Page 8 of I Hate You More

Shane’s grin only spread farther across his face. He seemed to be enjoying how badly I was taking the news of our new arrival. I knew it wasn’t malicious. Shane genuinely seemed to find the funny side of everything in life. That was probably why he irritated me so much.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?”

“Because we knew you’d overreact. Dad and I figured it would be easier on all of us if we waited until the last minute.”

My stomach swirled with anger. “I’m not overreacting.”

Shane chuckled. “You haven’t looked this horrified since that rabbit of yours died when we were five.”

“Don’t bring up Fluffikins at a time like this. Like my day isn’t going badly enough.” I huffed out a breath and looked up at the ceiling. I was being a total brat, but Dad and Shane didn’t get it. They never would. In their eyes, Chase could do no wrong, but they weren’t the ones who had their first kiss purposely sabotaged by him. And they certainly weren’t on the receiving end of all his cruel words over the years. They certainly didn’t care that he was a jerk, but Ididand the thought of him living under the same roof was like all of my nightmares culminating in real life.

“Look, you’ll barely see him,” Shane said. “Chase actually has a life, and it won’t be as bad as you’re thinking.”

I lowered my gaze from the ceiling to my brother. I could tell he was genuinely trying to reassure me, but it wasn’t helping. “I have a life,” I grumbled.

“Ally, you spent the morning in a nursing home and the whole afternoon on your Kindle.”

I wanted to argue with him and remind him that I had friends and that I’d seen them almost every day over the summer, but I let out a sigh and nodded. It wasn’t worth the argument. Shane was so wrapped up in football and his own friends that he was completely oblivious when it came to my life. I didn’t really care if he thought I was a recluse. I liked my friends, but I also liked being alone with a book as well, and there was nothing wrong with that. I had bigger things to worry about than Shane’s opinion of me right now.

My brother flashed me a smile before he turned and continued carrying the suitcase up the stairs to the guest bedroom—Chase’s bedroom.

I still struggled to comprehend what was happening. I felt like I’d been dropped into some alternate reality because there was no way real life could be so cruel.

I slowly traipsed up the stairs, following after Shane. Chase’s room was right across the hall from my own, and he was standing silently by the window as I entered, staring out into the backyard.

“Man, senior year is going to be the best year ever,” my brother announced, as he flung himself onto Chase’s bed.

Chase nodded but didn’t utter a response.

It was always so odd seeing my brother and his best friend together. While Shane seemed to light up every room he entered like some kind of glowing star, Chase was like a storm cloud, dark and rumbling as though he was holding in a thunderclap that could burst out at any moment. The two of them were completely different, and I could never understand how they became such good friends. They used to play football together, but Chase quit last year, and I’d been hoping their friendship would dwindle after he left the team. It had been wishful thinking though, because they were just as close as ever.

I dumped Chase’s bag on the ground by the door. It landed with a loud thud, and the two boys looked over at me. Shane went straight back to staring at the ceiling, but Chase’s eyes seemed to sear right through me. I swallowed and backed out of the room before darting across the hall. I’d barely entered my room when I felt a hand at my elbow. I spun around to find Chase had followed me. He was standing far too close, and I took a step backward to give myself some space.

“What do you want?”

Chase recoiled slightly, like my words had slapped him across the face, and he pushed a hand through his dark hair as he stared down at me.

He let out a long breath. “I know you’re not happy to have me here.”

“Well, that’s an understatement.”

His eyes narrowed at my comment, but he continued like I hadn’t said anything. “And believe it or not, this isn’t my ideal situation for senior year either.”

“Is there a reason you’re stating the obvious?”

He ground his teeth together, and it pleased me to see how I irritated him. “I was getting to it.”

I waved a hand for him to continue. “Well, please do. My dad doesn’t let boys in my room, and I’d hate for him to have to go and fetch his shotgun.” I shrugged. “Or perhaps not.”

Chase rolled his eyes at me. “Thisis exactly what I want to talk about. I want to offer you a truce.”

I let out a laugh. “A truce?”

“Yes, a truce. If we have to live together, I think we should both attempt to be cordial to one another.”

I folded my arms over my chest and looked into his eyes. He wasn’t staring at me with total loathing for once, and I got the feeling he was being serious. “I don’t think you’re capable of being nice to me.”

“I said cordial, not nice. And for the record, I don’t think you’re capable of being nice to me either. We just need to stop bickering.”

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