Page 32 of Don't Puck the Wrong Brother

I close my eyes, grateful for her friendship. "Thanks."

What I don't tell her is that I think I've already made up my mind. I just don't have the courage to admit it yet.

Chapter 10

I slip out of Hannah's room feeling like I just dominated a power play. But the victory is short-lived—Cade's leaning against the wall outside the entrance of the dorm, fury radiating off him like heat.

"What the fuck?" he growls, shoving off the wall and storming toward me.

I stand my ground. "Could ask you the same thing."

He grabs my shirt, bunching the fabric in his fist. "Some girl told me you went into Hannah's room. Why the fuck are you going after my girlfriend?"

"Ex-girlfriend," I correct him, not missing the irony. "You made that pretty clear when you called her a whore and stormed out."

His grip tightens. "So, what, you're swooping in now? That's fucked up, Sandy. Even for you."

I shove him off me hard enough that he stumbles back. "You don't deserve a girl like Hannah."

"And you do?" He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "The guy who fucks anything that moves and can't remember their names the next day? That's rich."

"At least I don't lie and cheat," I shoot back. "You told her you were home that night. Screwed it all up for some girl named Anna?"

"I didn't know she was coming to fuck me!" he hisses. "Besides, you didn't seem to have a problem stepping into my place, did you?"

"I was fucking sleeping! I thought I was dreaming!" I take a step toward him, fists clenched. "Unlike you, who was very much awake while dick-deep in some rando named Anna."

His face contorts. "Don't talk about her like that."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is Anna special? Was she special when you were cheating on Hannah with her?"

"You don't know shit about it, Sandy, so I suggest you––"

"I know enough." I square my shoulders. "Hannah deserves better than someone who lies to her face and then calls her names when she catches him."

"And you think that's you?" He steps closer, jaw clenched. "You think you’re better? You think she's gonna fall for your bullshit? She's not some puck slut at a post-game party, Sandy. She's smart. She'll see right through you."

"Maybe I want her to see through me," I say before I can stop myself. "Maybe that's the fucking point."

"She deserves better than you," he spits. "She deserves someone who'll actually stick around, not hit it and quit it when the next ass walks on by."

"Funny how you're such an expert on what she deserves when you couldn't even keep your dick in your pants for two months."

"What the hell is going on out here?"

We both turn to see an RA standing in the hallway, hands on her hips, looking ready to call security.

"Nothing," Cade mutters.

"Doesn't look like nothing," she says. "You two need to take this somewhere else. Now."

I glance at the girls behind her, wondering if they’re all listening to us right now. When I see phones instead of faces, I realize this is going to be a public record.

Jesus Christ. I run a hand through my hair and exhale.

"We're leaving," I tell the RA, brushing past Cade toward the parking lot.

"This isn't over," he calls after me.

---