Page 6 of Cruel Hate

“What the fu—”

The phone dropped on her end with a sharp clatter through the line. I closed my eyes, waiting for her to come back. But yeah, “what the fuck?” was the same reaction I was still having, and I’d known for a few weeks.

“Didn’t—”

“Apparently not.” I didn’t need her to ask if we’d used protection. That mix-up between Phoenix and me had resulted in a life-altering mistake.

“Well, shit.” There was the sound of a door shutting, and the slight background noise I’d heard earlier disappeared. I peeked at the screen to see the camera bob along with her as she moved from one room to another. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m keeping the baby.” I understood the question my sister asked. It was one I’d wrestled with. But the truth was, I didn’t plan on getting married. And I was old enough to take responsibility for a baby. It wouldn’t be easy—far from it. If it had happened in high school, my answer would have been vastly different.

“Okay, I’m getting excited, then. I’m going to be an aunt.”

I smiled, adjusting my phone so I was fully in the screen again. I knew Regan would be on my side. If only everyone was. “I told Mom and Dad.”

“Over alumni weekend?” Regan laughed. “I bet I know how that went.”

“Total disaster.” I rolled my eyes. “They were so busy blaming each other that they forgot Phoenix and I were there, so we left.”

“Whoa. You didn’t tell me your baby-daddy went with you for that little shit show.”

“I thought it would lessen the blow.”

“I don’t think anything could. Mom and Dad would see it as their lives on repeat.”

Regan was right, and they had. “We told them we’re together.”

“Are you?”

“No. Not like that.” My heart skipped a beat, and I frowned. “We’re fake dating.”

“But he’s incredibly hot. How’s that going to work?”

I have no idea.

CHAPTER THREE

PHOENIX

Today sucked. Aspen was acting crazy, and I didn’t understand—I’d thought we were friends or something along those lines. And as I exited lit class, Jillian cornered me. Her cloying perfume hit me just before her hand latched onto my bicep, and irritation sprung from the contact, itching along my skin.

“I missed you at the party over the weekend.” She leaned into me, pressing her breast into my arm as we walked across campus.

At one point, that would have worked. At one point, but not anymore. I had zero desire for her or any girl but Aspen, whom I wanted twenty-four, seven. Not that I would act on it.

A warm breeze made the palm fronds dance as the sun blazed overhead. “What do you want, Jillian?” I didn’t bother responding to her comment about the party.

“I thought we could go somewhere later today… or maybe just your place.” She lowered her long lashes, and her eyes gave a signal all their own.

“No.” I stopped in my tracks and shook off her touch. “Look, we hooked up once or twice. It was fun, but it’s not gonna happen again.”

She pressed her red lips into a line before smoothing her features. With a flick of her hair, she stepped closer, placing her hand flat on my chest. “We’re good together. I get you. I know football and how demanding your life is. I’m here to make it better. Easier.”

I stepped back, and her hand fell away. “You’re a beautiful girl, Jillian, but I’m not the guy for you.” I didn’t wait for a rebuttal but walked away and effectively evaded a few more girls on my way to my room at the football house.

The door slammed behind me, and I dumped my backpack on the floor next to my desk. Jillian was easy to push from my mind—she didn’t take up any real estate in there. But Aspen… it seemed I was always thinking about her, the incredible softness of her skin, and how irresistible she was. I wanted to pull her into my arms and breathe her in. She always smelled fantastic.

I hadn’t expected her to come at me like she had before. Whatever she’d been bitching about didn’t make sense. It had to have been about the baby. There was no other explanation. Somehow, it had to have gotten back to her that I told Damon… or Shane.

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