Page 24 of Furious
I raise my voice, relieved that at least there’s no one around to hear us. “But it was. Don’t you see? It happened just once and Atlas had just… he hadn’t been gone for long. We were both raw, and we were missing him. Getting together was supposed to make us feel better, but it never did.”
She doesn’t want to hear it. “It didn’t look like I didn’t make you feel good, Chance.”
I pull on the ends of my hair, desperate for her to understand. “It wasn’t just about the physical part. The whole time I was touching you, kissing you, fucking you, it felt wrong. Like we were cheating on him. Like I was taking something that belonged to Atlas. It was wrong, Heather.”
Her voice cracks. “Don’t you think Atlas would have wanted us not to be alone?”
Fuck.
The pain in her eyes breaks my heart. I feel it too. That’s why I made the huge mistake of spending that night with her almost eighteen months ago. “I don’t know what Atlas would have wanted, Heath.” I take her into my arms. “He’s gone and he can’t come back to tell us. If you don’t want to be alone, you shouldn’t. But I know that I can’t be the one you’re with. I love you, but not the way my brother did. You could never be just a hookup. We have too much history. I would rather be there for you if you need me. What I can offer you, though, is to be your friend. Or we can be nothing to each other. It’s your choice.”
She closes her eyes as her head rests on my chest.
I stroke her hair, doing my best to comfort her. This is definitely something Atlas would have wanted. He would have wanted us to lean on each other as friends.
“You don’t want me.” she sounds calmer, but still sad. “But it isn’t because of Zara?”
“Not because of Zara, I promise.”
It isn’t a total lie. Everything I said to her about why hooking up with her was a mistake is true. The fact that I’m falling for Zara is something that has nothing to do with her.
If things were different, I would confide in Heather. But I need to make sure our parents believe that Ares and I are heeding Dad’s warning to stay away from Zara. At least until we have our relationship figured out; or until Dad realizes that our feelings for our stepsister won’t have a negative impact on his marriage with Zara’s mom.
“Hunter?” Dave clears his throat from a few feet behind Heather.
I hadn’t noticed him when we came here to talk, and I have to wonder for how long he’s been standing there.
“Who’s this pretty girl? Is she your victory hookup?”
It’s none of your business, asshole.
The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow them down. I introduce them instead.
“Heather and I have been friends since we were babies.” I explain. “So not my hookup.”
Dave’s smile widens. “Well then, where have you been hiding her? Introducing a pretty girl to your frat president is the brotherly thing to do. I was looking for you because it’s time for our?—”
“Heather’s father is our town’s sheriff.” I say, before he can finish the sentence. I shake my head as subtly as possible.
Dave gets the message. “I hope you’ll excuse us, doll. I just need Chance’s help for some fraternity business.”
Heather nods, flattered by Dave’s flirting. “Of course. I’m pledging Zeta Theta Beta, so I understand.”
“Awesome.” Dave winks. “Why don’t you go get yourself a drink? I’ll come and find you once our fraternity business is done.”
I don’t know if I should be happy or annoyed with Dave about interrupting my heart to heart with Heather.
Hopefully, things between us will be better now that I told her how I feel. Deep down, we both know that when we slept together, we were just looking for comfort in each other’s arms at a time when we were drowning in grief. I know Heather doesn’t love me. She knows it too.
“It’s time to go and prove yourself, Hunter.” Dave says once we’re far enough from Heather that we’re out of earshot. “And if it’s true that you aren’t hooking up with that nice piece of ass, you can help a brother and make a proper introduction after Cal takes your ego down a few notches.”
I don’t owe Dave anything, and I set the record straight. “Stay away from Heather, Fox. I fucking mean it.”
His mouth curls into a cruel smirk. “If you aren’t boning her, why does it matter if she takes a ride on my cock?”
I get right in his face. “You know, Fox, stupidity must run in your family if you don’t get it. Don’t you think that getting involved with the sheriff’s daughter is the last thing you should do, considering the shit you and your brother are trying to do?”
Dave’s smile widens. “Relax, dude. I’m not gonna marry her. I just think she has a nice ass. Fuck knows, the fresh meat this year looks good enough to bite into. Never seen so many hot freshmen all together.”
