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I clench my fists so hard that my fingers dig into my palms painfully. That pain helps me come back to reality as he continues.
“A very simple one actually. I thought I could get you to break up with your boyfriend and fuck you within six months.” He explains, talking about me like I’m a piece of meat. “He was more ambitious, he bet he could do it in one.”
I can’t help myself, I have to look away. I turn my head to the side and look into the distance at campus as I blink away tears that threaten to spill.
“I couldn’t beat those numbers and, frankly, I didn’t think it was possible in a month so I took that bet.” He says, his teeth baring as he looks at me with violence in his eyes. “You made me lose.”
“I don’t believe you,” I say, ignoring his last remark. He barks out a fake laugh and takes a step towards me, but I back up. “Don’t come near me.”
Miraculously, he listens. He puts his hands up and takes a step back. “You don’t have to believe me, just ask him yourself. He’ll tell you.” He says, before adding, “But didn’t you find it weird how relentless he was in pursuing you? How he refused to give up no matter how many times you told him to?”
My stomach roils and I feel like I’m going to be sick. If this is true, was every word and every moment between us a lie?
“Why are you doing this? What do you get out of destroying us and hurting me?” I ask him.
“This isn’t about you anymore. This is about him. About him getting everything he’s ever wanted in life. Every prize, every trophy, every girl. Every advantage in life. RCA’s golden boy isn’t so golden now, is he?” He sneers.
“He’s had to deal with losing both of his parents, that’s hardly “every advantage”.” I clap back, needing to defend him even in this fucked up situation. “As to what other opportunities he’s had, I’ve seen where you live. You’ve had the same ones. The only difference between you is who you are as men.” I point out. “You’ll never live up to him and that’s the sad truth you’re unwilling to accept.”
I expect him to lunge for me, but he does something far more sinister. He laughs.
“Pathetic.” He spits, disgust coating his words. “Even after everything I’ve just told you, you’re still defending him.”
“Are you done?” I snap, because I’m going to fall apart and I don’t want him to be here to witness it when it happens.
He turns and starts to walk away as I watch him go with eagle eyes.
He takes only three steps before he turns back towards me and adds cruelly, “Oh, I forgot. Do you know how much you were worth to him?” He asks. “Only ten grand.” He adds, clicking his tongue thoughtfully against the roof of his mouth, “That’s pennies to a man like him.”
He walks away this time.
It’s only once he’s out of sight that my legs finally give out. I drop onto the stairs beneath me and sit there aimlessly for long minutes as I silently watch raindrops hit my bare legs, unable to form a coherent thought.
I have no concept of how long I sit there, except that when I hear Six and Nera talking behind me my hair is drenched like I just came out of the shower.
“Thayer! What are you doing out here? Are you hurt?” Six’s alarmed voice rings in my ear as she crouches next to me and runs her hands over my body as if searching for wounds.
“Yes,” I say, tilting my head back and enjoying the feel of the rain on my face.
Nera crouches down on the other side of me. “What happened, babe?” She asks, her voice concerned.
“Devlin just cornered me out here and told me that apparently Rhys made a bet that he could get me to break up with Carter and have sex with him in one month.”
Shocked silence meets my words. It stretches for what feels like a full minute before Six speaks.
“Alright,” she says kindly, grabbing the car keys from my hand, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and urging me to stand, “Let’s get you upstairs. I’ll make you some tea and we can get you warm.”
“No, let’s go to his house and burn his fucking car.” Nera counters, miraculously pulling a laugh from me.
“Let’s please call that plan B.” Six replies, tugging me towards the door. “Come on, Thayer.”
“No,” I say, finally pulling out of my mental fog as I refuse to move. I grab the keys back and start for the car. “I need to find him. Maybe this isn’t true. Maybe it’s something Devlin made up to mess with us.”
“Maybe.” Nera says, trying for hopeful.
“Look, we’re obviously not going to the party now. Ner and I will stay here and wait for you to come back, okay?” Six adds, understanding that there’s no talking me out of this.
“Call us if you need backup though.” Nera chimes in.
