Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

Of course he regrets it.

It could ruin his life.

I could ruin his life.

“I regret writing that fucking confession about my mom. If word gets out that I’m Zac, she could…” He can’t bring himself to say it, but he doesn’t need to. We’re talking about possible jail time for Principal Emery if Xavier gets exposed. “Anyway, do you regret it?”

“I definitely regret not being more careful.” I scoff a bitter laugh. “I keep thinking if we’d just kept an eye out, none of this would be happening and we—”

“Don’t.” He stops my spiraling. “It’s not your fault. There’s no way we could’ve known.”

“It just doesn’t make any sense! Whoever leaked the confessions had to know we were talking from the beginning. They had to follow us around like some crazy stalker. Learn our schedule to know when to access the book.”

“Yeah, but that would mean they know exactly who we are,” Xavier points out. “Why bother with this bullshit campaign to find Zac and Love instead of just outing us and being done with it?”

It hits me.

I look up at him. “To torture us, why else?”

“You think this is about revenge?” He meets my eyes.

“You got a better explanation, All Star?”

He nods, forced to admit I have a point.

“Let’s say you’re right. We still don’t have any suspects.”

“That’s because we haven’t looked for one. So… pissed anyone off lately?”

Xavier smirks. “How much time you got?”

I laugh. “It can’t be that bad.”

“Well… let’s see. There’s the guy who slept with my mom. I made his life a pile of shit, literally. There’s Lacey, who I slept with at my lowest point and completely ghosted.”

The reminder cuts me to the bone.

I can’t seem to wipe the disappointment off my face, severing the eye contact. I almost forgot for a minute there that Lacey has been with him… in that way. He’s an amazing fuck. I came four times. Her bragging returns to my mind, and I flinch, pulling away.

Xav’s arms grow tighter around my shoulders.

“Vee…” He winces in guilt, reading me loud and clear.

I anticipate an apology of some sort, but instead, he curses beneath his breath, flicks my chin up with one hand, and kisses the shit out of me.

It comes out of nowhere, but I immediately kiss him back, moving closer to him until my leg is sprawled over his body. I know damn well what this kiss entails. He’s proving a point, and when he captures my face, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth, my skin morphs into a bundle of goose bumps.

Point made.

He doesn’t care about Lacey.

He doesn’t stop there, his hand darting to my leg draped across his stomach. He squeezes my thigh, marking my skin. He’s two seconds away from pulling me on top of him when I call him to order.

“Way to investigate, Emery,” I mock.

“Fuck them, I’d rather investigate you.” Xavier’s lips are back on mine in a heartbeat, and I laugh through the kiss. I can’t get enough, and it takes everything I have to withdraw.

“Xav, seriously. We need a suspect.” I’m breathless with need.