Page 102 of Unraveled

“Hey. I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you alone.” She cocked a hip, jutting her chest, and blinked up at me through her lashes, any ounce of subtlety in her approach now gone. I’d been such an idiot before.

I sucked down several gulps of my beer, preparing myself to shut her down. Even act like an ass if I had to. I couldn’t have her upsetting Annie anymore.

Looking down at her like I was bored, I raised an eyebrow and looked over her, showing her every bit of my irritation. “You need to stop, Ruby.”

“Stop what?” She stepped closer, trying to lean into my chest, but I stepped back and my voice turned cold.

“Stopthis. Stop hitting on me and antagonizing Annie. You’ve apparently gotten it in your head that we have a shot, but we don’t. We never have.”

“Yeah, I call bullshit. You’ve never pushed me away before.”

“Because I didn’t think I had to. I told you I had a girlfriend. You werehardfriend-zoned from the second I met you. Every girl I meet is. Most respect the fucking boundary of knowing I’m taken.”

She popped a shoulder, still moving closer. “Can’t get what you want if you don’t go for it.” She tried to walk her fingers along my bicep, and I jerked away.

“Donottouch me. I won’t have you disrespecting Annie again.”

“Fucking Annie,” she hissed. “You don’t even know what you’re missing.”

“Nothing. I’m not missing a damn thing.” I moved to walk away when Ruby growled and shoved my chest, pushing me back against the side of Corey’s truck so hard that my head smacked into the window with a crack. Stars dotted my vision for a couple of seconds before I could blink them free and recognized the feel of someone’s lips on mine. Even worse was when I realized Ruby was holding my hand up to her chest. My brain malfunctionedfor a moment, like it couldn’t process, but when I heard a sharp gasp, I finally snapped out of whatever stupor I was in and shoved her away.

I turned, my heart freezing in dread, and saw Annie staring at me in horrified disbelief, hurt and betrayal plastered across her beautiful face. Her eyes locked with mine, and she might as well have ripped the heart from my chest to see her look at me that way.

Panic burst through me, terrified of what she would do.

“How could you?” I barely heard her whisper before she turned to run.

“Annie, wait!” I had to explain. It wasn’t what it looked like. But she’d already taken off in a blazing trail down the beach.

Tossing my empty cup down, I wiped my mouth hard against my shirtsleeve, and Ruby grabbed my arm, holding me back when I tried to follow.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” I bellowed, my glare furious.

“I don’t like being made into a fool. If I can’t have you, then neither can she.”

I shook my head, disgusted as I stared at her, possibly seeing the side Annie had all along for the first time. I didn’t even know how to fucking respond. She’d done it onpurpose?

“Fuck off, Ruby,” I spat and took off after Annie. I could just barely see her silhouette in the distance up ahead. She was near the shoreline now, where the moon reflected and shone brighter against the damp sand.

Thank God.I had to catch her. Iwouldcatch her. I refused to lose her. I just had to explain. She knew I loved her. I just had to explain…

TUCKER

I finally loosened my grip on Izzy when Jet took off, knowing it killed her to be held back. But I also knew it had to be Jet that reached Annie if they were going to have a chance to fix this.

My gaze narrowed in on Ruby. Izzy and I had decided to head for drinks just in time to see the whole damn thing unfold, and I was fucking done with this chick’s shit. But before I could move, Izzy stormed ahead of me, fire blazing in those gorgeous green eyes.

Ruby’s mouth twisted into a wicked smirk when she saw us, and she started walking away like she hadn’t just brought down a whole shitstorm of drama.

“Don’t even think about it, bitch.” Emma came marching over with Megan, the two of them cutting her off and ready to make heads roll, but Ruby just rolled her eyes and turned again.

Micah and Kurt stepped out from behind a truck, arms crossed over their chests and murder on their faces.

Kurt jerked his chin at Micah. “Don’t know about you, man, but I’m not a fan of jealous bitches hurting my cousin.”

“Cousin-in-law here. But same.”

Ruby’s eyes widened, a trace of panic crossing her features for the first time as she took a step back.

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