Page 42 of Corrupt Me

Emotion flashed over his features. Regret? I couldn’t be sure. Tristan’s genetic makeup didn’t allow for him to show such vulnerability. “The people who matter won’t abandon you.”

My heart squeezed, but it didn’t pacify the anger. “Why are you trying to destroy my life?”

He tilted his head as he stared at me for several moments. “Believe it or not, I’m protectingyou.”

“How?” I fired back.

Shadows shone under his eyes, and the lines on his face were taut. “The how isn’t important. Don’t you trust me?”

I scoffed. “I used to, but I’m not so sure anymore. You’re not the same guy I grew up with. You’ve changed.”

“So have you.” His eyes raked over my body.

“I’m not talking about physical appearances, Tristan. I’m not that shallow.”

He flinched. “But you think I am?”

My shoulders went lax as I exhaled, pulling out the tie in my hair and shaking my hair free. “It doesn’t matter. I’m so done. Idon’t have the time or energy for either of you. I need to keep my focus on school.”

Something in his gaze softened. “That’s what I want for you too. For once, we agree on something.”

“Whatever makes you feel better.” I was over this conversation. Over Tristan’s shenanigans. Trying to keep up with or play his games wasn’t working.

I turned and left. I was thankful Tristan didn’t walk me back to the house. He let me be.

I went to Sam’s room and found her painting her nails at her desk. She took a single glance at me, her concentration breaking. “What happened?” she asked.

“Where do I start?” I huffed, dropping onto the bed, forgetting how sweaty I’d been. My body had cooled off, but my blood still boiled.

“Preston or Tristan?” she prompted because my problems always stemmed from one of them.

I stared at the chipped ceiling paint. It could use a fresh coat; the color was no longer a calming white but hued slightly yellow with age. “Both.” I sighed, resting my hands on my chest.

Sam spun her chair toward me, blowing on her nails. “Interesting. Tell me more.”

Dragging my gaze from the ceiling, I looked at Sam. “Preston showed up on campus today, and Tristan practically ran him off.”

Only a splinter of surprise passed through her features, gone as quickly as it arrived as if she’d expected something like this to happen. “What is up with the two of them? They’ve always hovered around you, but not like this. Not so territorial.”

Her words struck home. “I don’t know, but I mean to find out. If only Tristan didn’t have those damn photos to hold over my head.” Even as the words left my mouth, I wondered if it would change anything. Going to separate schools would haveforced distance between Preston and me, space I realized how much I needed.

It was conflicting.

On one hand, Tristan in a shitty way did me a favor. He twisted me into the unpleasant task I’d been too scared to do on my own…break things off with Preston. But on the flip side, he’d more or less bullied me into compliance.

I rolled onto my side, propping my head onto my hand as I stared at Sam, watching her features grow thoughtful.

“Well, what if he didn’t have them?” she proposed with a scary, mischievous glint in her eyes that usually didn’t just get her in trouble but me too.

My gaze narrowed. “What are you concocting in that brain of yours?”

“Hear me out.” Nothing good started when someone began with those words. “Tristan can’t blackmail you if he doesn’t have any ammunition. So, we take it from him. Destroy the bullets before he can load the gun.”

“Why are we talking about guns?”

She rolled her eyes. “We destroy the evidence. Get rid of the photos he has on you.”

“You might be onto something…but how?” I couldn’t believe I was entertaining another one of Sam’s schemes. The last one had nearly gotten us both a suspension in high school. I wasn’t looking to get kicked out of college before the first semester ended.

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