Page 21 of Hate So Deep

For them I’m just following my dream of joining the fucking Marines. I’ve never wanted to be a Marine.

Fuck I don’t know what I wanna be, but it isn’t some tool fighting a war that nobody even cares about in some other country.

I can't stay here though and if I enlist, I'll get as far and fast away from here as possible before I lose any more of my soul to this stupid fucking game.

In any case, I have a feeling that everything will implode before I make it that far, which is why I’m itching to just go.

“I wasn’t even here, dick,” I mutter, pointing at the black bowtie, half wrapped around his neck. “Do you even know how to do that?”

He glances down with a grin and says, “Nope, but I’m sure my mom can show me.”

Turning back to the mirror, his eyes roll over his outfit with a grimace, and I chuckle because I know this part of the ritual means nothing to him, but he would do anything for Finn.

“Suck it up buttercup,” I say, and he eyes me coldly before his mouth curves.

“Oh, we’ll suck it up asshole. Now put on the damn suit,” he says with a dramatic eye roll, and I drop my pants before grabbing my dick.

“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to see my cock?” I say raising a brow and he just rolls his eyes again.

“Put on the damn suit. So, I can send a picture and she’ll be happy.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, saluting him before grabbing the tuxedo off the hanger.

After dressing, I turn to the mirror. I never really thought I’d find myself wearing something like this, but hey, I would do anything for Finn.

She saved my brother, and I suppose that’s where the tail end of my story began. Now I refuse to let things lay even if it means I have to burrow in the shit myself.

“Where’s Franks, anyway?” I ask while Colt fumbles with his phone.

“Had to work. He’ll be by later,” Colt says.

After our stupid ass selfie in which Colt makes cow eyes at the camera and I flip it off, he sends the message before dropping his phone on the bench.

“Guess who I saw yesterday?” he asks and the casual tone to his voice inspires me to look up.

I don’t know what’s coming but the caution behind his stare raises my hackles as he says, “She was coming out of the bridal shop when I picked up Finn.”

She?

“Who?”

Shrugging, Colt starts to unbutton his shirt, and I stare at his fingers as he says, “Stacey.”

With a grunt, I turn away and tug on my shirt while I’m sure Colt assesses me like a fucking stalker.

Stacey Hughes.

I shouldn’t be surprised. This is why I’m here, but it never occurred to me that she would ever show her face here again.

Is this what inspired my father to start his games again?

Whatever, I’ll deal with his shit and get gone.

Except, Lauren’s tear-stained eyes when I confronted her the other night still roll around in my brain and I wonder if it’s possible to change how Colt feels about her.

I have a feeling she’s going to need her half siblings now more than ever.

However, this won’t be easy. Colt may be a tamer version of himself these days, but something about Celia Stark sets him off and unfortunately, Lauren is the one who experiences his rage.

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