Page 102 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“Chill out?” The venom in Ash’s voice is just as deadly as a snake’s. “Why the hell did you mess with Sky like that, and how the fuck did I get involved?”

Peter chuckles, and I suspect he’s trying to be casual, but I see the fear in his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The swimsuit. The text message sent from my phone. Your asshole friends taking photos of Sky. Ring a bell?”

“No—”

Ash shakes him. “Time to come clean, or I’m telling Mom and Dad. Something tells me you won’t get that new car once they hear of this.”

The fear on Peter’s face deepens as he glances at their front door. “Okay, okay! Jeez. That was two years ago. You’d think people would move on already.”

Chase makes a sound in his throat and lunges at Peter. Mom grabs the hem of his shirt. “Not worth it, remember?”

He growls and retreats. Ash folds his arms on his chest and stares Peter down.

“You had the falling out with our folks, so I knew you were about to leave town. I snatched the phone from your room, sent the message to Sky, then deleted it.” He shrugs. “The rest you already know, I guess.”

“Why would you do that, you idiot?” Ash rumbles.

“I knew Sky had a crush on you, and I wanted to kill that crush,” Peter replies simply, shrugging again. “If you’d made it to the big league like you planned, none of this would’ve come out. But no… you just had to get injured and come back home.”

“You’re sick,” Chase supplies with a scowl. “I should beat your fucking ass.”

“Not if I don’t beat it first,” Ash chimes in. “Since it’s obvious you don’t give a shit, I’m telling Mom and Dad anyway.”

Peter’s eyes widen. “Come on, Ash. It’s not that serious.”

“Isn’t it?” Ash’s gaze turns to me. “Did you apologize to Sky for putting her through hell?”

“She doesn’t need his apology. She doesn’t need you either,” Chase speaks up. “You might not be involved in this mess, but if it weren’t for her silly crush on you, her high school years would’ve turned out differently. The farther she stays from the likes of you, the better off she’ll be.”

Ash’s brows lift as he regards me. “Is that how you feel?”

With a sigh, I glance down at my hands. Maybe Chase has a point. “Ash… I don’t know.”

He comes at me, cupping my face. I’m surprised when Chase doesn’t butt in. “Sky, don’t do this. Don’t-”

“I don’t want to do this here or now.” I glance back at my family, but Ash turns my head to face him, and I know he’s not giving me a choice. “You’re not going to like my answer if you make me say something right now.”

“And I’m tired of waiting for you to actually be my girlfriend. We don’t have the time for you to be on the fence anymore. You have to choose. Choose me or don’t. Stop dragging me along behind you, using me when I’m fucking convenient and shutting me out when you’re actually feeling something.”

I shove him. “I told you from the start that our families couldn’t know. I’ve been trying, but that’s not good enough. That’s what you’re saying?”

“Sky, don’t try-”

“Fuck you.” I push his hands away and take a step back. “I’m not your girlfriend. I’m not your anything. Fuck off.”

His hands curl into fists, and Chase falls in line with me. I’ve seen that heat in Ash’s eyes in every fight. I’ve seen that tick in his jaw, the curl of his lips, all of it.

“My fault for assuming you were mature enough for this shit. My fault for thinking you could handle a relationship at all, right? My fault for pushing. My fault for fucking everything because you refuse to take a single bit of responsibility. Fine. Enjoy being miserable alone.”

I stare after him and swallow hard. No tears today. I promised myself that. Ash gives me one more minute, my heartbeat racing until this minute feels as heavy as an hour. Then he nods. “Hope you had fun.”

With that he walks away, collaring his brother again and yanking him along. I hold myself together as Chase and I head to where our parents are now standing at the front door.

“The fuck, Sky? Ash? Really?”

“Don’t shit on me for having feelings,” I snap.

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