The Bet (North Woods University 1)

I’m ready to give us another chance, to forget about the past. I want to focus on the future and stop dwelling on the things that neither of us can change. I want to make up for lost time and give us the chance we never got, the chance we deserve.

Remmy makes me feel whole, he fills the missing pieces in my heart. My nightmares are gone with him and I feel better overall, less scared and more content than I have in years…three years to be exact.

“What are you studying for anyway? You don’t need to study.”

Of course he would say that.

“Yes, I do. I can’t just wave a dollar bill and pass a class.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he questions, almost seeming as if he is hurt.

“That I need to study to actually pass my classes, which basically means you need to shut up.” I grin.

“You’re implying that I use money to get good grades?” He narrows his gaze.

“Of course not. You totally study and go to class every single day,” I tease.

A second later, my phone chimes on the nightstand interrupting our conversation.

What the hell. No one ever texts me, not unless it’s Rem or Cally.

Remington’s phone goes off in his pocket a second later and my brow furrows in confusion as I pick up my phone to glance down at the screen. It’s a text from a number I don’t recognize. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Remington pulling his phone out as well.

I click on the text and realize it’s a voice recording which leaves me even more confused. Why would someone send me a voice recording? Whoever it is must have the wrong number, still, curiosity gets the better of me and I use my thumb to press play.

“Should I fuck your pussy or your ass?…Maybe I’ll fuck both. Tell everyone you were a whore that begged me to take both of your holes…”

“Remington…”

My heart beats out of my chest, my pulse seeming to race faster and faster with each word that meets my ears. I grip my phone so tightly in my hands that I can feel the metal digging into my flesh.

“What-what is this?” I turn to Remington who is looking down at his phone, pure fear and horror taking over his features. Oh…oh my god… I remember this day, the first time he touched me… but I didn’t know he was recording what happened. Was this… had he planned this all along?

“You recorded us?” I push from the bed, refusing to be anywhere near him.

“Jules…” He looks up at me like he knows he’s lost me for good.

“What did you do?” I stammer. “Who sent this?” I yell, still not getting the response I want. When he moves off the bed and takes a step toward me, I shake my head, feeling the tears sting my eyes. Betrayal cuts through me, slicing so deep I can hardly breathe, hardly think.

Why did he do this? Is he still trying to hurt me? Is this part of his game?

“I didn’t…” he starts. “It’s not what you think. I don’t know who sent it, but I can assure you that this wasn’t my intention. I would never… I’d never…”

When he reaches for me, I slap his hand. My entire body starts to shake, my mind reeling. Who has this recording? Who sent it? Why did he do this to us? There are a thousand questions coursing through my mind and no answers in sight.

“Did you even love me? Did you even care? You took my virginity…was that what this was? A game for you to see if you could get in my panties? Was I just another conquest? Another notch on your bedpost?” The downcast look he gives me confirms my assumption, and the room seems to grow smaller around me.

“I can’t believe you.” My stomach churns, knotting and twisting so painfully it feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife. “Actually, I can. This is who you are, who you’ve always been.” The words come out bitter, angry, and the voice emitting the words doesn’t even sound like it belongs to me.

“Wait, just let me explain, Jules.” Remington’s voice cuts through the fog encasing my mind. He reaches for me again and this time I let the fury burning inside me out.

“You did this!” I grit my teeth, my hand rearing back to slap him. I slap him so hard my hand stings, the pain a welcoming feeling beside the sadness clinging to my heart. His head swings to the side with the blow and I shove him toward the door.

“I can’t believe you did this. Was it all just a game? A sick fucking joke? Huh? Tell me! Tell me right now!” I scream, uncaring who hears me.

“No.” His head hangs in shame and I refuse to let him act like he is the victim in this.