Page 12 of Keeper of Hearts
Do I want to do it anyway? Absolutely yes.
"Three things," I breathe against her ear. "First, you smell fucking incredible. Second, you're too beautiful when you're pouting. It makes me crazy, butterfly. Third, you aren't going to the fucking dance with Corey Gaines." I press my lips against the shell of her ear before pulling back. "Now, get in the truck before we're late."
"You…"
"What?"
She plants her hands against my chest, shoving me backward. "Don't get to tell me what to do, Gage Bronx!" she growls at me, her gorgeous eyes flashing fire at me. "I'll go to the dance with whoever I want to go with."
"It won't be him, butterfly. Get in the truck."
She opens her mouth to say something and then snaps it closed, storming past me. If she were a cat, her tail would be bristling right now. She's really pissed. It's honestly pretty hot.
I wait until I'm sure she's headed toward the truck and then discreetly adjust my dick before locking up the house.
By the time I climb in the truck, she's already buckled herself in and is glaring out the window. I set her stuff beside us, keeping her keys in my pocket just in case she tries to escape before we get to school.
The ten-minute ride is completely silent.
"You texted the wrong person last night," she snaps as I'm making the turn into the parking lot.
Texted the wrong person? What is she–?
"Your girlfriend probably wouldn't appreciate knowing you sent me a text meant for her."
Ah, fuck me. Can I do nothing right with her?
"I didn't text the wrong person, Troian," I say quietly, glancing over at her. "I sent it to exactly who I intended to receive it. And I don't have a girlfriend."
Her body jerks in the seat beside me, but she doesn't respond. Instead, she stares out the window, refusing to look at me.
I sigh, pulling into a parking space. Clearly, I have my work cut out for me if I'm going to earn her forgiveness. I don't blame her for that. She's earned the right to be angry when I've spent years hurting her because I'm an idiot. But damn. I miss my sweet little butterfly.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, killing the engine. "I never meant to hurt you."
"Who says you did, Gage? Maybe I just realized that this friendship has become a lot more one-sided than I'm willing to accept." She shrugs, grabbing her stuff. "It's cool, though. I can take a hint. You're a big star now. You don't need me hanging around."
"Troian, that's not—"
She practically launches herself out of the truck before I can finish speaking. I growl, grabbing my shit and jumping out to run after her. Only to run right smack into Victoria and her posse.
"Jeez, Gage," Victoria snaps, scowling at me. "It's not like we were walking here or anything."
"My bad," I mutter, trying to step around her. "I'm in a hurry."
"Aww. Chasing after your sad little stalker?" She fake pouts at me. "Honestly, I don't even know why you bother with her. She's a pathetic charity case. You're a celebrity."
"And you're a clueless bitch who doesn't know what she's talking about as usual," I snap, stepping around her. "Seriously, Victoria. I don't know how anyone tolerates you when you're just a sad, lonely little girl who never grew the fuck up. Troian will always be superior to you. It's pathetic that you think bullying her now will ever change the fact that you'll be a nobody in less than a year while she's at one of the most prestigious schools in the country. If you get anywhere in life, it'll be through marriage to a man who doesn't even respect you. She'll do it through merit. Regardless of what you say about her, people will see the truth sooner or later. She's better than you in every single way. So why don't you fuck off with your attitude for once? It's not fooling anyone."
It's harsh, but it's true. And I've had enough of this girl talking shit about Troian like it'll change reality. I know the truth. She knows the truth. Sooner or later, everyone else will wake up to it, too.
Victoria Starling is a sad nobody, desperately clinging to high school relevance because she knows there's nothing beyond it for her. She can't bully the truth out of existence, no matter how hard she tries.
I'm done listening to her try.
"You…asshole!" she shrieks after me as I stride away.
I let the insult roll off my back because she's right. I am an asshole. But at least for once, it's for the right reasons.
