I Love You, I Hate You: Part 1

“Cut the shit, Jake. It’s me. I know every room in this house is under surveillance.” I turn, searching the walls until I find what I’m looking for. I point at the dark spot that looks like a hole from a screw up hanging a picture. But I know. “Those are in every room. I don’t care about the whole house; I just need the room I broke into.”

Jake looks at me curiously, probably wondering what else I’ve figured out over the years. I know enough. Dirty money. Coverups. Crooked cops. And those are just the pieces I’ve put together. Whatever it is his parents actually do for a living—and I highly doubt it’s porn—they’re doing Jake a favor by keeping him out of it. “Why? What happened?”

“You don’t watch the footage?”

He drops his arms to his sides and shakes his head, “Nah, my parents set that shit up for security reasons. Honestly, I forget it’s there half the time.”

I want to smile because I know once Jake sees what went down, he’ll give me the video. But I can't find it in myself to feel the least bit happy. I’m going to have to watch Danika’s suffering multiple times for my plan to work. Not because I’m a twisted bastard, because I need other people to see it for my plan to fall in place; and I’m not letting that tape out of my sight.

I sigh, a deep frown falling. “Just watch. Then you’ll understand why I need it.”

Danika’s already at the lunch table with Cooper and Piper by the time I arrive at school. It's been a long, busy forty-eight hours, but finally everything has been set in motion. Danika looks up at me as I approach. I bend down, giving her a quick kiss before taking my seat at the table.

“I missed you this morning,” she says, her big brown eyes full of adoration. I love the way she looks at me, like I’m the only person in the world. “It was weird getting ready without you hovering nearby.”

“Are you calling me a helicopter boyfriend?” I tease. Piper’s brows arch as she exchanges a silent look with Cooper. They know I usually run from relationships. Too bad when I’m finally ready, it’s the girl running. Whatever. I’ll wait. She’ll come around eventually. Besides, it’s just a label. That girl is mine in every way that matters.

“I would, if you were my boyfriend.” There’s a playfulness in her tone, I’m hoping means she’s coming around to the idea.

I nudge Danika’s side with my elbow as she splits a peanut butter and banana sandwich in half. My insides flip and flutter. I’m already anxious to see how today plays out, but she brought me a sandwich. To anyone else this is no big deal, but to me it’s huge. “I have a surprise for you.”

Excitement dances across her face. She’s probably thinking it’s jewelry or a trip somewhere, but what I’ve done is better. “What?”

“It’s gonna cost you.”

Danika’s smile falls and she sighs. “I already told you, Logan. I need time.”

“What? No.” I’m kind of offended Danika thinks I’d pressure her into anything. Let alone something she’s already told me she’s not ready for. I push back my frustration and intertwine our fingers, bringing her palm up for a kiss. “I need you to throw Sarah a bone. She’s massively losing her shit since you've started avoiding her.”

Danika looks over her shoulder at our old table. I know what she sees. Melody and Rachel gossiping about the news I’m about to break. Jake acting surprised as Tad gives his opinions on the matter. And then there’s Sarah, who’s probably staring at us like a lost puppy. That girl has texted me every day, sometimes twice a day, asking about Danika.

Danika sighs and pulls out her phone, shooting a quick text message. Her phone dings almost immediately. “Done. We’re going to the mall after school today.”

I rest my hand on Danika’s lower back and lean in, kissing her cheek. It’s hard as hell not touching her when we’re this close but she wants to take things slow and I’ll respect that. I need to let her call the shots and dictate when it’s okay to do what. She’s nothing like the girls I usually screw around with. The last thing I want to do is mess up what we’ve got going.

“Good.” I reach across the table and steal one of Piper’s french fries. Not like she’s going to eat them. Her appetite is smaller than a bird lately. “So, what’s the latest gossip floating around?”

Cooper and Piper look at me like I’ve got three heads. I know they hear everything, but I’m sure they’re assuming I’m talking about Piper’s rumors or possibly Danika’s. Yes, there are rumors about Danika, but most of them are speculating as to what we are. “You mean, you guys haven’t heard?”

All three of my tablemates shake their heads. I’m full on grinning now. I can’t help it. I’m like a kid on Christmas who got the latest PlayStation and every game known to mankind. Fucking elated. “Gunner has been expelled.”

“What?” Danika whispers, all color draining from her face. I thought she’d be excited. I thought she’d feel some sense of relief knowing that prick can’t

hurt her again. Instead, she looks terrified.

37

Danika

I lean against the trunk of my car, smiling down at my phone. Logan sent me a gif that says: you’re pretty, dazzling, wonderful, stunning, and a whole bunch of words. There are too many compliments, flicking from one word to the next after less than a second. Every time I look at it, I find another colorful word I didn’t notice before.

Me: Feeling guilty?

Logan: More like grateful.

Logan: Sarah there yet?

I lift my gaze and look around the parking lot. We agreed to meet by the movie theater entrance at four. I’m parked in the front row and it’s four-oh-five. As soon as she crosses into the mall-space I’ll see her.