AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Didn’t you, though?” Her eyes narrowed. “The camping trip in Daintree. The first night when Aslan chased you down the beach after Rita kissed him and you kissed Joel...what happened, huh? You said he didn’t touch you, but I don’t believe you. Tell me the truth. Right here. Right now. Tell me what happened on that beach and who knows...you might earn my forgiveness.”
I searched her face, my heart breaking at the hate glowing in her eyes.
If I gave her the truth, I’d lose her forever.
But I couldn’t lie.
I’d never been good at lying.
Clasping my hands to stop them trembling, I said, “I kissed Aslan.”
“Ah see! I fucking knew it—”
“I kissed him, but he didn’t kiss me back. He said he’d never be with me in that way and—”
“And you used my brother as second best. I knew it. I knew you had reservations after that trip because Joel said you didn’t kiss him again. So when you chased him a year later, I worried you were using him. But then he seemed so happy, and you seemed so happy, and we were all so fucking happy that I figured I was wrong. But it was all a lie. All of it.”
“No.” I licked at a salty tear as it ran down my cheek. “I love you, Zara. That isn’t a lie—”
“You can keep your love, brother fucker.” Her chin rose and she bared her teeth, her words like a dagger in my belly. “Now leave me alone, you whore. Go find another girl to befriend or a boy to fuck because we’re done here.”
With a fierce pirouette, she whacked me in the face with her hair and stormed into the house. Her boyfriend looked me up and down with scorn, clucked his tongue, then chased after her.
I hiccupped on a breath. Everything that’d happened today with Aslan. All my feelings and fears churned and crested until my knees trembled to run. Turning on my heel, I swallowed down a sob and went to bolt—
Only...
A strong hand clamped around my wrist.
I froze, blinking back tears as I glowered at the blond-haired guy. “Let go of me.”
He pouted. “You’re crying. Let’s go get a drink.”
“No. I’m going home.”
“Not until you’ve calmed down. Come on.” Not giving me an option, he dragged me around the beanbags and vapers and back into the house. The trance music had switched to another drum and bass track, making my blood pound in my veins.
My head hurt.
My eyes stung.
I wanted to leave so badly.
But he didn’t let me go and dragged me into the kitchen, pushing aside some lingering people around the sink and yanking open the fridge.
Pulling out a bottle of Coke, he let me go long enough to head to the cupboard above the range, grab a mug, and pour some Coke into it. He knew his way around which hinted he’d been here before with Zara and her boyfriend. His back flexed beneath his shirt while he poured. Screwing the lid back on, his fingers disappeared into his front pocket for a split second before he spun, and his face cracked into a commiserating smile.
“Here.” He passed me the coffee mug with a picture of a cat hanging off a branch. “A bit of sugar and caffeine will knock the shock right out of you.” He shrugged. “Being called a whore and a brother fucker by your ex-bestie has got to hurt.”
I took the mug automatically, my well-bred manners not giving me a choice. “Thanks.”
“No worries.” He shoved both hands into his back pockets and leaned against the countertop, his eyes never leaving mine. “Name’s Ethan.”
I looked at the fizzy Coke hissing in the mug. I wasn’t in the mood for soda, and I definitely wasn’t in the mood to talk to a total stranger.
The sea was calling my name.
A steady ebb and flow of the tide tugged on the salt in my blood, begging me to go for a moonlit swim where there were no boys, no girls, and no heartache.
