Page 108 of The Darkest Note

And I’m an idiot.

The biggest one on the planet.

Silence falls as we glare at each other.

My chest swells and contracts.

His eyes dip there and he forcibly glances away.

“Even if I screwed you tonight, it wouldn’t have meant anything,” Dutch says as if he needs to clarify to himself more than me. He turns around to face me. “I’m trying to end this before it gets worse. Believe it or not, this is mercy.”

I want to take off my heels and bludgeon his head with it. Show him what this mercy feels like.

Stalking up to him, I hiss, “You can take your money and shove it. I’m not leaving Redwood Prep. Ever.”

His eyes narrow on me.

I wrench the door open and stalk out, leaving my shredded heart and my stupidity behind.

* * *

Jinx: Trade a secret for a secret. Want to tell me what happened between you and Dutch at the party tonight? Inquiring minds want to know. Be careful with your silence, Cadence. If you don’t get ahead of the story, the story will crush you.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

DUTCH

I grip the headboard as it slams hard and fast into the wall. Every thud is louder than Zane’s drum when he’s mid-solo.

I’m surprised the headboard doesn’t crack the plaster, and while I should be more engaged with the girl who’s currently under me, making faces that shows she’s having a real good time, my thoughts are stuck on the strength of the wall grout, so I don’t think about the girl who’s really on my mind.

Or girls. Plural.

Because I’ve got a freaking bug for the both of them.

Whatever the hell that means.

“Your turn, Dutch,” Christa murmurs. I glance down and try not to cringe. Her bottom lip has a big stitch in it, which hasn’t stopped her performance at all. At least so the rumors have said.

I should be excited about finding out for myself, but I’m not.

Just a few minutes ago, Cadence was in here screaming bloody murder at me.

And a few minutes before that, she was whimpering my name like a damn tease.

Maybe it was a bad idea to bring Christa into the same room.

“I’m done.”

Stunned eyes meet mine. “But…”

“Out. Now.”

She goes still.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” I growl.

Christa rolls to a sitting position. I found out earlier that her lips aren’t the only fake things about her. The two giant melons currently rolling around her chest snag my attention.

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