Page 42 of Unhinged Love

Because I can’t make this new image of him line up with the guy who throws naked parties when his dad’s out of town. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t have guessed.”

“I think there are probably a lot of things you wouldn’t guess.” He winks with a smirk. “Like how not everybody’s out to hurt you all the time. It took you a little while to relax, but nothing bad happened, right?”

And there goes any goodwill that was built up today. With a sinking heart, I climb out of his lap and straighten my long-sleeved cardigan with trembling hands. For once, it’s not fear making me tremble.

“Thanks for throwing that in my face,” I whisper.

His head snaps back—can he genuinely be surprised? “I wasn’t trying to throw anything in your face.”

And yet somehow, he did. “Whatever. Thanks for the movie. I’m going up to my room now.”

It’s just safer this way. Better, easier.

I’m barely halfway up the stairs when he calls out from the sofa. “You can’t stay up there for two solid weeks, you know.”

We’ll see about that.

SEVENTEEN

Carter

“All I’m saying is,you have two whole weeks. Plenty of time for another party.”

It’s getting harder to laugh off Preston’s constant party talk. “I’m starting to think you only hang around me for the parties.” I slowly swim past him, splashing him once I’m close enough.

“That’s pretty low,” he rumbles, running his fingers through his hair to comb it back from his forehead. “I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that.”

“Don’t get all bitchy on me.” I glance over at his twin, hanging out on one of the lounge chairs, and he only shakes his head slowly.

“He just wants to live through you since we can’t get away with the same shit you do,” Easton explains. “Your dad gives you more room than ours.”

“Which is totally fucking backward when you think about what he does for a living.” Preston starts floating on his back, slowly paddling his way down the length of the pool.

“After all the work it took to clean up from the last party, I’m not trying to go through that again so soon.” I’m tired of talking about this. It’s easy for the people who wouldn’t end up with no car for a week or two if they got caught to complain. He’s not really complaining, though. He’s bored. Easton is bored. I’m bored. Which is why we’re hanging out at the pool on a Monday afternoon, bullshitting and sharing a 12-pack of beer.

For some reason, nothing is satisfying me today. I spent the morning trying to settle on something to do, something to pass the time since today was a holiday and classes were canceled. I’m restless and not in the best mood. Why I thought having friends over would be a good idea, I don’t remember. I’m not good company.

And I know exactly why.

Why can’t I stop thinking about her for just one damn day? I haven’t even seen her, and I’m not complaining. Every time I think about her running away from me yesterday, bitter heat swells in me, and I want nothing more than to break down her door and drag her out of that room by her hair. Why can’t she let me be nice to her? That’s all I was trying to do. She threw it in my face.

“You should at least invite some girls over,” Easton suggests while his brother nods hard. “Things don’t have to get crazy, but it would be fun to hang out, maybe order some pizza or whatever. It’s a holiday. We should be celebrating.”

“Who do you have in mind?” Do I want to do that? I want nothing less than to play host today. Having a couple of friends over is one thing, but expanding the guest list? Still, I feel like I have to play along. Maybe it would help my mood in the end.

“Definitely not Tiana and her crew.” Preston rolls his eyes once he finishes his lazy backstroke and pushes himself up until he’s perched on the edge of the pool with his legs dangling.“She’s not worth the energy. I heard what they did to your sister’s bathroom.”

I don’t know what bothers me more: remembering the mess she made or hearing Elliana referred to as my sister. “Stepsister,” I mutter before I wave a hand. “Yeah, I warned her not to pull that shit again. She’s not invited over here anymore.”

“I don’t know, though.” Easton strokes his chin, smirking. “She does have some hot friends.”

“Not worth it,” I mutter, narrowing my eyes as I think back on how surprised she had the nerve to seem when I challenged her. “So get rid of that idea. We know plenty of hot girls.”

“All I know is, I wouldn’t mind seeing some tits today.” Easton even sighs like it’s some mystical goal.

“What, you forget porn exists?” I ask with a smirk.

Preston blurts out a laugh. “Him? It would be like asking if he forgot oxygen exists.”

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