For my thirteenth birthday, I’d learned a harsh lesson.
Travis King was the worst kind of asshole, and I’d never forgive him.
He broke my heart that day. I never did confront the jerk for what he said. He didn’t deserve a chance to explain. A couple of weeks later, school started back up, and I didn’t have to see him as much. It helped with the heartbreak, my young heart healing from the only pain it’d ever felt before.
Too bad it didn’t last.
The following year, I went into high school and had to watch my friends hang out with him. He loved it, of course. He always found a way to make my life hell, so I gave it right back. I wouldn’t allow myself to be around him for very long. I may come off as a book-loving nerd, but I’m no one’s pity friend.
Although he never found out that I had heard him that day, the reminder was always there. He’d ignored me, dated my friends, and had acted like a total showoff. He’d taunt me about my good grades and proper manners. I didn’t need to pretend to be someone I wasn’t just to get his approval. I wouldn’t allow myself to fall for his charm like the rest of the school seemed to.
I decide I can’t let myself dwell on him any longer. I shower and barely have time to wrap the towel around my body before the doorbell rings. The annoying ding-dong is followed by knocks on the door. What the hell? I walk through the house leaving puddles with each step. When I move, I can feel the places Travis has been, but it’s not something I’ll ever admit. He would just rub it in my face and say I told you so, and I can’t have that. I may have given him my body, but I refuse to give him my heart. That’ll never happen.
I look through the peephole and see Courtney standing outside with a huge purse plopped over her shoulder. I open the door, practically naked and in complete shock when I see it’s really her.
“Viola!” she squeals, wrapping her arms around me. “Surprise!” She releases me and smiles wide.
“What are you doing home already? I thought you weren’t getting in until tomorrow?”
Courtney lives off campus in a really cute apartment right next door to a used bookstore, so she doesn’t have to go home during breaks, but flies out when she has the chance.
“I’m all about family time, but three days was plenty. I can only do so long at a Bishop family reunion.”
“Weren’t Jackson and John there?” Those are hersuper hottwin brothers.
“Yes, but Jackson brought his girlfriend, and John was super busy showing the new foreign exchange student around the farm.” She rolls her eyes, and I laugh. “Plus, Toby will be back soon, so I figured I’d come back early and wait for him.”
“Wait for him meaning I won’t see you until school starts because you’ll be shacked up next week.” Toby is her high school sweetheart that she bangs every chance she gets.
She drops her bag on the kitchen table and sighs. “I’ll text you when he lets me up for air.”
“Please, spare me the details.”
She purses her lips and shakes her head at me. “Sometimes I wonder how the hell you even managed to lose your virginity.” Her mocking tone doesn’t go unnoticed even though I know she’s only teasing.
“On my back with my legs behind my head, thank you very much,” I sass right back.
Her eyes trail down my body, studying me. “Speaking of being on your back, you have sex bruises all over your thighs and arms.” She arches a brow. “Care to explain?”
I pinch my lips together and turn away from her, walking toward the living room.
“Viola Annabelle Fisher,” she scowls in a motherly tone, following quickly behind me. “If you’re getting laid, I deserve to know.”
I sit on the couch and grab the remote. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She sits next to me, focusing her attention on my legs. “It looks like thumb bruises to me. So not only was it sex, it was really hot, rough sex.”
After a moment of silence and not answering her, she grabs the remote out of my hand, forcing me to look at her.
“Fine, I got laid. Happy?”
The corner of her lips curls up. “Not as happy as you should be.”
I roll my eyes and look away again.
“C’mon, I have to pee.” She grabs my hand and pulls me up with her. “You can tell me all the dirty details.”
“I’m not telling you about my sex life while you pee!”