Page 181 of Did They Break You

“Why are you smiling to yourself like you just learned how to suck your own dick?” Storm’s voice pops my bubble and I put my phone down, flipping it over on the table as I look up and see him sink down into the chair across from me, his hair a mess, he’s got on a black zip-up hoodie.

I lean back in my own chair, cross my arms. My game is tomorrow, but Remi has to meet with her stepdad, and after all I know about that fucker, I don’t like that.

But he’s her stepdad.

It’s just a dinner. I can’t exactly stop her from going and I can’t miss the game. Besides, Dad wants to see me afterward.

“Chase is here,” Storm says casually when I don’t answer him, like it’s no big deal.

I sit up straighter, watch him watching me. “I beg your fucking pardon?”

He shrugs, and as he opens his mouth to speak, there’s a knock on the door. I tense, darting my eyes down the hall. “Did youinvitehim here?” I snarl, my hands clenched into fists, resting on my arms.

He stands, stretching, his hoodie riding up and exposing his tattoos. “Does anyone invite Chase anywhere?” He pulls down his hoodie, goes to get the door as my pulse pounds too fast in my chest.

I hear Chase’s voice, his footsteps down the hall, Storm closing the door after him. And when he comes into my kitchen in a pink golf shirt with slicked back blond hair that’s irritating to look at, I have no idea how he was ever one of us. Brinklin and him had lived in West River’s school district since they were fucking born.

I guess that’s how.

And when Brinklin and Storm became friends, Chase was just there. Then I was the new kid, and it wasn’t really my place to say who was part of the pack.

Now, though, as he sinks into a chair between me and Storm, I just want to rip his throat out.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, thinking of him taking his phone out when Maya was blackmailing me. “And where the fuck have you been?” No messages, no phone calls. I don’t particularly want to talk to him, but it seems odd, him having fallen off the face of the fucking planet.

Storm says nothing, just keeps staring at Chase as his eyes flit between mine and my best friend’s, his hands on the knees of his khaki pants.

“I’m catching your game tomorrow,” he says with a wide smile.

“You wanna suck Cort’s dick, Chase?” Storm asks quietly, one arm slung around the back of his chair, his fist on the table. “That why you can’t stay away now?”

Chase laughs easily enough, but he shifts in his seat, looking at me. “Actually, I want your ex to suck my dick, and I thought I’d make sure that’s cool with you.”

I’ve got my palms resting on the table as I stare at him and tell him the truth. “You already did without asking for my permission, and I don’t care what the hell you do with Maya.” I shrug. “Have at it, man.”

“I didn’t mean to go after your girl but she hit me up that night before the semester started,” he shrugs, his lips pressed together for a second, “and we got to talking. Then you ditched her.”

He furrows his brow like something is fucking confusing before he continues. “Anyway, one thing led to another and I’m coming to the game for you, but I’m also taking her out afterward.”

“Such a gentleman,” Storm says quietly. “A date. How quaint.”

I roll my eyes, but Chase keeps his on me. “You sure you cool with that?” he presses.

I nod once. “Yep.”

Chase blinks. “Really?” He doesn’t sound skeptical though, despite his question. Just like he wants me to argue with him. “I mean, I know back at West, you two had a spat, but?—”

“You know we broke up,” I cut in, rising to his fucking bait. I try to keep my tone even, take a few deep breaths like Dr. Ravi taught me.

“But you got back together,” Chase adds unhelpfully.

I nod, running my tongue over my teeth. “Yeah, we did. After the charges.”

Chase smiles. This is what he really wants to talk about. “Yeah,” he says, unable to hide that fucking grin. “After the charges.”

Storm is quiet, just watching our exchange, but I’m very aware of his presence across the table from me.

“Good PR,” I tell Chase, watching him closely. “Having my ex stick up for us like that.”

---