Page 6 of Wreckage

Kind of like proposing to Amanda.

It made sense. We’d been together for almost two years, and she’d been hinting at it for months. Sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly—which often led to fights when I dodged the subject too many times.

I’d given in and finally asked her a few weeks ago.

It was logical. It was expected.

So, why did I feel like my life was suddenly on a track I didn’t choose?

Before I could dwell on it, a name drifted through the noise of the party.

Elena.

My head snapped toward the group of guys a few feet away. I recognized them—mostly guys from the lacrosse team and a few from my classes.

“…dude, I’m telling you, she’s got the perfect ass. Like,perfect.”

“She’s got tits to match,” another guy added, grinning. “Bet she’s a fucking tease, though.”

“Nah, bet she’s got no bodies. Probably a virgin.” The third guy grinned like he even had a fucking chance with her.

The first guy laughed. “Shit, maybe we should help her fix that. Imagine holding her down as she begged for it. Fuck, man…”

Something snapped inside me.

I was moving before I could think, shoving the guy closest to me back. His beer sloshed over his hand, his eyes going wide. I wasn’t this guy. I wasn’t aggressive. That was Adrian. I just liked having fun and a good time. But hearing Elena being talked about like that threw me for a loop.

“Knock it the fuck off,” I snarled, voice low.

“Whoa, dude,” the guy stammered, hands raised. “We were just messing around?—”

“She’s my sister.”

The words felt foreign, like a lie I barely believed in myself.

Theguys all looked at each other, immediately backtracking. “Shit, man, we forgot. Sorry, Troy.”

I clenched my jaw. “Just watch your mouth.”

They muttered apologies and turned back to their drinks, and I felt Amanda’s sharp gaze on me before she even spoke.

“Troy, seriously?” She crossed her arms, her voice dipping into that tone she used when she thought I was being an idiot. “Why do you care what some guys say? They talk like that about every girl.”

“She’s my stepsister,” I corrected, still feeling the heat of anger in my chest.

Amanda’s eyes narrowed. “Right. But why did that get to you? She doesn’t even act like she gives a shit about you.”

I had no answer.

And that only made her push further.

“You don’t even like her,” she pressed. “She doesn’t talk to you. She doesn’t talk to anyone. So what’s your deal?”

I took a deep breath, forcing my temper down. “They were being assholes. I don’t like it.”

Amanda shook her head, clearly not satisfied. “No, I think you don’t like it because it was about Elena.”

I scowled. “You’re reading too much into this.”

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