Page 25 of We Thought We Were Invincible
Not like the one girl I wanted to date would care what Amelia said.
No. Dammit. I didn't want Callie. She pissed me off. Always had. She hated me. She had Jay.
Throwing my books into my locker, I slammed it with so much force it shook.
“Something wrong, baby?” Amelia walked up behind me.
My fist clenched at my side in response to her voice. Breathing deeply, I turned and pasted the fakest of fake smiles on my face. Not like she'd notice.
She reached out and ran a hand up my chest, stopping at my collar and using it to pull my face down to hers. Pushing me back into the locker, she deepened the kiss. I kissed her back, hard. This part I didn't hate. The girl could kiss and do just about everything else that drove guys wild.
She broke away. “You better go if you want to catch the bus to your game.”
I nodded and left her without another word.
That afternoon, I played like shit. It was like I was running in cement, sluggish and just off. We still won, because let's face it, I said I was the talent on that team, but that wasn't exactly true. Colby already had a scholarship offer to play in college. I'd be lucky to get into a community college.
Maybe my father was right. A disappointment was all I'd ever be.
Both my parents were sitting at the kitchen table when I got home, enjoying dinner. I walked by them to the fridge, pulling out a soda and sandwich makings.
“James,” my father barked. “Aren't you going to greet your mother?”
“She's not my mother,” I muttered, not in the mood to pretend. It's not like I was lying. “But hello, Ashley.”
I finished making the sandwich and tried to move past them, but dad jumped forward and grabbed me.
“Respect.” He knocked the plate from my hands. It clattered to the tile floor, spilling its contents. “Your betters.”
He surprised me by going for the face this time, his open palm slamming into my cheek, catching the lower part of my eye socket. I ducked away from the next hit, shoving him backwards and running back out the way I'd come. His bellows followed me out.
I wasn't watching where I was going and slammed into someone, sending us both tumbling to the grass. My eyes connected with my brother's.
“Jesus Christ, Jamie,” he growled, getting to his feet. “Where's the fire?”
My dad was still inside yelling and it finally registered on Jay. He winced, finally taking in my harried appearance. His hand slid through his dark hair as he glanced toward the door, then back at me. He knew what was going on. Reaching a hand down, he pulled me to my feet, finally catching sight of the red mark on my face.
I saw the war raging in his eyes. He was my father's son, but he was also my brother. “Go.” He jerked his head toward my car. “I'll see you later.”
Squaring his shoulders, he headed inside. He wasn't in any danger though. Dad would never lay a hand on him, only on the bastard.
Swallowing the bitterness, I drove away. The farther from that house I got, the better I felt.
11
Callie
“It's decided!” Morgan burst through the front door of my house without bothering to knock.
“What's decided?” I looked up from the history book on my lap, rubbing a hand across my forehead.
“You're coming to my house.” She leapt onto the couch, jostling me and furthering along the ache building in my head.
“Wait.” I snapped my book shut and sat up. “Really?” I was still having a hard time believing Morgan and I were friends, choosing instead to think that I was a passing fad for her, knowing as soon as my brother broke her heart that we'd be over as well.
“Yes.” She locked her fingers around my arm and pulled.
“Now?” I asked.
