Page 17 of Cruel Devotion

Preston’s smile grew wider. “I won’t tell my dad that you totaled this car…” He leaned back, resting his butt against the trunk. “If you take Haley Feldstone to the winter dance.” He stood up and got more in my face. “And fuck her there.”

Hoots and hollers came from the crowd. Lots of laughter, too.

What the fuck?

“That’s it?” Finn asked, almost laughing at the weird wager.

No, that wasn’t it. Preston had always had a thing for making Haley’s life hell. Before I did, back when we were just young kids in the beginning grades of elementary school, he’d singled her out. It was almost a morbid fascination, to make her miserable. And as we got older, he seemed obsessed about making fun of her for still being a virgin. That fixation followed us to college.

“Fuck Haley at the winter dance,” Preston repeated, nodding.

I didn’t want to waste a second trying to understand why he’d play this kind of a game. When someone was as rich and spoiled and powerful as he was, it seemed they needed to get their kicks however they could.

“No one’s ever going towantto fuck her,” he added. “So that’s enough punishment right there.” Crossing his arms, he leaned his ass against the car again, waiting for me to react.

I started to shake my head but stopped. I didn’t want him to take that gesture as ano. The instinct to move like that was more out of my surprise and a lack of understanding that he’d choosethisas a get-out-of-jail card for me.

“Nah, bro.” Another basketball player came up and stood next to Preston. “Eli’s not gonna do that.”

“Because he can’t,” someone else taunted, walking up as well. “That frigid bitch won’t put out. Not even for him.” He cracked up, getting the others to laugh as well.

“Haley Feldstone? Nowthatis a horrible punishment.”

“I wouldn’t want to touch her.”

“Are you kidding me? She won’t let him touch her!”

“Dude, that’s impossible. Haley Feldstone?”

I tuned it all out, sticking with one simple equation.

If I went along with this dare, my scholarship would be fine to finish out. I wouldn’t be stuck paying it back for Mr. West’s choice to revoke it. My future would be safe.

Finn stepped closer, catching my attention in my peripheral vision. “Eli.”

I glanced at him, knowing he’d have my back.

“This is fucked up, man,” he said wisely.

Yeah, it was. This whole night was fucked up. It wasn’t normal how I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. It wasn’t ordinary for me to be partially at fault for crashing an antique car.

And it was completely messed up for me to be making a choice about taking Haley’s virginity at a dance she’d just told me she had no intention to attend.

What was the most fucked-up thing about it all was the very real threat that I wouldn’t graduate without any debt. I couldn’t let myself be screwed like this. I couldn’t fail before my life would even start.

“What do you say?” Preston taunted, chin up and looking so smug.

I hesitated for one more second.

Then I nodded.

“Fine.”

I held my hand out for him to shake. “It’s a deal.”

7

HALEY

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