Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
“Didn’t you speak to your teachers?” I question, glancing at her again. “The school is aware of what’s been going on. Mom’s been keeping them updated. So I’m sure they’d give you some leeway on your missed work. There’s no need to be pushing yourself so hard to catch up.”
“I want to,” she says. “I don’t want them taking it easy on me because of what happened. They didn’t want to help me when I was accused of being an accessory to rape, so I won’t accept their pity now. Besides, I didn’t miss too much. Just a few essays and a handful of assignments. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Sounds like you’re punishing yourself,” I mutter, focusing on the road as I turn down our street, purposefully glancing away to avoid the eye roll I know is coming. We’ve been arguing about it for the past week. I think she should ease back into it, but Brielle has a go-hard-or-go-home mentality, and usually, I love that about her. Only in this particular situation, it’s the most frustrating thing she’s ever done.
Approaching my driveway, I can’t help but notice the black Aston Martin sitting in the neighboring drive, and a chill sails down my spine. Just as it does every time I see Channing. He’s got me in a fucking chokehold and he knows it. One wrong move from me, and my world will implode, and I don’t doubt he’ll come through on his threat.
He knows too much, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
My hand tightens around the steering wheel, my knuckles paling as I turn into my driveway, only as I come to a stop, the door of the Aston Martin swings open. Channing steps out of his car with his phone glued to his ear.
My heart races as anger burns through my veins, singeing me from the inside out as my stomach somersaults, making me hold back a gag. He walks around the side of his car, his gaze lifting to mine, and the second our eyes connect, the oxygen is sucked out of the car. Tension builds, and I feel my whole body vibrating with uncontrollable rage.
As Channing holds my stare, I clench my jaw so fucking tight, my teeth could shatter. A smirk kicks up the corner of his lips, looking at me like I’m a pathetic piece of shit who’s at his complete mercy, and he’s fucking right. That’s exactly what I am.
Those photographs … they’re something I thought I’d never see again, never have to be reminded of the horrendous things I did that night. It’s my darkest secret, my greatest regret, and every day that passes, I feel it creeping up on me, constricting my chest, making it impossible to breathe.
“Tanner?” Bri questions, her voice filled with concern, but I tune her out, unable to look away from Channing as he finally drops his gaze and turns his back. He walks toward his front door, but I watch every fucking step, my whole body beginning to close down.
I’m out of time. My world is imploding, and I don’t know how to make it stop.
“TANNER?” Bri demands, grabbing my shoulder and pushing it back against the seat, forcing me to look at her. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I shake my head and reach for the door handle. “It’s nothing, don’t worry.”
“No,” she snaps, grabbing my arm and yanking me back. “Fucking talk already. I’m done with this bullshit. I know something is going on, something you’re refusing to tell me, and every time I ask, you shrug it off like it doesn’t matter. I see what it’s doing to you. What does he have on you that could be so bad? Why won’t you just talk to me? I’ve tried to give you space. I knew something was going on after the wedding, then we were going to talk at the track, and again when I got out of the hospital, but you’ve been avoiding it. I’ve been trying to give you space, hoping you would come to me when you were ready, but it’s been weeks, Tanner. Weeks.”
Guilt tears at my chest, and I can’t even meet her eye, the shame overwhelming me like never before. “I’m sorry, Bri,” I tell her, my hands shaking in my lap. “I can’t … I can’t tell you. I thought I could, and I want to. I don’t want to keep things from you, but what I did … you’ll never look at me the same again.”
Bri reaches for me, but I pull out of her reach and her shoulders sag with defeat. “Tanner,” she whispers, balling her hands into fists to keep from trying again. “You lean, I lean, remember? I thought we were in this together. You put Colby in a fucking coma, and I didn’t walk away. I thought we were stronger than that.”