Page 50 of Did They Break You

I wonder how many of them think about my face in the news.

How many of them actually think I’m a rapist?

“Ah, fuck,” Storm mutters. “There’s Sloane.”

I follow his line of sight and see Remi’s best friend sitting in some dude’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck on the couch in the living room, a cup dangling from her fingers by his face.

She’s wasted from the looks of it.

But Remi would never come to a party like this.

I never really knew Sloane, but she was nice enough. She wasn’t at that party, though, but I know she’s probably heard all about it. At least, one side of the story.

I swallow that down, pushing it under the surface, then glance around the living room, but of course I don’t see Remi. “I don’t give a fuck about Sloane Stevens.” I jerk my chin, seeing the kitchen ahead, drinks and mixers lining the cabinets. “Keep going.”

Storm’s eyes lock on mine, another mocking smile pulling on his lips. But he doesn’t say anything, just shakes his head and we finally reach the kitchen.

The girlin my lap spreads her thighs wider, her skirt sliding up her hips. She’s talking to another chick across from this outdoor table set up by the pool, but her spine is pressed to my chest. My cock is throbbing beneath her ass, and I tip the beer bottle in my hand back, swallowing a drink. I don’t touch her, but I don’t tell her to get off either.

At my left, Storm is on his phone, ignoring everything happening around him. Including me and my new friend. I don’t know the girl, but she’s got short, dark hair, and this look in her eye like she wants to get fucked.

At least, it seemed that way when she pranced over to me a few minutes ago and informed me she watched the game last weekend and thought I was hot.

Good enough for me.

All around us, there’s so much noise. People jumping in the pool, loud music thudding from different speakers, all different songs. Girls laughing loudly and dudes over talking each other. I’m just glad Maya listened to me and didn’t come.

The last thing I need is her bullshit about my mom and Remi again.

The girl in my lap—Anna, I think she said her name was—spreads her legs even wider.

But I don’t do anything with that. Not here, not in front of all these people.

I take another drink and cast my eyes around the backyard. There are a few couples just beyond the reach of the porch andpool lights, making out and doing more. Shrubs line one back corner, and it’s a perfect spot for a quick fuck.

The girl in my lap leans back against me and looks up at me with dark brown eyes. “Touch me,” she says, a little breathlessly.

I flick my eyes across the table to find her friend staring at me with heavy eyes and a smile on her face. Maybe she wants to join in, too. But I don’t give Anna what she wants. For some reason, I feel distracted.

I look over at those bushes again just as Anna starts sucking on my neck.

But my entire body goes rigid with what I see.

A flash of orange hair. Two braids.

ThenRemidisappears into the bushes, some guy yanking her in.

But maybe it wasn’t her.

I clench my jaw, staring after them, Anna’s lips on my skin.

It probably wasn’t Remi.

She didn’t like parties. It’s why she got so drunk at that one.

I grit my teeth, thinking of that night. Of anyone touching her like I did.

I have to make sure it’s not her.

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