Page 30 of Sins of a Rebel

If I’m walking in here to get my heart broken, I want him to know exactly what he’s losing.

I search the rows of cars for any sign of Madden’s, but it’s nowhere in sight. It doesn’t mean he’s not around somewhere. Hell, he can show up at any minute.

This is my chance to get Tysin alone, and I have to take it.

I release a heavy exhale, trying to muster up the courage to walk into his house. I want to get this over with, so I push myself up his driveway, the sound of my high heels clicking on the concrete.

I recognize a few people from high school and nights at Whiskey Barrel.

When I step into the kitchen through the side door, red cups and pizza boxes are stacked on the counter. It’s packed to the brim with people pouring rows of shots and mixed drinks. A group of guys huddles around the dining table, yelling and cheering over an intense game of flip cup.

I weave my way through people, searching for any sign of Tysin.

Of all the scenarios I’ve run through in my mind on the drive over, I know I made a mistake the moment I turn the corner into the living room.

I would give anything to turn around, climb back in my car, and drive myself far away from here. The pain slicing through my heart feels like everything I ever wanted was ripped out of my hands all at once.

Tears form in my eyes, staring at Tysin reclined back on his sofa. The same one we spent the night together on. A brunette straddles his lap and leans back, thrusting her chest into his face. He reaches out, gripping her breast in his hand, smiling in appreciation. The bleach-bottle blonde next to him kisses her way up his neck, dragging her fingers through his hair.

Like some sort of masochist, I can’t bring myself to tear my eyes away.

In a matter of seconds, my heart is crushed in the palm of his hand.

The two girls turn to each other, their tongues dueling in a kiss. In the midst of their heated moment, Tysin’s gaze flashes beyond them and meets mine.

He pushes the brunette off his lap and stumbles to his feet, stalking toward me. His footsteps falter when the crowd parts, getting a good look at me. His eyes trail slowly over my body, glazed and hungry, eating up every inch.

When he takes another step toward me, I quickly turn to leave. I need to get out of here. I thought I wanted to do this, but I can’t. Not after what I just witnessed.

If it’s all a joke or some bet, and all he wants is to hurt me, then fine. He’s won.

I try to weave through the crowd of people, but it’s so packed it’s impossible to make a fast exit. I glance over my shoulder when I feel his strong hand reach out and grip my arm to stop me.

“Come with me.”

His voice is loud and angry. How the fuck is he mad at me when it’s his fault we are in this position?

“C’mon,” he hollers, nodding his head down the hallway toward his bedroom.

He doesn’t let me go, sliding his hand down my forearm and lacing his fingers in mine to tug me with him. He grabs a set of keys from his pocket and shoves one into the lock. He opens the door and pulls me with him inside, slamming it behind us.

I take a step away from him, forcing my back against the wall.

The light on his nightstand is on, but it’s faint, hardly doing enough to light the dark space. It’s still enough to make out the look on his face.

He’s livid, and I don’t understand why.

“You want to tell me what the hell I just walked into, Tysin?”

It takes everything in me not to let the emotions swallow me whole.

He narrows his eyes, shaking his head as if he can’t believe I’m even asking the question.

“You know what? No, never mind.” I reach for the door handle, but he pushes past me, slamming the door shut again. “I guess you made your choice, huh? This is what you want.”

“You should’ve known what you would be walking into when you showed up here unannounced.”

I whip my head back toward him. “Excuse me? So it’s okay for you to show up at my work when you want to see me, but when you’ve blown me off for days and I hear you’re having a party, it’s not okay for me to do the same?”

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