Page 40 of That's Too Pucking Bad

This? This is just a distraction. A fucking pathetic one.

I push bubblegum girl off me, harder than I intended. She stumbles back, her eyes going wide in surprise.

“Get. Out,” I say, my voice low and dangerous now.

The girl on the couch finally stands, adjusting her skirt like she wasn’t just flashing me everything she’s got. She grabs her bra from the floor, and without another word, they both walk toward the door.

Bubblegum girl hesitates, looking back over her shoulder. “You sure? Last chance, Coburn.”

I just stare at her, jaw clenched, until she huffs and follows her friend out the door.

As soon as they’re gone, I slam the door shut and lean against it, exhaling.

Caleb’s an idiot.

Chapter 7

Sitting in the dim kitchen, I grip my mug of tea, my eyes still gritty from a night of tossing and turning. Sleep refused to find me, thanks to a certain someone and everything we’d done. Every time I closed my eyes, it was him—Zane, his voice, his hands. The way he looked at me like he owned me, like I had no say in the matter. I shake my head, focusing on the steam curling from my mug.

It’s not like I could talk to anyone about this. Not Maya, not my mom. And now, here she comes, her coat still on, her face pale and tired from a long night shift.

“Morning, sweetie.” She sets her bag down and looks at me, tilting her head. “How are you?”

I shrug, avoiding her gaze. “Busy with school.” I smile.

She nods, her eyes narrowing a bit as if she’s trying to read me. I stir my tea, staring at the spoon like it’s the mostfascinating thing in the world. I hate lying to her, but what else can I say?

“Listen,” I say quietly, keeping my eyes on my mug. “Would it be okay if I stayed home for a while instead of at the dorms? You know, to help out and… be around more?”

My mom reaches over, patting my hand. “Oh, honey, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Really.”

I look up, catching the lines near her eyes, the ones that seem a little deeper every time I see her. She’s getting older, worn down from all the work and long shifts. And I’m here, asking if I can stay home to help, but it feels like it’s never enough. I wish there was something I could do, some way to make things better.

She takes a sip of her tea, giving me a warm smile. “Go live your life, Remy. I’ll be alright.”

I force a smile back, but inside, guilt twists tight.

The next day, I walk into the school’s courtyard, and there’s Maya, practically sprinting over. She throws her arms around me, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug.

“Remy!” she squeals, bouncing a bit. “I missed you so much!”

I laugh, patting her back. “Missed you too, Maya. Seriously, it feels like forever.”

She links her arm through mine, dragging me toward the cafeteria. We grab lunch, chatting and laughing about classes and gossip we’ve missed out on. It’s a relief, having a bit of normalcy, something that’s not constantly pulling me back into thoughts of Zane and… whatever spell he has me under.

But of course, normalcy doesn’t last long.

Just as we’re finishing up lunch, I catch sight of Caleb and Zane heading our way. Caleb’s eyes zero in on Maya, and before I know it, he’s pulling her into a kiss, one of those overlypossessive ones. She melts into him, and I’m left awkwardly sitting there with Zane staring at me from across the table.

He gives me that look, the one that says he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Then, he winks.

My face goes hot, and I stand up abruptly, grabbing my things. “I… I’ve got to get to class.”

Zane’s already moving, falling into step beside me before I can escape.

“I’ll walk with you.”

I glance at him, gritting my teeth. “Stay away from me, Zane.”

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