Zeke was the one I went to for the raid on the girls’ apartment. When I found out where Harloe was living, hardly trusting my ears when Jenna Doyle’s name came up, I hesitantly put my plan in motion. I may be a bastard, but Jenna Doyle’s stepfather has almost as much clout in this town as my family name. I didn’t need to piss them off just to get back at Harloe.
But my need to be petty won out over the need to keep the peace between the Prince and Doyle families.
“She’s not my girl, dick,” I growl out in return.
He chuckles, shoulder checking me into looking at him. When I do, his eyes meet mine, and they’re filled with amusement. “Could’ve fooled me.”
All I need is for the guys to think Harloe means more to me than she does. This is just a nineteen-year-old guy being petty. Yes, I’ll even admit it.
I’m a petty ass motherfucker, and the only thing I care about is chasing Harloe out of town. Being here for four years, while she lives in an on-campus dorm and I in a house near campus, is too much. Knowing that I could see her at any moment, and not know a goddamn thing about her, really just burns me up.
I shouldn’t care, but I do. Everything that involves Harloe Rose, I have my fingers in.
“Just spit it out.”
He’s silent for a moment. So silent that if it weren’t for the other people walking around campus and Leo and Easton talking shit, I’d be able to hear the clock in the tower tick its tock.
He licks his lips. “Don’t know what’s goin’ on with you two, and don’t really care. All I know is …”
“Is what?” I hurriedly ask when it’s quite clear he’s going to leave me on the edge of my seat forever.
“Hunt, we’ve been friends for a few years,” he says, veering off-topic and confusing me. I don’t give a fuck about that. Damn. “And, as a friend, I think I should be the one to tell you this.”
“Tell me what.” I’m beginning to lose what little patience I fucked out of Cassandra this morning. Zeke is about to meet my fist if he doesn’t stop blowing smoke up my ass and get to the point.
“You’re not going to get to this girl,” he rasps, chuckling. “Just stop while you’re ahead.”
Pulling away, I peer up into his face. Does he know something I don’t? He’s wearing an unreadable mask over his emotions, just staring down at me, and driving his point home. While I’d usually listen to him, because he seems to be the smartest one out of our group, I can’t with her. He knows this.
“Can’t do that.” I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth, then twist and turn to pull my smokes out of my pocket. “The past wouldn’t allow that.”
Popping a cigarette between my lips, I light the tip and inhale. The smoke causes my eyes to thin into tiny slits, preventing the harsh fumes from stinging the surface of them. And about the time I take my second puff, her voice drifts across the courtyard, and like a moth to the flame, my gaze jerks up to her.
My traitorous heart gives a little flutter inside my chest upon seeing her. Dressed in tight, mid-waist jeans, white Calvin Kline half shirt, white Nike tennis shoes, and a messy bun, I damn near swallow my goddamn tongue.
I don’t have to like someone to notice they’re fucking hot. And Harloe … whew, she’s hella fine. Her long blonde hair hangs in waves down to midback, curly, wild, and free. She barely wears any makeup, but with skin like hers, she doesn’t have to.
Until this moment, I didn’t know how drawn to her I still am. How her curves and the bright, intelligent mischief that seems to beam through her gaze draws me in.
And I don’t like it. Not one bit.
She’s on the phone just like she always seems to be, and she hasn’t seen me loitering in front of her apartment yet. On purpose, of course. It’s been nearly a week after siccing the dogs on her, and Jenna and I were beginning to get antsy, needing her to react.
Dismissing me is probably the worst thing she can do because that’ll just make me clamp my teeth down harder just to get a rise out of her.
Pushing Zeke to the side, I take one last puff and toss my cigarette to the ground, stomping it out as my smile ticks up into creepy territory. Easton sidles up next to me out of nowhere as I push why this is a bad idea out of my head and start making my way toward her.
She won’t react to taunts through a third party? Ha. Well, I’ll give her a reason to react now.
“What are we doin’?” Easton asks, always the one to go with the flow with no rhyme or reason.
I shrug my shoulders. “Just go with it.”
He nods as we come to a stop behind her. I know she knows I’m here, she’s just being stubborn and not reacting.
My eyes flick to the phone she has plastered against the side of her head, then back to the back of her head. Reaching forward, I pluck the phone right from her fingers and end the call without peering down to see who it was. Probably her dad. He was always the worrywart when we were younger.
She swings around toward me, gorgeous, blazing, bright emerald eyes flashing with anger. Fuck yeah. That’s what I’m talking about. I smirk down at her.
“Give that back. Now!” she growls, and it sounds more like the purr of a tiny kitten than a fierce jaguar.
My cock twitches behind the zipper of my pants. Fuck, I love it when girls are feisty and just rightly pissed off with me. It makes hate sex even crazier. Too bad she won’t get a bit of it. Sucks for her.
Her hand shoots out, fingers wiggling for me to comply. My smile widens. “Why, you wanna score?”
“It’s none of your business what I do, Hunter. Not now. Not ever again.”
“Let me know. I know a guy who knows a guy. He could hook you up,” I retort just as her phone starts ringing again.
Piquing my interest, I glance down at the screen of her phone. What I see makes the laughter die in my throat and pure, unadulterated anger blazing through me. Why? I can’t tell you that. Shouldn’t even bother me who she’s talking to. But there’s something about seeing the word “Baby” with hearts beside it that makes me murderous.
She takes advantage of my frozen state, grabbing the phone from my hands. It takes a minute, but when I can catch my breath and push down the anger enough to not wring her neck, I bring my eyes back to hers.
And the asshole decides to fall right out of my mouth, like always.
“He’s probably blind and dumb if he’s with you. You’re not the prettiest thing out there, little con.” Fucking lies. She’s the most beautiful woman in the world, and I’m man enough to admit that, even if she doesn’t deserve it.
Her plump, juicy lips pull back from her teeth as she hisses at me. “Fuck. Off.”
Harloe looks like she could go to war right now and come out the victor. Her tiny hands are balled into fists by her side. She’s ignoring the ringing phone in her hand, which must really send her boyfriend into fits. I did probably hang up on him, and now since he can’t get ahold of her, he’s probably freaking out.
Let him. That boy probably can’t satisfy her anyway.
“Leave.”
“We’ve already been over this.” She sighs, and then glances down at her phone, contemplating answering it. “No.”
Her eyes scream desperation when they meet mine. But I don’t give a crap. She’ll be desperate for me to stop, begging me to torture someone else, that she will do what I want anyway. To save her the trouble, she should heed my warning and leave. This town isn’t big enough for the two of us.
Her bottom lip trembles as the emotions continue to build. And fuck me if that little quiver doesn’t have the same effect on me as it did back in high school. Out of instinct, I want to grab her up and hold her, protecting her from the big bad that’s doing her wrong. But I can’t because I’m the big bad wrecking her life.
Doesn’t matter how fucked she made things between us, I have a sneaking suspicion I will always react to her like this, no matter what happened in the past.
Goddammit. This scheming bitch should have no effect on me. She
lost that right the night I found out.
Leaning toward her, I get into her space. I try my best to ignore the familiar, entrancing scent of baby powder and honeysuckle from her perfume. “Just remember, you asked for it.”
“Hunter, please leave me alone,” she implores in a soft voice.
Swallowing hard, I ignore my aching cock and the fluttering behind my rib cage as I whisper into her ear, “There are no tap outs and no forfeits. You gave up that right the moment you decided to stay. Suck it up, buttercup, because you’re in for a bumpy ride.”
She wants a war? I’ll give her everything she ever wanted and more. I’m through going easy on her. Specifically, going easy on someone who would betray me like she did. I’m not the guy I was back then. I’m a broken shell doing anything he can to survive without people seeing his cracks.
The day she left? That’s the last time I felt anything besides bitter, deep-seated resentment and rage. The problem is, back then, I had no outlet. I was lost in the dark trying to find my way out of the hole she dug for me. It’s the reason I turned to Cass like I did.
Now? My outlet is here, and it’s walking down the sidewalk with that phone shoved up against her ear.
As I stand, stiff and unmoving, watching as she gets farther away, an idea starts forming in my head. Sick and twisted, it may be. But it’ll work. I smile, damn near salivating at the thought.
Back then, she took something precious of mine and ruined it. Now, it’s my turn. And I’m going to have a little fun while I do it.
“Party?” Easton asks as if reading my mind.
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “A fucking party.”
CHAPTER 10
Punching Hunter in the face will not get me where I need to be. All it will do is land me in jail, where I’ll have to kiss Sheriff Butternut’s ass to be released. Oh, boy, he’d just love that, assuming he’s still the sheriff around these parts. And yes, Butternut is his last name. Apparently, if you call him Sheriff Butterednuts he goes on the defensive. Not that I’d have any knowledge of that.
No. Going head-to-head with Hunter will do more harm than good, I’m afraid. Which totally sucks because he could use a good rebuking for all the things he’s doing. But will he? Unfortunately, no. Golden Oaks is his town. Everyone who knows anyone will be on Hunter’s side, regardless of if he’s wrong or not.
After the whole drug debacle, that’s why I didn’t confront him. Actually, that’s why I allowed it to roll off my back as if it were no skin off my ass to clean up and rearrange my apartment at four a.m. And I know that’s what he’s waiting for. Hunter thinks he’s so smart, trying to push me until I turn into the grouchy bitch I used to be, and that’s not happening.
Being that girl has gotten me in too much trouble in the past, and I can’t afford to get in trouble now if I plan on having a future.
Confronting Hunter is akin to giving a child the lollypop they’ve been crooning over. The child cries and cries, begging for their parent’s attention, and once they get it, they’re fine for about two-point-five seconds. Then, after devouring that sucker, they want something else. It’s a vicious cycle, and I’m not climbing on for the ride.
His action, plus my reaction, equals hanging oneself when it pertains to Hunter and me.
Plus, why should I even care? Back then, he didn’t give me the time of day. He didn’t even tell me what happened. Instead, he tossed me to the side like I was yesterday’s trash.
So, no, he’s not even worth my time. I have more important things to worry about, namely Maverick. Hunter is an asshole who never grew up, and I don’t have time for childish games. I get enough of that from our toddler.
“Mommy, are you listenin’?” Maverick sighs. Actually, sighs, like he’s some old man at his wit’s end with my antics. “Uncle Dunky says I’m goin’ on a date!”
Over my dead body. “Put your uncle on the phone, Mav.”
“Dad is working a long shift tonight, Lo,” my brother says once the phone is passed to him. He doesn’t even give me a chance to speak before rapidly firing his excuses. “I’ve already had to cancel twice. I’m not doin’ it again.”
“Duncan.” He’s the type of person who doesn’t exactly resonate with the word ‘no.’ He’ll do what he wants, even with knowing I’m not happy about it. “You’re not takin’ him on a date with you and some girl I don’t know. No way.”
“Harloe—”
“No. You’ll just have to reschedule. Again. Preferably when Dad is off and not working the long shift.”
“I’m not cancelin’ again, woman.”
“You’re not takin’ him with you, man.”
I hear him grumble under his breath. And, well, my brother can stew all he wants to. There’s no way he’s taking Maverick anywhere like that.
“Lo, I know you’re his mom and all, but you’re not here. Dad and I have to manage the best we know how, and this is the best we can do without having to change our lives completely. Have fun learnin’ and shit, cause me and little guy have a date tonight.” The line goes dead before I can think of a retort.
Taking the phone away from my ear, I stare down at the offending object like it’s the one that did me dirty. “I’m gonna kill him. I swear it, baby Jesus.”
I try to call him again, but it’s blatantly obvious that he’s ignoring my calls now. Duncan and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on other things, but we always have when it came to Maverick. Wonder what’s going on with him? Duncan isn’t the type of guy to lug his two-year-old nephew on a date with him, no matter who the girl is.
Groaning, I drop my hand and raise my eyes. “What do you want, Hunter?”
He shoots this innocent look my way. Like I’d ever freaking believe that in a New York minute. There’s no innocent bone in his thick, muscular, hot—No, no, no. We’re not getting into that hot mess ever again.
“I’m going to class. What’re you doin’?”
When he starts edging toward my business ethics class, my heart does a little flop inside my chest. My eyes flick between him and the door, a horrible feeling settling into the pit of my stomach.
“No way,” I breathe out. “God doesn’t hate me this much.”
He smirks, having caught my remark. His eyes peer at me from the side, and he gives me a heart-fluttering wink as he disappears through the door.
He calls back over his shoulder, all too pleased with himself, “Oh, yes, way.”
Once I snap back to attention, I race inside after him. Not because I necessarily like the idea of having a conversation with this psycho, but because I need to know why he’s here. He wasn’t in this class all last week. Heck, the teacher didn’t even comment on anyone’s absence.
“You’re not in this class,” I snap, hurriedly sidling up to him.
He barely gives me a sideways glance before moving to the only seat left in the room.
The seat right beside me.
“Hunter, leave.” I point toward the door, not even caring that I’m drawing a crowd of rubberneckers. “You’ve had your fun, but honestly, this is becoming a little bit stalkerish.”
“Stalkerish, you say?” he inquires with a cocked brow.
I nod. “Yes. Ever since I showed up on campus, you’ve had it in for me. I don’t know what I did to piss you off all those years ago, and I don’t know what your problem is now, but this is getting ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous?” Again, he cocks his brow like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about.
It seems past and present Hunter isn’t too different after all. He still likes to play dumb when someone calls him out on his shit. Figures.
“Yes!” I say in a heated whisper, barely refraining from stomping my foot on the stained carpet. “Now, leave me the hell alone and go torture some other poor sucker, because I refuse to take your bait anymore.”
A tiny smirk pulls at the corner of his masculine, plump lips. And I hate that I notice it. I don’t want to notice or pay attention to anything he does. The more attenti
on I show him, the more he’ll keep coming back for more. That’s how it was in high school, and I don’t expect it to be any different here.
“My bait?”
Leaning away, I pinch the bridge of my nose, muttering, “What is this, 'repeat everything Harloe says’ day?”
Then I do something I shouldn’t have. I let my anger get the best of me. Wrapping my fingers around the sides of his desk, I get into his personal space. I should know by the gleam in his eyes that this wasn’t a good idea. But instead of listening to the tiny voice inside my head, I allow my anger to get the best of me.
“Leave me the hell alone, Hunter.” My eyes sweep between his, breath catching in my chest as his multi-colored eyes train on mine with heated intensity. “You told me on Christmas Eve to leave and never come back. Well, until now, I did just that. You are the one who tossed me in the ditch and left me to rot. Now, I refuse to allow you to have any say-so over our—my—life any longer. Get a clue. I know I did when you traded me in for her.”
Not waiting for him to respond, I push off his desk and walk to the very back of the room and take a seat. This desk belongs to someone else, but I just can’t deal with Hunter today. And since the only empty chair in the room belongs to him—and it just so happens to be beside mine—I’m going to take a pass.
After the campus security ransacked Jenna’s and my apartment, he’s been pretty freaking quiet. That’s how I’d much rather it be between us. And if he can allow our silence to last for almost a week, then he can do it for the next four years or until he transfers to another place. I refuse to be his punching bag for something I’m sure I didn’t do.
Lord knows what he has in his mind to make him hate me as fiercely as he does. Ever since we were younger, you couldn’t get us to go longer than a few hours without speaking to each other. Pissed or not. It didn’t matter. Hunter and I were as thick as thieves, and slowly, just like a burglar in the night, Hunter stole my heart. And, as much as I hate it, he never really gave it back.
Dropping my bag beside my chair, I get my things out and situated. Right as the bell rings, our teacher comes into the room and immediately notices that another student and I are in the incorrect seats. By the way, his lips thin into a tight line, he doesn’t like it one bit.
Our Secret: A College Bully Romance (Golden Crew Book 1) Page 10