Bradford Bastard (Bradford Bastard 1)

“Riley, dude … You’re my best friend and I’ll always have your back, but I’m not hosting a fucking orgy with you.”

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “What happened to you, bro?” he sighs dramatically. “The girl showed up and next minute, you’re plucking those big-ass balls from between your legs and handing them over. I hope you’re happy because now I have to ask Jax, and that fucker always gets way too handsy with me.”

Chapter 17

BRIELLE

Erica stumbles out of my car, already wasted before we’ve even made it to the party. I hastily climb out and lock the car behind me, and I’m left to scurry after her, making sure she doesn’t get lost in the crowd and accidentally offer herself up as the lead performer in an orgy porno.

Who knows what could happen tonight. It’s the first public party these assholes have thrown since the night that girl was hurt. Nobody really knows what happened or who was involved, just that someone attacked a girl and basically left her for dead. Nobody knows who she was or where she came from, so I can only assume that she was from out of town. Either way, it left every single girl terrified of going out.

You hear stories all the time of what could happen on a night out, and you keep yourself alert, but in the back of your head, you’re telling yourself that the chances are so slim, that it’ll never happen to you. Then BAM, the very thing you’ve been warned about happened in the very next room while you were sipping on vodka sunrises and dancing as though you didn’t have a care in the world. Just the thought of that night makes me sick.

I spent the rest of my summer being the designated driver, watching over my friends’ drinks, and opting for a movie night over going out—not that there were many options after the attack. If there was even a whisper of a gathering, the cops would knock on the door and shut that shit down, but I don’t blame them. It was certainly frustrating for some, but I was grateful. I didn’t want to see any of my friends get hurt.

School has been back for a week, and while Ilaria, Arizona, and Chanel wanted me to go out with them, when Erica told me the first public party since the attack was going down, I couldn’t resist coming to clear my name. I’ve spent the last five days insisting Colby’s bullshit comments and lies haven’t bothered me, but now that I’m about to see the people he’s been talking to, the idea of clearing my name is just too important. Hell, if I get the chance to sucker punch the asshole in the process, then even better.

Besides, the thought of going out with the girls and running into Tanner doesn’t sit well with me. I knew he was an asshole, but I also thought there was something growing between us. How fucked up is that? Seeing him through his window with that girl stung, which is ridiculous. He’s not mine and I’m sure as hell not his. I’ve got nobody to blame but myself. Everyone warned me he was an asshole, and I just had to go push it. I suppose it’s better to have found out before I allowed things to get too deep.

Not going to lie, I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I can’t stand the guy or his bullshit attitude and games. Yet, seeing him with her cut deeper than walking in to see Colby with Ilaria, and he was my damn boyfriend. Tanner is nothing, a nobody, just some dude who lives next door. Yet I can’t stop replaying it.

It was a low blow messaging Riley and asking him to come over. A part of me hoped that he saw my message for what it was—a bluff designed to strike back at Tanner, and I think it worked, but that doesn’t change the fact that I feel like a stone-cold bitch for doing it. I’m glad Riley never came over, and while our friendship is new, I feel as though I’ve put an awkward strain on it. He hasn’t been his usual flirty self and while that’s a relief, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve hurt his feelings by being all too willing to use him as a pawn against Tanner.

All I know is that from here on out, I am officially done with Tanner Morgan. He set out to hurt me, and that’s exactly what happened. I’m done playing his games and I’m done retaliating.

Racing to catch Erica, I meet her by the front door of the modest Hope Falls home. I’ve been here a million times over the past few years with countless parties, but I don’t exactly know the guy who owns the place. Don’t get me wrong, I know who he is, saw him around school every now and then, but I never paid him much more attention than that.