Page 93 of Spring Break Fling

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The words echoed in my head, loud and unforgiving. I looked at Hannah, searching her face for a denial, a protest, anything. But all I saw was guilt.

“Hannah?”

“It’s not like that,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please, Nikko. I know how it sounds, but it’s not how I feel now. You have to believe me.”

“Believe you?” Jessie snapped. “Why the hell should he believe you? You’ve been lying this whole time!”

Diego stepped between them, hands up like a referee. “Alright, everyone chill. Let’s not turn this into a circus.”

I stared at Hannah and willed her to say something. I needed her to tell me it was bullshit.

But she wasn’t saying that. She was staring at me with those big, beautiful eyes. Eyes that I thought were pure innocence at one time.

I had misjudged her in so many ways.

Jessie started yelling again. Diego was trying to quiet her. I barely heard either one of them. My ears rang, and my chest felt like it was caving in. This hurt. It hurt more than the punches I took last night. It hurt more than anything my old man ever did.

“Just go,” I said, my voice hoarse.

Jessie’s eyes lit up with triumph. “Yeah, you heard him. Get out of here.”

Hannah looked like she’d been slapped. Her mouth opened, then closed. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t cry. Why would she? This had all been fake for her.

“Nikko, please,” she whispered. “Let me explain.”

I turned away. “There’s nothing to explain.”

Diego put a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe we should hear her out⁠—”

“No,” I said flatly. “She’s made her choice. Just like everyone else in my life.”

Hannah took a step forward. “That’s not fair⁠—”

“Fair?” I laughed, the sound harsh and bitter. “Nothing about this is fair. You came here with a plan. To what? Humiliate me? Make me fall for you just to prove some point?”

“No!” she cried. “It started that way, but not anymore. I⁠—”

“Save it,” I interrupted. “I can’t deal with any more drama right now. Get out of here.”

“You heard him,” Jess said. “Don’t make me kick your ass out of here.”

“You too,” I said, my gaze snapping to her. “All of you. Go. Now.”

Jessie’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “But Nikko⁠—”

“Get the fuck out!” I bellowed, my voice cracking.

Hannah broke into sobs, Jessie rolled her eyes, and Diego muttered something about giving me space. One by one, they left, leaving me standing in the driveway like a goddamn fool.

I went back inside, slamming the door behind me. The silence was deafening.

I went straight for the fridge, grabbed a beer, and cracked it open. I tilted my head back and drained it in one go. Then I crushed the can in my hand and reached for another.

This was what I got for letting someone in.

The hangover wasn’t enough to deter me from doing it all over again. I wanted to get blackout drunk and forget about this crazy life.

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