Page 25 of Win You Over
“If it’s just pretend, then I see no reason why we can’t do this.” He plants his lips on my skin at the same time he dips a hand beneath my shorts, wrapping it around my cock. I’m not hard, but as he bites my ear, a shiver runs through me and my cock thickens in his hand.
He’s right. Holden and I are not actually dating, so this isn’t technically cheating. Then why does it feel so wrong when he moves his mouth from my ear, along my jaw and towards my lips? I can’t do this, not now, not when my mind is so focused on Holden.
“Finn, stop,” I whisper. He twists his hand again, his tongue seeking entry into my mouth. We were eighteen the first time we kissed. We’d both been drunk and had laughed it off the next day. After that, it was something we did from time to time, before we soon added in the sex. Maybe it isn’t the best idea to sleep with your best friend, but it works for us. At least it has for the last two years.
I lift my hands and place them on his chest. His heart beats wildly under my palm as I push gently, urging him backwards. When he pulls back, his eyes are dark, swirling with a heady mixture of anger and lust.
“You’re serious?” He wipes his lips with the back of his hand.
Adjusting my cock, I tuck it behind my waistband and take a deep breath.
“Yeah. We can’t do this anymore.” I wave a hand between us, then offer him a fist. “Friends?”
He scoffs and leaves me hanging. “How low have you fallen, Rem? Sleeping with the trash.”
My hand falls, my fingers flexing at my sides. “Fucking hell, dude, drop it already. You’re better than this, Finn. This whole them/us thing is a crock of shit and you know it. What is your issue with him anyway?”
Finn’s features pinch, his eyes darting around my room and refusing to look at me.
“He doesn’t fit in here. With his ripped jeans and his ‘I’m such a sad poor boy’ attitude. Don’t you get it? These scholarship students Warnham U takes in, aren’t like us. Obviously he’ll sidle up to you. Richest boy on campus. The boy who wants everyone to be his friend. I bet Holden’s counting down the days till he’s rolling around in your money.”
I’d laugh if I didn’t believe he was being absolutely serious. I’ve seen Finn’s nasty side before, I know he can be unwelcoming and brash, but for the most part he’s all bark and very seldom speaks to me with such disdain. Maybe I’m ridiculous for not noticing sooner, always brushing his attitude off as ‘Finn being Finn’ or maybe it’s because it’s aimed at Holden who has a very firm grip on me for reasons I haven’t entirely explored, but for the first time since we became friends, I get a glimpse of a person I don’t like.
There’s something else there too, lurking under his hatred. Something that feels a lot like jealousy, which is absurd because Holden isn’t going to replace Finn. Finn is and always will be my best friend.
My mouth is open before my mind thinks through my next words. “Are you jealous?”
Finn’s eyebrows raise, but his eyes are cold and hard.
“Of Holden? Fuck no.” He shakes his head and repeats his words, whether to convince me or himself, I’m not sure.
I reach a hand out towards him. “Finn. Dude, you’re my best friend. That’s not changing. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed we can’t do this,” I move a hand between us, “anymore.”
He laughs, an ugly, cracked sound that chills me to the bone.
“Get over yourself, Remington. You don’t have some magic dick. I’m not going home to cry because you don’t want to fuck me. I guess.” He pauses, finally meeting my eyes. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it? Daddy Langford likes them poor and desperate too.”
In all the years I have known him, Finn has never spouted his classist bullshit about my family. If I close my eyes I could picture his father in front of me, the belief so clearly beaten into Finn by our town’s dick of a mayor.
A red haze clouds my vision and I dig my nails into my palms to stop myself from punching him in the face. “Fuck you, Finnegan.” My body tenses as I take a step towards him. “Get out of my house.”
Finn steps forward, one hand coming up to grip my neck. My hand covers his, applying pressure to pull him off me. “Don’t come running back to me when you get tired of your charity case,” he spits, before dropping his hand and retreating towards my bedroom door.
“Maybe I’ll let Mamma Langford know her son is a liar on my way out,” he throws over his shoulder as he disappears around the corner.
My body slumps against the wall. Before today I believed he’d keep all my secrets, like I do his. Now, I’m not so sure.
Realistically, I know that the world won’t crumble if they find out the truth. My parents will be disappointed that I felt the need to lie and Nadine will never let me live it down, she’ll mock me about it until I’m old and grey.
It’s the selfish part of me that doesn’t want to let Holden go that has me hoping Finn keeps my secret. Because if we’re not faking a relationship, what reason does Holden have to be around me?
Chapter 11
Holden
“Have you eaten?” Remington asks as soon as I slide into his passenger seat. “Mom is cooking dinner, but that’s hours away.” My stomach grumbles in answer, having not eaten anything all day.
Remington smiles, then turns back to the wheel and starts the engine. “I know the perfect place.”
