Page 33 of Corrupt Obsession

He retrieved the ball and dribbled back to his spot to make another three-pointer. Brody placed himself beneath the hoop and passed him the ball. Several minutes passed before he noticed the odd look Brody was giving him.

“What?”

“You’re taking this well.”

He frowned. “Taking what well?”

Brody did a hook shot before passing the ball to him once more. “Violet.”

He tensed. “What about her?”

He texted her to see if she wanted to go off campus for lunch. He hoped if she wasn’t ready to talk, she’d still want to spend time together. She hadn’t responded, which put him in a foul mood. He had no idea where he stood with her, and it was driving him crazy. He’d taken refuge in the gym during lunch to clear his head.

“I thought it was a rumor, so I didn’t bother asking you about it, but I saw them with my own eyes.” Brody shook his head. “Out of all the guys she could pick, she chosehim? That loner who hides in the library?”

He tucked the basketball under his arm. “Tobias?”

Brody made a face. “Is that his name? He can’t even make eye contact with anyone, and your sister looks at him and thinks, ‘Hey, this guy should be my first boyfriend?’”

His heart slammed against his ribs. “Who says Violet’s dating him?”

Brody stared at him. “I saw them.”

He took a threatening step toward his friend. “Saw themwhat?”

Brody held up his hands. “Chill, bro.”

“Tell me what you saw!”

“They were holding hands in the cafeteria.” Brody searched his face. “I thought you knew.”

He threw the ball at his friend before he snatched his backpack and stalked out of the gym.She wouldn’t do this to him, he thought as pain and fury seared his chest. The bell rang, flooding the hallways with students. He went against the crowd to reach the cafeteria, but by the time he got there, it was empty. He broke into a run to get to Violet’s next class. Several people called out to him and a teacher told him to slow down, but for once in his life, he ignored everyone. Brody had to be mistaken. There had to be another explanation for Violet holding Tobias’ hand. Like, the kid had suddenly gone blind, and she was leadinghim around because no one else would, or something. She wouldn’t date. Not now and nothim.

He turned the corner as the second bell rang and stopped in his tracks. Tobias and Violet stood outside of her class. Violet was smiling at Tobias like… Like she should be smiling at him. Tobias grasped Violet’s hand and pecked it before he scuttled down the hallway. Violet had a bemused look on her face before it morphed into a delighted giggle.

As if she sensed his presence, she looked down the hall to where he stood. Her eyes widened and her amusement vanished. He started toward her to get some answers, but she took a step back and raised her hand in a stopping motion before she disappeared inside her class.

What the fuck?

The third and final bell rang. Teachers came out to close their doors. One of them noticed him standing there and frowned.

“Mr. Sampson? Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said and pivoted on his heel.

His temper, something that hadn’t been provoked since last summer, threatened to break free. Why would she suddenly decide to date after what happened last night? And why choose a creep like Tobias? The guy spent his days in the library or in empty classrooms, scribbling in a notebook and talking to himself. He told Tobias to steer clear of Violet, but apparently Tobias hadn’t taken him seriously. Or, had Violet sought him out? The thought incensed him so much that he smashed his fist into the building, bruising his knuckles, but he didn’t notice.

He was in no mood to sit in class. He walked toward the parking lot, nodding to the security guards who knew him by name. His reputation as a good student and athlete allowed him to walk off property without being asked if he had permission.

It took extreme discipline not to give into his demons as he navigated out of the parking lot and rode gently over the speedbumps. It wasn’t until he was on a deserted country road that he slammed on the accelerator and let the engine release a roar that he silently echoed. He drove to a park. The sound of his phone chiming made him dig through the zippers to find it.

Madyson:I couldn’t find you at lunch. I have a surprise for you.

Madyson:Do you want to go to a concert in San Antonio this weekend?

He tossed his phone on the seat, slammed the door, and paused. He’d been dating Madyson for a couple of weeks. He planned to break it off with her, but there’d been no need to rush. Is that why Violet decided to date? Because he was? Did she think last night meant nothing to him?

He scowled as he headed for the trail. Running always cleared his head and right now, he needed all the help he could get with his emotions clamoring. He should have pushed the issue this morning during their ride to school. He should have just laid it out and found out what was going on in her head instead of being blindsided like this.

---