15. Shane
Shane
Things with Nik were getting out of control. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I knew better. She’s too good to be handcuffed to me, but we were well past the point of it just stinging. It’s more like my ribs have been ripped apart.
I miss her.
And more than just in a romantic way. I miss my best friend. I’ve tried to get her to talk to me, but she’s giving me the cold shoulder.
When I pull up at Akers’s to pick up Gabe, I shoot him a text.
I’m not in the fucking mood to deal with people so he can walk his happy ass over here; I’m not getting out to get him.
The past two weeks, I haven’t really been in the mood, period.
Not that I’m a people person anyway, but it’s definitely been worse.
Most days I don’t think I’d mind if I just faded away.
“It Ain’t Me Babe” by Bob Dylan comes on, and I stare out at the night. I can only barely see the glow of the bonfire in the distance past the rows of vehicles parked in half-ass rows in the field.
Gabe
Be right there.
Annoyed, I tap out a response and groan.
Shane
Hurry up or I’ll leave you here.
The door to the truck in front of me opens and two people climb out, adjusting their clothes. I’m not really paying attention at first until the light of the moon catches on blue waves as she throws her freshly-fucked hair up on top of her head.
My hands tighten around the steering wheel until my knuckles blanch. Then, the fucker with her turns around, and I catch a glimpse of his face.
I’m going to be fucking sick.
Tristan says something to her before walking away. I climb out of my truck and slam the door as hard as I can. She spins, her eyes bulging when she sees me.
When I get close, she grabs my arm. “Shane—”
I jerk away. “Do not fucking touch me.”
“Please, let me explain.”
My brows raise and my nostrils flare. “No.”
“Goddamn it! Stop! Just talk to me!”
I spin. “Talk to you? I’ve been trying to talk to you!”
“Shane—”
“You won’t even answer my texts, but you just fucked your ex-boyfriend, who talks shit about you to half the town, in the back of a truck!”
“It didn’t mean—”
“I know. That’s the worst fucking part!” I laugh. “You could have picked anyone else, but you picked him! You let him think he was right!”
She rears back. “What are you trying to say? You think I’m a slut now too?”
“No. I’d never say that. That’s the point!”
“You ended whatever we were! Did you really think I wouldn’t fuck someone else eventually!”
“No, but him?”
“Why does it matter what I do?”
“Because I walked away for you! Because you deserved better! And you run right back to a guy who we both know won’t treat you better than I would!”
“You don’t get a say in what I do,” she bites.
I nod and run my hand over my mouth. Without another word, I storm past her through the trees. I need to get away from her before I say something I don’t mean. I’m so fucking pissed I can’t see straight.
Fuck it. I need a drink.
Music, shouting, and laughter grow louder with every step I take toward the crowd, but it’s nothing compared to the sound of my teeth grinding against each other.
Just as I reach the party, the most irritating voice shouts, “Guess you do share, huh?”
This motherfucker is about to obliterate the little bit of self-control I possess. He’s a few feet away leaning against a tailgate. I wouldn’t have even noticed him if he hadn’t opened his big mouth.
Walk away, Shane.
Lifting my face to the sky, I take a couple of deep breaths, but it does jack shit for my nerves.
Turning my attention to him, I take my time walking toward him. “Honestly, I’m surprised you have the balls to even speak to me.”
“Why?” His brows raise as he pretends to be surprised. “Oh shit! You’re not still dating her, are you? I hope not, considering she just opened her legs in the back seat of my truck not ten minutes ago.” He grins, shaking his head. “You know, some bitches just never change.”
“What the fuck did you just say?” I ask, my neck and cheeks heating. My fists ball at my sides, and I clench my jaw harder, standing up straighter.
He scoffs. “If that doesn’t prove what a whore she is, I don’t know what will, buddy.”
He’s no doubt a dick, but I didn’t know he had a death wish.
I don’t know why he’s still so hellbent on shit-talking her, but I hope he’s gotten it out of his system because when I’m done with him, I’m not sure he’ll be able to speak ever again.
“I thought that’s what you were saying,” I mutter, stepping right in front of him.
All my blood rushes to my ears, and my heart thumps hard against my chest.
Then, I hit him with a right hook to the face, splitting his brow open.
He curls in on himself, grabbing his forehead.
“Fuck,” he shouts, stepping back before slowly shaking it off and adding, “You’re fucking dead.”
He swings, but I dodge it.
Taking a step away, I lean back, spit into the air and shout, “God, I’m glad you opened your big-ass mouth.”
Adrenaline rushes through me as he squares up, glaring.
With a big smile plastered on my face, I point at him. “I’ve been kicking myself for not beating your ass last time.”
My fist barrels into his gut. He gasps, falling back to the ground, so naturally, I knee him in the face, breaking his nose with a crack. Blood drips onto the grass.
A crowd forms around us, but no one steps in.
Hopefully, one of them’s calling an ambulance because I’m about to kill this prick.
“Stop!” someone shouts.
The fucker stands and barrels toward me.
When his shoulder hits my abdomen, we both go down.
He gets in one good shot causing my head to smack the ground.
I laugh as blood fills my mouth. “That all you got?”
Flipping us until I’m on top, I headbutt him.
He screams.
I rear back and hit him again, and again, and again.
Standing, I yank him up and laugh. “What? You don’t wanna fight back?”
I shove him, and he hits me in the kidney, causing me to fold in half.
But one thing I’m good at is taking a hit. Lord knows, I’ve had enough practice, so I right myself and nail him in the face.
When I rear back to hit him again, someone grabs my arm, pulling it down and behind me. Looking back, Officer Dipshit is placing me in cuffs as another squad car pulls in.
I was too focused on this jackass to even hear the sirens, I guess.
Trying to pull away, I spit blood at the little shit who’s sitting on the ground holding his face. “Don’t you ever fucking say a word about her again.”
“Shane! What the fuck!” Nik shouts, racing toward me.
An officer stops her, but she’s still shouting at me. Without saying a word, I wink at her as they guide me into the back of the car.
It’s not how I wanted to spend my night, but sleeping on the cold metal bench is well worth it to have been able to kick his ass.
I hate that fucking guy.
Honestly, I don’t fucking like the idea of Nik with anyone else, but that’s not even why I did it.
She was right when she said I shouldn’t get a say in what she does.
But I’ll be damned if I ever let her name roll off that pricks tongue again.
He doesn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as her.
Even now, as I think about what he called her, my hands shake.
By the time I get my one phone call, Gabe’s already told his parents and they’re working on getting me bailed out.
It isn’t quick, but shortly after the sun comes up, Colette picks me up and we’re heading across the parking lot.
“Thank you so much.”
I’ll never be able to repay Colette and Jon for everything they’ve done for me.
“No problem. I have no doubt that punk deserved it. I know his mother. She’s a cunt,” she says as we walk to her car.
Laughing, I shake my head.
Gabe really hit the parent lottery with this one.
“Would it be okay if I bring you the money later?” I ask, climbing in the passenger seat of her SUV.
Rolling her eyes, she scoffs. “I’m not worried about it.” She quirks a brow. “I am wondering though, why are you beating the hell out of that girl’s ex-boyfriend?”
How the fuck—
“Your son’s got a big fucking mouth.”
She laughs. “Look, this is all I’ll say about it—you care about that girl. I don’t know what’s going on between you two right now, but you need to get your head out of your ass before you lose her for good. Because from what my big-mouth son says, I think you’ll regret it.”