Page 52 of Cheap Shot

I turned and walked away from him before he could find another thing to blame me for. Something was clearly wrong with him, but it wasn’t my problem. He could sort it out without using me as his personal punching bag. He was used to our family giving in to his demands and always putting him and his needs first. Not anymore. I was done.

I left him behind and hurried down the curved pathway toward the closest cafe. It was late afternoon and I didn’t have anywhere to be, and it was the first place that came to mind. Having a destination helped focus on my mind on something other than the rage boiling within me.

Ethan and I didn’t always get along. We’d never been the type of siblings that were best friends, but we always had each other’s backs when it was necessary. If we needed to join forces as a team against our parents or convince them to agree with us. We weren’t close, but I always thought he would be there for me when I needed him.

Part of my heart had shattered when I finally accepted this morning that things had changed and that was no longer the case.

We were two separate people that happened to share parents and a last name.

There was a long line out the door for the cafe, but I didn’t have anywhere else to be so I quietly stepped in and folded my arms I wanted to give in to the pain in my chest and break down, but he wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t crying over me. I knew that for a fact, so I wouldn’t waste the emotional drain and headache that would surely come after.

I didn’t see the girls earlier, but they’d texted me, asking where I’d disappeared to. I let them know my suspicions that Jay drugged me and that a friend came and picked me up and promised to catch them up next time we were all together.

The line moved quickly, and I ordered a caramel latte before moving to the side and waiting. When the barista called my name, I took my cup and headed for the door. Someone stepped in my path, blocking me from the exit.

I lifted my head and gasped.

Jay.

“Hi, Haley.” He grinned and brushed a strand of hair over my shoulder. “I didn’t get a chance to say bye to you last night.”

I shifted out of his reach. “Excuse me.”

His smile grew but didn’t reach his eyes. How hadn’t I noticed how dead they were?

“We can go somewhere else if you want. You came all this way to see me.”

I glanced around and realized I was at the cafe closest to Granger Hall. I didn’t even think about that on my way over. I should have been avoiding this area entirely, but I wasn’t in my right mind.

He took my free hand and tugged me into a corner of the small shop where two chairs were empty. I pulled my hand free and started to turn, but he inserted himself between me and the chair, trapping me in the corner. His face held that creepy smile. I looked around for someone to help me. No one paid us any attention. The closest person was about ten feet away, too far to overhear us.

“Look, I’m sorry if I came on too strong last night.” He leaned against the wall, relaxing his expression into one of casual confidence. “I really liked getting to know you, and you kind of just disappeared, so I didn’t get a chance to get your number.”

Why was he acting like this was normal? For a moment I wondered if I’d imagined the whole thing. Did he really hand me a drink? Was it him or someone else that drugged me? What if someone slipped something into it without him knowing?

No. I could tell there was something off about him in the light of day. Every instinct was screaming at me to get away. I owed him nothing. I didn’t need to stand here and let him talk to me. I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t at his mercy.

“I’m not interested,” I stated as clearly as possible before stepping around another chair and hurrying to the exit.

“Haley, wait up.” He followed me.

I looked to the line, hoping at least one of them was paying attention. A guy that looked vaguely familiar noticed me, and his eyes darted to Jay.

“Hey.” He put his arm around my shoulders. “There you are. I thought you were going to wait for me.”

My initial reaction was to pull away, but then my brain caught up with his words. He was pretending to know me.

“Right, sorry. You weren’t here, and I didn’t know if I would have time to get my drink before my next class.”

He smiled, and it lit up his eyes. “No problem.”

“Who’s this?” Jay asked me.

I slipped my arm around the stranger’s waist.

“Simon.” He offered his hand, but Jay just eyed us.

“My boyfriend,” I added.