Triple Dare (Sterling Shore 7)

This. Is. Mortifying.

“Oh shit,” a very familiar guy’s voice says. “What the hell, pervert?”

Ice fills my veins, and I freeze in place, no longer concentrating on the door.

“Who the hell are you?” a girl shrieks. “Get out!”

I slowly turn around, and without thinking, I flip on the light. It’s the worst mistake of my life.

Wearing nothing but a condom, he’s on his knees on the bed, glaring at me until recognition sets in.

Corbin. Fucking. Sterling.

His face pales as his eyes widen, and I remain chilled to the bone. I feel like someone has just stuck me in a painfully cold tub of ice, and I swear if I could breathe, I’d be blowing out a chilly fog.

“Ruby,” Corbin gasps, horror still on his face, and his body still exposed.

The blonde who has covered up with a sheet is looking back and forth between us, and her eyes widen.

“Shit! Is she your girlfriend, you son of a bitch? You said you were single!”

I’ve just seen Corbin having sex less than twenty-four hours after breaking up with me and wanting to stay friends. Less than twenty-four hours since he couldn’t even get it up for me—the girl who has loved him since we were kids—yet he is… just pounding away on some random girl.

Ignoring her, Corbin gets off the bed, his cock slowly going down despite the fact he obviously didn’t get done. One look at me sends the thing into hiding.

“Corbin, you asshole, I’ll—”

“Shut up, Chloe!” he snaps.

I turn around quickly as hot tears bang against the backs of my eyes, and I struggle ten times harder to push open the door. It moves several inches each time before slamming back, like someone is on the other side pushing it toward me.

Fuck!

“Ruby, wait. Let’s talk about this,” Corbin says calmly, even though a subtle rattle is in his tone. The rustle of jeans resonates in my ears, letting me know the jackass is dressing.

Talk? Fuck that.

I run toward the window, ignoring Corbin when he calls for me again, and I push it open, glancing down at the three or four feet between hell and freedom. I’d jump even if it was ten feet; this just makes it easier.

“Ruby, wait!” Corbin yells, but I’m already out and running through the brutally sharp bushes that try to interrupt my great escape.

The burning-hot tears come, and I run harder when I hear cursing and bushes rustling behind me, letting me know that Corbin is right on my heels. I’m almost to the street, even though it’s hard to see it through my tears, when suddenly I’m lifted off the ground.

I scream so loud that it hurts, the sound ripping against the sides of my throat and leaving an aching trail in its wake. I’m praying someone will come to my rescue, but all I hear are a few chuckles around us as Corbin forces me to turn and face him, keeping my feet off the ground. My arms are pinned at my sides, and my feet kick wildly to no avail. He doesn’t even flinch.

His eyes are full of regret, but I don’t give a damn.

“Ruby, stop! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for you to see that! I’d never have come here—”

“That makes it okay?” I ask incredulously. “You were in my bed last night, Corbin. And you walked away because I didn’t turn you on. I thought… You know what, fuck you! Let me down!”

I struggle uselessly in his strong arms before sobs overtake me and wrack my body. He pulls me closer, and I’m forced to bury my face against his shoulder to keep him from seeing how broken I am right now.

A painful weight settles on my chest, making each breath excruciating to take. My tears feel like lava, burning their way down my cheeks. I’m worried that I’m seconds away from hyperventilating.

How could he? How could he do this?

“Ruby, it’s not like that. I… I can’t explain. But I didn’t mean to fuck up like this. I swear I didn’t. Please don’t leave pissed right now.”

I snort derisively, but its effect is soured when I hiccup out a sob. My entire body is shaking as more heated tears attempt to scald my cheeks. My chest hurts, feeling weighted by heartbreak, betrayal, and disgust.

“Fuck you,” I whisper again, still crying as he holds me tighter against his bare upper body.

The smell of him makes me sick. I smell beer, smoke, and her perfume all over him. It’s almost enough to make me—

“Shit,” Corbin hisses, putting me down quickly on unsteady legs and pulling my hair back as my stomach gives up its endeavor to hold back.

As I retch, he soothes me with guilty apologies, promising me this will all be okay, all while continuing to hold my hair out of my face. The second my stomach ends its purge, I bat his hands away and very indignantly wipe my mouth on the back of my hand.