Page 49 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

“I mean, yeah. It’s fun to get you pissy, but I noticed Chase isn’t really here, and your dad’s away a lot … are you … good?”

My eyes flick towards him. There’s no way both brothers would be nice to me in one summer. Peter snorts. “Don’t stare at me like I got a brain transplant. I’m trying to be decent. Don’t make it hard.”

“Did you lose a bet?”

“I’m just trying to be nice, Sky. Not everything comes with an ulterior motive.”

“After the crap you pulled two years ago, I don’t believe that one bit. I don’t need your concern, either.”

“Oh, fuck this and fuck you,” he hisses.

He storms away, grumbling about how ungrateful I am, but I just don’t know how to process this shit. He’s been nothing but a dick to me for years; why would he suddenly change? Why would his brother?

I fly up from the seat, my heart pounding in my chest.

Unless they have some kind of bet.

Another bet.

I consider that for a moment. I’ve seen plenty of nineties movies. Did they plan to up the ante from what they did two years ago? Did they bet to see who could nail me first? Am I just a pawn? Has anything really changed?

There’s no way I mistook the sincerity on Ash’s face when he apologized. No way would he hurt me again after saying sorry. Peter might be having an epiphany, right? Standing up to him might’ve been better than I thought.

I hope.

I hate that I can’t even talk to anyone about this because Bonnie is determined to hate both of these guys forever and doesn’t want to hear anything about them. My brother would knock Ash out for even kissing me, let alone anything else.

Who else do I have?

I’m feeling suspiciously jealous of ants and their giant families right now.

Chase gets home as I’m getting ready to go to Ash’s match. He stops in my doorway and leans against the frame. “Going somewhere?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“Out,” I reply simply, gesturing for him to move.

“Not until you tell me where you’re off to wearing a pair of jeans that actually fit.” He points at me. “Do you have a date or something?”

It’s on my lips to lie about the date, but he’ll just keep asking questions, and I’m no good at lying, anyway. I pull myself to full height, brace myself for his outburst, then mutter, “I’m going to Ashton’s boxing tournament.”

“The fuck you are!”

Yup. There it is.

“Over my fucking dead body.”

“Don’t be dramatic, Chase. It’s only business. Ash hired me to photograph him for his boxing profile.” It’s a pro-bono hire, so it’s not a total lie.

“Why the hell didn’t he hire someone else? Why you?”

“Why not me?” I fire back. “You told me how talented I was. Maybe he thinks so, too.”

“I don’t give a shit what he thinks. You shouldn’t either. Not after what he and Peter did to you.” He pounds his fist. “I’m still ready to tear their asses off for making you cry.”

Chase has a twenty-pound weight advantage on Peter, but he’s no match for Ash, especially now. I don’t want him getting into a fight over me, either.

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