With that, I push my way out of the car and hurry up the stairs to the front door. I push through the door, just as I hear him taking off down the long driveway. I don’t bother looking back as I have a feeling that watching him leave is going to hurt a whole lot more than I could ever imagine.
Chapter 19
I stayed holed up in my room all weekend and still have no idea where I stand with Nate. Brooke hasn’t called or replied to any of my texts and I hate how things are between us. Jesse has had to be the go-between person at home as both Nate and I were being immature and refusing to come out of our rooms. And to top it all off, mom called last night to let me know that Nanna has come down with a cold which has had her plummeting into a downward spiral.
I can’t fix things for Nanna and I can’t work out what the hell I want with Nate, so the only thing I can do is try to fix things with Brooke. It’s time to come clean and I’m hoping she’ll give me the time of day to do that.
I walk through the school on Monday morning on the way to my locker and the first thing I notice is that she isn’t here, though, her car was in the lot so I know she’s here somewhere, she’s probably just avoiding me. I even managed to get here early so I could have a chance to talk with her but I guess it’s going to be a waiting game.
Josh, however, is here. He comes striding up to me and leans against the locker beside mine. “Is there something you need?” he questions.
“I heard you were giving it up for Nate,” he says.
I flick my eyes up towards him and see a hint of anger behind his eyes. “What’s the matter, Josh?” I question. “Jealous that I could be interested in someone other than you?”
“No,” he scoffs. “Just wanted to see if the rumors were true. You know, the second he gets what he wants out of you, he’s going to move on.”
“You mean, the same way you would have?” I question. “The only difference between you and Nate is that he wouldn’t have to get me drunk first.”
His eyes narrow and I see I’ve hit a sore spot. He must hate that he’s the quarterback and is supposed to be the most popular guy in school but no matter how hard he tries; all the attention is still on Nate and Jesse. Josh has a handful of cheer skanks and that’s about it.
I slam my locker and turn to face him front on. “You know, while we’re on the topic of the differences between you and Nate, I might as well point out that he would never take advantage of a girl.” Josh’s brows pull down, unsure of what I’m talking about. “Nate would never allow some jealous bitch to talk him into sexually assaulting another girl just so she could get her petty revenge and humiliate her in front of the whole school.”
His eyes widen as he realizes that I know all about his and Elle’s plan to strip me naked and have him assault me on camera. I step in dangerously close and tilt my chin up towards him. “Just so you know,” I whisper. “If you even think about touching me again, I’ll destroy you.”
A hand comes down on the locker beside me while another takes possession of my waist before a strong body presses into my back. “Is there something you need, Josh?” Nate says from behind me.
I sink into him while ignoring the eyes of everyone in the hallway. Josh’s eyes flick down to me and I grin back up at him with a promise to follow through on what I’d just told him. “All good,” Josh says before stepping back and turning away. He walks off down the hall and I turn around to face Nate. “Hey,” I say quietly.
“What did he want?” he asks.
“He wanted to know if I’d let you screw me over yet.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“That I’d prefer you to screw me over than him.”
The corner of his mouth lifts in one hell of a sexy smirk as he looks down at me. “Hell yeah, you did,” he says. “Though why do I feel like you’re only telling me half the story?”
“Because I am,” I say as I push up onto my tippy toes and press a kiss to his lips, again, not caring about the eyes on us and the gasps that are heard all over the room.
I step away from him to find Brooke watching us with a scowl. She turns away, slams her locker door and storms up the hallway. “Shit,” I groan as I sink back into Nate.