Page 16 of Tormented Kings

“Meet up after school?” Alice asks.

“Yeah.” I smile. “Need some study time.”

“Ah, more like we need to go pick out Halloween costumes.” Emma snorts. “It’s okay, babe; we know what you meant.” She winks before shooting a glare at Collin. She steps up close, getting in his face. Well, the best she can with the height difference. “I don’t care who you are, who your mommy is, or how much money you have. If you hurt my best friend again, I will sneak into your home and smother you in your sleep,” she whispers clearly.

I could almost cry again because how could I have kept all this from them? Of course, they would have my back. They would never judge. Sometimes, it’s hard to talk to others because admitting things out loud makes everything a lot more real.

But they’re my family, my people. No more keeping things from them. At least things I know I’m allowed to tell. The threat from Collin’s dad doesn’t count. He can eat shit and die, crazy bastard.

I watch as the girls leave, walking back up the hill and towards the school. It’s only then that I notice the other people mulling around in the distance, who could easily see how close Collin and I are right now.

The realization has me taking a step back and out of his hold.

He takes a step forward, brows furrowing. “People could see us,” I tell him, lowering my eyes because it hurts to look at him.

“I don’t fucking care if anyone sees,” he growls.

“Well, I do.” I raise my voice, my eyes snapping back up to his. “The last fucking thing I need right now is people spreading rumors that I’m fucking my TA. It’s bad enough I have Tina on my ass again and the fact that everyone is talking about how I’m fucking the whole Host Club. I don’t need any more attention on me.”

Another lovely thing I learned about over the weekend is that I’m not just fucking Preston, Grayson, and Declan, but the Host Club as a whole. Yup, all twenty-plus people. How fucked up is that? I fucking hate rich people and their big mouths with nothing better to do than fuck with other people’s lives.

I don’t have a doubt in my mind that Tina was the one who started that. Another reason to stay away from the Host Club.

Now that our arrangement is done, I should stay away. Far away. But why does the idea of that make me want to cry even more?

They’re not mine. But I want them to be. All of them. But like the saying goes, we can’t always get what we want.

“Sadie,” he whispers.

“Look, you wanted to talk? Here’s your chance, talk.” I cross my arms, pretending like I’m not a fucking basket case inside right now.

“Can we go somewhere more private?”

“No.” I shake my head because if I’m in a room alone with him, I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself if he worked his damn charm on me, even if I’m pissed at him.

“Okay,” he sighs heavily, running a hand through his inky black hair.

He looks too good right now, dressed in brown slacks and a white button-down. His sleeves are rolled up, displaying the ink on his arms. “About the photos.”

“Oh, this has gotta be good.” I laugh, shaking my head as I turn to start walking towards a nearby picnic table.

“It’s not what it looked like,” Collin insists as he follows me over.

“Really?” I ask, taking a seat at the table and laying my arms on top. I watch him take a seat on the other side, surprised when he didn’t insist on sitting next to me. Probably wants to make sure he can look me in my eyes as he breaks my heart even more. “So, you’re telling me that wasn’t you in the photos fucking some woman?”

He gives me a guilty look, and I swear I almost puke. “I can’t do this,” I say in a rush, moving to stand up.

“No, Sadie, please, stay.” He sounds so desperate right now. I think the only reason why he hasn’t snatched me up and taken me somewhere private is because there are people around.

Taking a deep breath, I sit back down.

“Look, yes, the photos are of me,” he starts, but quickly follows it up with. “But there’s a lot of photoshop work that was done.”

“Okay.” My brows furrow in confusion.

“The photos were taken of me when I was a teenager. It was a one-night stand; the girl meant nothing to me.”

“Real nice,” I snort.

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