Page 119 of Counter Bet

I shake my head, my lip curled in disgust. “How much money did the others bet?”

Ben grabs my upper arms and leans down, forcing me to look at him. “It doesn’t matter, Em. It was real between us. Itisreal!”

“How much?” I press, refusing to back down. “Are we talking in the tens? Hundreds?”

He squeezes his eyes shut as if it hurts to look at me right now. “I tried to stop it.”

I laugh bitterly. “What a saint you are. I can’t believe that I let you touch me. Trust me, I won’t make that mistake again!”

Ben’s eyes brim with tears. “Listen to me, Em. I never wanted to hurt you! It was just a fucking bet, and it meant nothing. I’m in love with you!”

I scoff, tearing myself from his grip. “Don’t touch me, Ben!”

He grabs the back of his neck and begins pacing in front of me. “What can I do to get you to forgive me? Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it!”

“I want to let you back in, Ben. I want it more than anything else, but I don’t trust you not to hurt me again,” I sneer, throwing his own words back at him.

His hands fall from his neck.

“I guess we hurt each other too much.”

He shakes his head in denial and then attempts to close the distance between us again. I jump out of his reach, barely managing to escape.

“Don’t say that. We can fix this!” His voice breaks.

Why is he doing this? Has he not hurt me enough already?

“Please, let me hold you,” Ben pleads desperately, invading my space and trapping me in his arms. He’s too strong for me. I push against his hard chest, kicking and screaming, desperate to escape—to be away from him. He’s done nothing but hurt me. I’ve been a game to them all along.

“Calm the fuck down!” he roars, tightening his hold on me as I scratch his face. “I’m not letting you go. Not until you listen to me. You said you’re tired of running.”

I sob, quickly losing strength. “Just let me go!”

His brow comes down on mine. “Never! I’m sorry! Is that what you want to hear? I’m so fucking sorry! I will never hurt you again. Just please… don’t leave.”

I screech in frustration, my fight quickly waning. I can’t be here anymore.

“What the fuck is going on?” Matt asks, watching us warily. The others are close on his heel.

“Fuck off!” Ben sobs, his grip on me tightening even more. I kick his shins and try to slap his face, but he grabs my wrists, forcing them behind my back until I’m pressed up against him.

“What the hell?” Steph murmurs worriedly as Josh and Matt tear Ben off me.

He’s sobbing and fighting against their grip.

Dallas walks over to me, but I hold my hand up. “Don’t! I know about the bet.”

Her face pales.

“Oh shit,” Steph whispers. Her eyes shine with sympathy. “I know this looks bad. They love you, Emily. Weallcare for you!”

I sneer. “Fuck you, Steph! I was a joke to you. Ben refused to tell me how much the money pot was worth in the end, so why don’t you enlighten me since you say you care about me so much? How much money did you win when they got in my pants?”

Dallas winces next to her.

I look over at Nina and April. “How about you? Not willing to talk either, huh?”

My phone rings somewhere on the ground where I lost it in my scuffle with Ben. I drop to my knees and frantically search for it amongst the wet leaves and pinecones.

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