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Her eyes clouded with tears, but I didn’t care. My feelings hardened to her even while my heart bled in my chest for the loss of a girl who was like a sister to me. “Tell me!” I yelled when she remained silent. The food court in the mall fell quiet as everyone turned to look at us, but I didn’t give two fucks. Everyone could stare and see my best friend for the traitorous bitch she apparently truly was.

“Since you left for college,” she whispered. “I come home a lot, and it just kind of happened?—”

It just kind of happened.How does fucking your best friend’s boyfriend justkind of happen?

I lurched from my seat, my rage so out of control, I almost couldn’t see past the red tinting my vision. I grabbed her by her perfect, blonde hair and slammed her face into the table. I heard her nose break, and blood gushed, splashing onto the table and ruining her makeup and her shirt. Then, I yanked her out of the chair and punched her in the face, sending her sprawling to the ground, sobbing and screaming.

“I can’t fucking believe you!” I yelled at her where she was lying on the floor, crying hard, blood mixing with snot.

She sobbed. “Holly, please,” she cried.

“You’re such a bitch! Why would you fucking do this to me?! His dick isn’t even that goddamn great, Ginger!” I screeched. “Dick over your best fucking friend?” I kicked her when she tried to stumble to her feet.

Then, someone grabbed my arms and wrenched them behind my back. I seethed as cuffs were placed around my wrists, restraining me.

“Burn in hell,” I snarled as the officer behind me began to read me my Miranda rights. And just for good measure, I spit right in her eyeball before the officer wrenched me away, marching me toward the exit.

Turned out, no one could be trusted. How many more people were going to betray me?

6

Holly

Icringed at the look of pure fury on my father’s face as I stepped out of the back of the police station, an officer following close on my heels. I’d only been in holding for a few hours, but it was enough to show me that I sure as hell did not want to go to jail. And it was long enough for my anger to cool and for reality to set in.

Christ, I was in deep shit.

“In the car. Now,” Dad growled before turning on his heel and storming out of the station. Ducking my head, I quickly followed him, my hands shaking with my nerves. My phone was off in my hand, and I was leaving it that way. No doubt Jenson was wondering why the hell I’d gone radio silent on him when I was on my phone all the time, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn it on yet. I could only deal with one problem at a time, and my issue with Dad was going to be catastrophic. I’dneverseen him this angry.

And God, I was sure social media was blowing up with the shit show I’d caused. I’d completely lost my fucking mind in the mall. If Ginger’s parents decided to press charges, I was royally fucked.

Dad was silent the entire way home—didn’t even turn on the radio. I fiddled with my phone, flipping it over and over in my palm, still too nervous to turn it on.

Dad turned onto our street, his hands white-knuckling the steering wheel. “When we get home, go inside, pack a bag, and go stay with a friend. I can’t hold a civil conversation with you right now over your dumb decisions today.”

I swallowed thickly, tears stinging my eyes. He’d never kicked me out like this, even if it was just for a night. “Dad—” I choked out as he pulled into the driveway.

He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, and I flinched. He never got angry like this, and it was a bit scary, especially aimed my way. “Fucking don’t, Holly!” he barked, swinging his dark eyes to me. I saw Jenson sitting on his porch over his shoulder, his eyes locked on Dad’s car. I forced my eyes back to Dad’s. “What the fuck were you thinking?!” he yelled at me. Tears flooded my eyes. Ihateddisappointing either of my parents, but even more, I hated disappointing Dad. He had worked so hard to give me everything I had, and I knew I’d shit all over that today.

“I was so angry,” I whispered.

“You’re not a fucking child,” he snarled at me before he shoved his car door open, getting out. I quickly followed suit, my hand white-knuckling my phone. “Fighting a girl over a boy? That’s childish behavior, Holly. You’re an adult, which means you now have a criminal record. Nothing will make that disappear, even if I manage to get Ginger’s parents to drop the charges against you.”

I hiccupped, my eyes flooded with tears. “I’m sorry,” I croaked.

He shook his head with a scoff. “Sorry does not fix this, Holly. And if I can’t get Ginger’s parents to drop these charges, you’ll be sitting in a jail cell. I willnotbend over backward to get you out of this.” He clenched his fist around his keys. “Pack a bag and find somewhere else to stay for the night,” he ordered. “I frankly do not care where you go right now.”

With that, he stormed into the house, slamming the door right in my face. I flinched before pushing it open and stepping inside, too ashamed to look Jenson’s way, though I could feel his eyes on me.

Mom didn’t say a word to me when I passed by her in the living room, but I could see the disappointment and sadness shining in her eyes. Swallowing a sob, I rushed upstairs to my room and quickly packed an overnight bag before running back downstairs and out the front door, tears streaking down my face.

My car still wasn’t there, and I didn’t know where in the world Dad thought I was supposed to go. My last friend in this town had betrayed me. I had no one. I hiccupped and squeezed my eyes shut, my shoulders shaking.

“Let’s go,” Jenson suddenly growled, snatching my bag from me and then grabbing my wrist in his other hand. I stumbled after him in shock, too surprised to even be alarmed that my parents might have seen him snatch me from the driveway. He gently pushed me through his front door before shutting it behind us, and the quiet click made me flinch. I would have preferred him to slam it. His calmness was terrifying after the explosiveness I’d just dealt with.

He set my bag on the coffee table before spinning to face me, his arms crossed over his chest. “What the fuck were you thinking, Holly? It’s all over social media.”

I swiped at my cheeks, hating that more tears slid down my cheeks to replace the ones I swept away. “She was my best friend, yet she was coming here on the weekends and holidays and betraying me by sleeping with him,” I choked out.

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