pressing the issue today. I am curious though why she chose to sit with Ruby. That girl’s a recluse and always keeps her nose in a book. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever even heard the girl speak before.

The two arguing next to me seem to be growing more heated and I’m caught by what they’re saying.

“You’re just jealous because she’s a knockout and you hate that she’s prettier than you,” Chase snaps and my head whips around. My ears perk up, wondering exactly who they’re talking about. Pretty sure I know who’s got Cassie’s panties in a jealous twist, but I’m not going to react to that assumption just yet.

Cassie turns a fierce glare on Chase, which is a big mistake.

“She is not prettier than me, Chase, and that’s not the reason. She was rude to me in class when I went out of my way to be nice to her and offer her a seat with us.” Her eyes snap a scowl in my girl’s direction, and it confirms what I suspected. They’re definitely talking about Presley. But Cassie’s dead wrong. Presley is on an entirely different level of gorgeous.

While Cassie is small-town beauty-queen pretty, Presley belongs in a centerfold as the most stunning and sexy girl ever to exist. Damn, I seriously can’t get over how she’s changed. Presley was a scrawny little girl, always cute and always the prettiest girl to me, but I’d never pictured she’d grow up to have killer curves. And those Legs…

“She wasn’t fucking rude to you, Cassie. She just said no thanks.” Chase shakes his head. His patience next to nil. She better back down or else she’s not gonna like how this ends. By the look in Chase’s eyes, it might be the grand finale.

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