Page 320 of Small Town Firsts

With fury and fire still racing through my veins, I give him my back, stalking off in search of a towel to clean up the mess.

I return in a new pair of sweats and a whole slew of questions for my former best friend. "Why in the hell are you inside my house?"

Rob tsks. "Is that any way to greet your best friend?"

"I'd probably be a bit more hospitable if I had known you were coming." I cross the room to retrieve my laptop; thankfully it's in one piece. "It also would've helped had you knocked and I let you in. It's a little disconcerting to find someone inside your locked home. Breaking and entering isn't a good look."

He scoffs loudly. "Step down from your soapbox, Sterling. We both know you gave me a key. I simply used it."

"Without my consent." I flip open my laptop and exhale a relieved breath when it powers up with no problem.

"You giving me the key is implied consent."

Not for the first time, I want to slam my fist into his face. But I remain seated, with a carefully neutral look on my face. "Shouldn't be surprised. Consent’s not really your thing."

Rob's on his feet in a flash. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me." I place my laptop down on the cushion and stand as well. Only, my movements are slow, methodical.

"I was really hoping my eyes had deceived me. That you weren't cozying up to that little bitch."

"Watch your mouth." My voice is a growl, feral and vicious, a warning.

Rob barks out a sharp, mirthless laugh. "Whatever for? Surely you haven't fallen for the whore's innocent victim act."

"I swear to God, Rob—" I advance toward him, fully prepared to forcibly remove him from my home.

"You have." He shakes his head, his disappointment evident. "I was torn at first, you know? I thought maybe you were having sleepovers and taking her out as a way to gain her trust. But instead, she somehow gained yours."

I stop halfway to him as his words sink in, ratcheting my anger up to uncharted levels. "You...you've been following us. Spying."

A grin that can only be described as evil splits his cheeks. "Had to make sure mybest friendwas staying loyal. I should've known better. What's the saying...if you want a friend, get a dog?"

"Get out."

Instead of leaving, Rob unceremoniously drops back down in the chair I found him in. "I don't think I will. We have things to discuss."

"No." I continue on my path toward him. "We don't. You've outstayed your welcome and need to leave."

"Sterling, Sterling. Surely we're not going to let some pussy come between us. Especially one as subpar as Emma?—"

"Don't you dare speak her fucking name." I'm on him in seconds, yanking him up by the front of his shirt as my fist slams into his face. Blood trickles from both his nose and lip, and I welcome the sight of it. A busted-up face is the least he deserves after the things he's done.

He makes no move to retaliate, but I'm too busy dragging his sorry ass toward the door to lend more thought to why. "I don't understand your fucking obsession with her, but it endsnow. You will not seek her out, watch her, follow her, nothing. You won't contact her, and you're damn sure not going to hurt her."

I shove him against the solid wood of the door, holding him in place with my arm pressed to his throat, as my heart tries to beat its way out of my chest. "Do you understand me? Forget she even exists. She's dead to you."

He glares at me, malice burning in his usually dead eyes. "You're making a mistake."

Pressing my arm tighter against his throat, I look him dead in the eyes as I officially end our lifelong friendship. "My only mistake was believing you." He shoves me off of him and throws the door open, leaving of his own accord.

I slam and deadbolt the door in his wake as a million-and-one different emotions flood my system. Fear, panic, regret, anger. But more than any of those, I have a driving need to check on Emmalyn. To hear her voice, toknowshe's safe.

But when I grab my phone to call her, there's already a text waiting for me from Rob.

Rob

You're going to regret this.

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