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Traitorous bitch. “Yeah, that one. I met a girl there.”
“The one you were just with, right? I think Sky and Riley are friends with her. Met at the cove, too.”
“Yeah, probably. Her name’s Aspen.” We stopped at the edge of the parking lot, ignoring the students parting around us, heading off campus. “We had sex, and I found out recently that she’s pregnant with my kid.”
“Fuck, cuz.” Damon’s head knocked back. “Shane didn’t tell me that part. Just that you were seeing some girl. I couldn’t believe it, not with how focused—and not on chicks—you wanted to be here.”
I frowned as movement from the corner of my eye made me turn.Shit, Jillian. I couldn’t shake that chick. I’d gone out with her twice, and she was already planning our wedding. Ignoring her and hoping she hadn’t overheard us, I refocused on my cousin. “Nothing’s changed.”
A knowing look flashed through Damon’s blue eyes, which only stirred my unease about what was coming. He saw the writing on the wall too. I was full of shit.
Everything’s changing.
CHAPTER TWO
ASPEN
Islung my heavy backpack over one shoulder and left psych class, never so happy for a Monday morning class, meaning the weekend was over. I wanted to call my sister. Our parents were a nightmare, and she needed to hear what was going on from me—not them.
My next class wasn’t for an hour. Regan was in school, but I could text her. I walked across campus to the library and sent her a message:Mom and Dad are a nightmare. Alumni weekend. Call asap after school—before talking to them.
“Aspen?” A model-esque girl glared as her gaze swept my body from head to toe.
The undertone of menace in how this chick said my name caused every muscle in my body to tense. She stood to my left. Long, dark hair swept into a high ponytail and makeup on point. Everything about her looked expensive and designer. My hand spasmed on the frayed strap of my secondhand backpack.Wonder what I look like.Probably a mess. I’d slept like the dead and turned off my alarm three times this morning, barely making it to class on time.
“Yeah?” By the look on her face, it wasn’t going to be good, and I braced myself.
She pursed her full, ruby-red lips. “You don’t look pregnant.”
What the hell?“Excuse me?” I had to have heard her wrong. No one but Phoenix knew.
“I heard that you trapped Phoenix by getting yourself knocked up.” Her gaze dropped to my stomach and remained there for an uncomfortable couple of seconds. “I don’t believe it. Must be a ruse.”
“Really.”Screw this chick. “And who the hell are you?” I wasn’t giving her anything.And fuck Phoenix, too, for telling her.
“Jillian, the one Phoenix actually wants.” The brunette leaned forward. “Little piece of advice? You need to let him go. He deserves better than some trailer trash, gold-digging virgin who doesn’t know enough to bring a condom to a beach party.” She paused to smirk. “He’s going places, and you’ll only hold him back.”
With that bomb, Jillian pivoted with a swoosh of her long hair, which came within an inch of smacking me in the face. I watched her go, my body shaking with anger. I couldn’t believe he’d done that—the beach-party tidbit sealed the deal. Her information had come directly from Phoenix and not because she overheard us telling my parents at the diner.
The girl rounded a corner, and I forced myself to turn toward the library again. I was so mad I couldn’t see straight. I went a couple more steps with my head down, not wanting to chance making eye contact with another viper like her. Probably why I smacked into a hard chest and stumbled back. Hands grabbed my shoulders and steadied me, and I blinked the world back into focus.
Phoenix. I should have known it was him. Fitting. I jerked free of his hold as a new wave of anger ripped through me.
“What’s wrong?”
His deep voice was like a caress. Stupid hormones. My body clearly disagreed with my brain, since part of me softened from his nearness, the feeling of his large hands on me, and how amazingly good-looking he was. But that was it. He was a total asshat, and I wanted nothing else to do with him. My traitorous hormones had other thoughts.Am I sure I want sex off the table?I wasn’t ready to make that decision, partly because I feared I would give in there and then. But aside from that, I wanted nothing from him, especially since he blabbed to that bitch.
“What’s wrong?” I parroted, my voice a whole octave higher. “Plenty. But let’s start with how you should mind your own fucking business.” I whirled around only to come to a screeching halt when his hand clamped down on my arm.
“Don’t walk away from me,” he said with a growl.
I glared over my shoulder. “Why? Are you telling me that no one walks away from you?” A cocky grin curved his mouth, and I got angry all over again. “Well, guess you’d better get used to it. This is college, and it’s all about new experiences.”
I shook off his hold, about to rush off for the second time, but my mouth wouldn’t let me. Facing him, I jabbed my finger into his hard chest. “You shouldn’t be telling people my personal business.”
Confusion clouded his stormy eyes. “I didn’t. I don’t know your fucking personal business.”
“And you never will.”Screw this and the rest of my classes.I left, heading for the parking lot instead of the library. I needed to get the hell out of there.
