Page 3 of Unbound

Casually, I laugh and step toward Sophie with my beer in hand. I’m holding it because if I wasn’t, I’d reach out to her, and I can’t. Not here. “Hey, I had to get it somewhere. She puts out.”

She dumps her beer on the front of my shirt and gives me a hard push. “You’re such a fucking asshole, Rawley!”

If you ever want to set me off… push me. If you want to piss me off completely, hit me. She’s done both today.

Beer soaks the front of me, seeping through the gray cotton and onto my skin. It takes me a second to find my footing and then I send my own beer sailing toward the fence. Ripping my shirt over my head, I toss it at her feet. “Pick it up, Sophie,” I tell her slowly, growling out a breath. It’s everything I can do right then to keep from pushing her up against the fence. I don’t know why either because I’ve never once wanted to lay a hand on her in anger, and I’ve been pretty fucking angry with her a time or two. I point to the ground. “It’s where you left my heart, so go ahead,pick the fucking thing up.”

Stunned by my reaction, her eyes drop to the shirt, then to me. “I’mnotpicking it up. I won’t. Fuck. You.” Tears roll over reddened cheeks. Tears I’m once again responsible for. “You’re being a dick tonight. Just leave.”

“Don’t go and try and act like a goddamn victim in this, Sophie!Youdid this. You fucking did.” I struggle against saying more, though most would think I’m saying enough. “You created this monster. That’s on you. I did everything I could to make you….” Every muscle in my body goes rigid. “You threw it back in my face. You broke me.Youfucking brokemeso this shit’s on you. Pick up the fucking shirt.” I’m struggling, emotion swelling up. My throat tightens and tears sting my eyes. I’m pissed at myself for showing sadness in front of her. All through this, every miserable fucking day of it, I’venevercried. Maybe that’s how I know this is the end?

But these tears, they’re not tears of sadness. At least I don’t think they are, but one of anger. I’m burning, rising and falling.Foreverfalling.

“Jesus Christ, no! I’m not picking it up!” she screams with everything she has and then she slaps me. For the second time today.

I see fucking stars with that one, my ear ringing. I’m sweating. My face feels like it’s a hundred degrees and I keep swallowing, trying… I’m fucking trying not to lose it until I do. It’s gone… and any rational thought I have disappears as if it were never there in the first place.

My heart pounds but there’s no beat, only rushing blood and uncontrolled anger. I take another step toward her. It should be a warning to her, and I think she knows what she’s done when her eyes widen, landing on my red cheek.

“Tyler,do something! Don’t let him touch her,” Raven yells beside me and pushes Tyler in my direction.

Tyler puts his hand on my shoulder. “That’s enough, man. Walk away from her.”

Walk away? I’ve tried. So many times.

“This is none of your business,Tyler.” Scrubbing my hands over my face, I drop them and face Tyler. I’m so fucking done with everyone thinking they know what’s best for me. I just want to be put out of my fucking misery. Tyler, he has no clue. He’s just another one who thinks I’m a no-good piece of shit who’s acting like a spoiled brat. “You know… I know you think I fucked your girl. That’s why you hate me so much, isn’t it?”

Tyler shrugs, his voice low and meant only for me. “I don’t hate you, Rawley. I may not like the way you act, but Idon’thate you.”

Fuck him. He’s lying. He hates me.

“Yeah, well—” My mouth pools with blood again. Mostly because I’d already been hit in the cheek once today and bit the side of my mouth. I spit to the side and straighten out my shoulders. “I didn’t fuck your girl. I’m not Sophie. Maybe she fucked Berkley and knocked her up.” I glance at the girl I can’t not love, despite what she’s doing to me. “Or did you take Berkley on vacation with you and show her how to be a cheating whore.”

“Rawley, stop it!” Raven cries out, her hand over her mouth. If there’s anyone here I might listen to, it could be her or my mom. But right now, neither can get through to me.

I smile at my sister. “Raven, stay out of this.” I stare at Tyler. “You don’t get to tell me how to handle myself. You led my sister on for months.” I shove him away from me. “Fuck you.”

Just like any other time I’m in someone’s face, Red rushes out of the house.

“What’s going on?” He stands between us, shielding my view of Sophie now. “Don’t do anything you’re going to regret.”

“Regret?” I raise an eyebrow at him. Is he fucking serious? “All I have is regret so what’s one more thing?” Wanting distance, I push him away from me, my hands on the center of his broad chest. I wish I had more strength against him, but I’m well aware of the fact he could take me down in an instant if he wants. “Stay out of it.”

He doesn’t back down and I’m not surprised. If there’s one person Red wants to hit, it’s me. He’s never done it, but given the chance, I bet he would. “I’m serious. Back off, Rawley. You don’t want to do what you’re doing.”

“I’m so sick of your shit!” I punch his shoulder, attempting to provoke him. Just like me, I know how to piss him off. It was my life’s mission as a kid to piss my older brother off.

Red takes a calming breath, but I can tell by the shaking of his fists, he’s nearly at that point. “You push me again, you little fucking asshole, and I’m gonna fuckin’ deck you.”

I want him to.

“Go ahead! Do it! You know you want to!” I scream in his face. “All you’ve done is look down on me and tell me how to live my life, and I’m fucking sick of it. You’re not perfect. Just because Dad left you the business doesn’t mean you’re Dad. You never gave a shit about me before. Why do you care what I’m doing now?” My voice carries through the yard. “I get it. You’re the good guy. The honorable one everyone looks up to and Raven”—I flick my wrist Raven’s direction—“she’s the brains. Going to college like Mom and Dad wanted. You both have it all figured out. Then there’s me.” Turning around, I raise my hands up over my head. “Thefuck up!” I yell so loudly my throat aches.

I know everyone is watching my nonsensical rant, but I don’t give a fuck. I knew the breakdown was coming, my empty meaningless words spewed on unforgiving souls.

My lips part, intent on saying more, but then it passes and I don’t even remember what it was I was going to say. I look at the shirt, Sophie, my mom, Red, every faceless fucker standing in the backyard. I throw my hands up in the air, my shoulders shaking. I’m fucking losing it, right here, right now. It’s the end. They say don’t burn your bridges, but I’m destroying the motherfuckers. My hands fall to my head, clasping around the back of my neck and I turn around to face the crowd.

They’re waiting on the finale. There’s one thing I can do well. Give a show.

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