Page 47 of Cruel Hate

The door closed behind me, and Max came to stand at my side. “Elias, that’s enough. Aspen’s my friend. Be nice.”

Elias cackled. There was no other word for his fake, high-pitched laugh. “That is me being nice.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed. “If I were being nasty, I would have said, ‘way to go on getting knocked up by the dumb one. Good thing he’s pretty to look at because that’s all you’ll get when that baby pops out.’”

“You’re an ass. And Phoenix isn’t dumb.”

Elias rolled his eyes. “Please. I went to high school with him. He was in a group who called themselves—I kid you not—‘the Elite.’ They thought they were everything, and the stupid sheep in that school treated them like gods. They weren’t”—he shrugged one thin shoulder—“and I thought the new girl our last year at the academy would put at least one of them in their place.”

He was talking about Riley, and my anger notched up another degree.

“But she fell under their spell just like the rest of them.”

“You sound delusional with a strong side of jealousy.”

“Oh please, little punt bunny.” Elias pouted his lower lip in some sort of exaggerated, sarcastic gesture.

“Elias,” Max snapped, his body tense beside me. “What’s your problem?”

Elias ignored him, and I readied myself for the attack his predatory gleam indicated, with a nice little dig of my own. “Closet-obsessed-fan.”

“Aspen,” Max growled, shifting so he stood almost between us, ready to throw out arms to keep us from leaping at each other with claws bared.

“And you’re an opportunist.” Elias made a point to stare at my belly. “Good luck landing him. I hear someone prettier has his eye.”

“Elias, please,” Max said, crossing his arms, disgust pulling his mouth into a hard slash. We both continued to ignore him as we traded epithets. “You’re both being horrible.”

Fucking Jillian. “Then you’re dumber than I thought.” I leaned closer, only about two feet separating me from smacking Elias in the head. “Phoenix and I are dating. He told Jillian to fuck off.”

“I see you’re just as stupid as the dumb one. My friend Jillian is NFL-wife material. While you’re”—an ugly sneer consumed his face— “you.”

A dark laugh spilled from my lips. “Say what you want about me. I don’t care. I’m comfortable with how intelligent I am. But Phoenix? You’ve got him all wrong, little closet fan.”

Elias tsked. “I had the misfortune of having the pretty one in lit class senior year at HVA. He can barely read. Better hope you can, or your little bambino doesn’t stand a chance of making it through life on more than looks.”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but I couldn’t let him get away with how insulting he was. “You’re a hateful queen. Is that because you have a thing for Phoenix but he didn’t return your interest? Tearing someone down makes you feel better?”

“Hardly.” His eyelid twitched. “I just call it like I see it.”

I shook. I was so angry. Max shifted on his feet, looking as if he didn’t know who to defend. My anger spilled onto my friend for associating with Elias. Whatever. I could hold my own ground.

“Do you have any idea what it takes to be a quarterback? It takes leadership, a keen analytical sense, a solid understanding of the plays, and the ability to make quick decisions based on what you see on the field before the ball is snapped and immediately after. And from everything I’ve seen and read about Phoenix, he’s a prodigy out there.” I was glad I’d done that football research.

“He must have help because the dumb bunny can’t read.” Elias delivered with an upward tilt of his chin.

He was such a hateful person. I had no idea what Max saw in him. I turned to my friend. “I liked Joel better. Is this a one-and-done hookup? Because I feel like I’m wasting my breath here.”

“You bitch!” Elias grabbed his shirt and stormed out of the room, knocking me in the shoulder on his way out. Max trailed behind him.

I couldn’t believe this. I was so angry and then lightheaded. I went to the desk chair and sat, taking a few deep breaths until I felt better.

A few minutes later, I was back to normal when the door opened and Max came back into his room alone. “Well, that was nice while it lasted.”

I chortled, disgusted that Max had wasted one minute of his time with that jerk. “Elias is all drama and such an asshole. Did you hear how he just talked to me? You can do better.”

Max stayed by the door and remained quiet. I didn’t say anything else, waiting for him to agree. He had to have seen how bad Elias was. The guy was toxic.

“You’re one to talk.”

“What?”Did I hear that correctly?

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