Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I wince, not wanting to imagine her reaction.
“Hmmm.”
It’s a relief when she remains silent before hustling up the wide stone stairs to the set of double doors and slipping inside. My steps slow as I reach the entrance. Even though I feel dozens of eyes crawling over me in the parking lot, I’m loath to enter the building. The daunting realization that the entire day is stretched out ahead of me brings a sharp pinch to my belly.
Mom throws a glance over her shoulder as she holds open the door. “I need to get to the office. I’ll see you after school. And remember, you’re grounded. No staying after and no friends.” Her voice turns stern. “And certainly no Austin Hawthorne.” Her face scrunches as if she’s spotted something grotesque.
I almost snort.
There’s nothing for her to worry about on that front. I reached out at least half a dozen times over the weekend and he never responded, which is a pretty clear indication of where things stand between us.
It’s obvious he believes the worst in me and is unwilling to hear my side of the story.
“Okay.”
With one last steely look aimed in my direction, she swings away before getting swallowed up by the crowd in the hallway and disappearing. Now that I’ve been left to my own devices, I hunch my shoulders and lower my head before moving through the thick press of bodies. A growing wave of whispers and giggles ripples in my wake.
I wish the shiny black and white marble floor would open and swallow me whole.
“Hey, Delilah,” Aiden Wendt yells, his voice echoing off the paneled walls, “you look hot on your knees. Any chance I can get in on the action? Is there a rotation or request form I can fill out?”
My gaze collides with his smirking one before I rip it away and stare down at the floor, moving as quickly as I can through the hallway. More questions and comments are shouted as I pass by.
They’re impossible to ignore.
It’s a relief when I finally reach my locker. My fingers tremble as I spin the dial. It takes four attempts at the combination before the metal door pops open. I just need to grab my books, and then I can get the hell out of here. The corridor is like shark-infested waters and I’m bleeding out.
For a few brief seconds, I consider ditching school. I could walk right out the front entrance and never return.
I glance longingly toward the exit.
It’s so tempting.
Except, it would only exacerbate the situation at home. Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I resign myself to the next eight hours of hell.
When a shadow falls over me, I steel myself for the inevitable. I know who it is without looking.
“What do you want?” I growl, trying to mask the quiver that weaves its way through my voice.
When the question is met with silence, I force myself to meet his gaze head-on.
Deep down, I knew that when we broke up, Jasper would make my life miserable, but I never imagined he would stoop so low.
Maybe I should have.
All the telltale signs were there, and I turned a blind eye and ignored them. Jasper wants to break me. He won’t be happy until I crawl back and beg his forgiveness. Then, he’ll put a collar around my neck so that everyone knows I’m his pet.
I straighten my shoulders and stand a little straighter.
I’ll be damned if that happens.
A slow smile spreads across his lips as he lounges against the locker next to mine and folds his arms across his chest. Once upon a time, such a smile aimed in my direction would have had my belly stirring with butterflies.
Now, it makes me sick to my stomach.
“To see how you’re doing.”
That’s all it takes for my temper to explode. My hands clench uselessly at my sides as I whirl around. “How do you think I’m doing? You took pictures of me in compromising situations and made sure everyone at school saw them.” I step closer before stabbing a finger into his hard chest. “I don’t even remember talking to you Friday night.” My eyes narrow as my mind spins, trying to latch onto a plausible explanation. “What did you do? Drug me?”
With a loud snort, he rolls his eyes. “Please, you were totally trashed. It’s not my fault you can’t hold your liquor and blacked out. You were hanging all over me, begging for my forgiveness.” He throws an arm wide. “Ask anyone who was there and they’ll tell you.” He leans closer until his warm breath can feather across my lips. “What was I supposed to do when you begged to suck my cock? Turn you down?”
He’s lying.
He has to be.
There’s no way in hell I’d go anywhere near Jasper after everything he’s put me through. After I spent weeks contemplating how to escape our relationship. And he wants me to believe that I begged to give him a blow job?