Page 109 of Beyond the Hate

“Unlike some women,” I mutter.

Silence falls and I realize I fucked up.

“Are you saying Paisley was after your money?” Hudson grumbles.

Flynn narrows his eyes on me. “The woman who wouldn’t accept a dime from her evil stepfather is a gold digger?”

Caleb rubs his hands together. “Can I hit him now?”

I snarl at him. “You can’t hit me because you don’t want to accept the truth.”

His eyes widen. “Accept the truth? I’m the one who doesn’t want to accept the truth?”

“I didn’t stutter, did I?”

“You know,” Lucas begins, “I don’t know if I should feel sorry for him. He’s obviously an idiot. Or turn around so you can tear him limb to limb.”

Hudson stands. “I vote tear him limb to limb.”

Caleb unfolds from his seat and joins him. “Finally. We’re getting to the good part.”

I face them. I’m not a coward. I’m also in the right. They can beat me up as much as they want. It won’t change anything. Paisley is a liar who can’t be trusted.

Caleb narrows his eyes as he studies me. “Why does he appear all righteous?”

“Because he’s an idiot who still hasn’t learned he’s wrong,” Hudson answers.

“I am not wrong,” I seethe. “I heard what I heard.”

“Which is why you let Paisley explain what she meant when she confronted you. Like I said. Idiot.” Hudson shakes his head.

I fist my hands. “How else am I supposed to interpretI don’t want Eli to find out. No one can tell himother than Paisley is keeping secrets from me and is not to be trusted?”

“You were right when you said he’s an idiot,” Flynn mutters.

“Fucking idiot,” Lucas adds.

Caleb stabs my chest. “Paisley’s planning a surprise birthday party for you. She knows you don’t enjoy celebrating your birthday, so she wanted to surprise you. She knew you wouldn’t agree to a party.”

My mouth falls open. “What?”

Hudson sighs. “Everyone on the island knows your dad left right before your sixteenth birthday.”

I flinch.

He squeezes my shoulder. “Paisley wanted to turn a bad memory into a good one.”

I study their faces. Are they being serious? No one tries to hide from me or glance away. They all meet my gaze full on.

“Paisley asked her friends for help because she’s not much of a party planner,” Lucas says.

My feet won’t hold me. I collapse in my chair. “I fucked up.”

“Does this mean we can’t beat him up?” Caleb asks.

“I deserve for you to kick my ass.” After the way I treated Paisley, I deserve all the shit they can send my way and more.

Caleb sits next to me. “It’s no fun when you accept it.”

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