“I don’t!” I snap.
He throws his head back, laughing. “So you don’t plan on her moving to Texas with you after graduation?”
“That is for her to be close to Lilly,” I growl. I should have never told him my plans.
He stares at me, and I arch a brow. Throw something else at me, Deke. I’ll block it.
“You know.” He uncrosses his arms over his chest. “Everyone always talks about how fucked up you are.” My hands clench. “But I never believed them. Until now. You can kill someone without a second thought, but you can’t admit you love someone?” He shakes his head. “Never thought I’d see the day when you actually surprise me.” Then he turns and exits the room.
AUSTIN
I walk into the kitchen and grab the Fireball and take a sip from the bottle.
“What the hell was that?” Becky demands, running up to me.
“Me putting them in their place,” I say and tip it back again.
She sighs. “What do you have on them?”
“Enough.”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s not what I asked, Austin.”
I take another drink as Deke walks into the kitchen. I don’t expect to be invited back to the clubhouse anytime soon. But too bad. Because my ass isn’t walking away. Not this far into the game.
He comes over to us, his eyes on Becky. “We’re leaving, babe,” he says, and my eyes catch Cole storming past the kitchen and out the front door.
I take another drink.
“I’m staying again tonight,” she tells him.
He nods, already knowing that. Then he looks at me. He opens his mouth to speak and then closes it.
“What?” I snap.
He just shakes his head. “Nothing.” Then gives Becky a kiss before he turns and walks out.
“You can go with him if you want,” I offer.
She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. I’m your only friend, remember?” She gives me a smile before taking the bottle from my hand. “Someone has to watch over you.”
I roll my eyes but sigh in disappointment. I’ve never had a good birthday. I’ve never spent it with family or real friends. Since I left California, I’ve learned a lot. And one thing is that those friends were as fake as a blow-up doll. I hate that I’m fighting with Cole. I hate that he put me in this position. That he lied to me about something so important it could change my life.
Where do we go from here? Will I ever get to see Lilly after we graduate? My chest tightens with that thought.
Becky places her hand on mine and gives me a soft smile. “You should give him a chance.”
“Some people don’t deserve a chance,” I say simply.
“Austin—”
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I interrupt her. “Can we just get drunk?”
She chuckles, handing me back the bottle. “Drink up, birthday girl.”
_________________________________
I open my eyes at the sound of thunder and groan.
My head pounds, and my mouth is dry. Lightning strikes, lighting up my room, and I run my hand along my bed, looking for my phone. I find it face down and press the button to light up the screen. I squint and it reads 4:25 a.m. I’ve only been asleep for an hour. The party ended hours ago, but Becky and I weren’t ready to call it quits just yet.
My hand grips my cell, and I sit up slowly, letting my body adjust to being awake. Everything aches.
Becky is passed out in bed, her back toward me. Throwing the covers off, I make my way into the bathroom. I come to a stop in front of the sink and turn on the water. Lightning lights up the room through my large oval window and then thunder booms, rattling the walls.
I place my phone on the countertop and open the medicine cabinet. I pick up the Advil and shut the glass cabinet just as the lights go out.
“Shit.” I sigh.
The lightning strikes, lighting up the bathroom once again, and I see a dark form in the mirror. “What the …?”
A hand fists my hair, and when my head is yanked back, I drop the pill bottle to grab at them. But before I can get a hold of anything, my head is slammed forward.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
COLE
I wake up to my phone ringing.
“Hello?” I mumble, without looking to see who it is.
“Get your ass up!” Deke says in greeting.
I run a hand down my face. “What do you want? What time is it?”
“Eight. Get up and get your ass over to Shelby’s.”
“Why?” I yawn.
“Because Becky just called me, and the girls are there.”
I sit up in a rush. “Why are they at Shelby’s?”
“Don’t know. She called me and said Austin is there needing medical attention. I’m on my way …”
“I’ll meet you there.”
I’m dressed and walking into Shelby’s house in less than fifteen minutes. I’ve called Austin’s phone over twenty times and all have gone straight to her voicemail.