Barbie Bitch (Rejects Paradise 3)

“Ocean, baby …”

Another perfectly round tear falls from my eye and joins the other rolling down my chest. “I can’t do this,” I tell him, feeling the last piece of my soul crumble. My hands weave into my hair and I fist my hands into it, unable to control the overwhelming emotions. “I just … I need some time to think, time to process. You took it too far. That’s not what we do.”

Colton finally closes the gap between us and throws his hands around me, dragging me into his chest. “Please, Ocean,” he begs, holding me tightly with the hands that just took a man’s life. “Just stay. We can sort it out. I swear, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. You’re fucking everything to me.”

I slam my hands against his chest and push hard, forcing him off me and hating the pain that ricochets off me. “Don’t touch me,” I cry, darting away from him and far out of his reach. “I can’t. You killed a man, Colton. You’re a murderer.” I step toward the door, watching as the small fragment of hope in his eyes grows duller by the second. “I just … I can’t. I'm sorry, Colton. I have to go.”

With that, I step out of his room and dart for the fucking stairs, running as the tears cascade down my cheeks.

My mother hates me and now this. When it rains, it fucking pours.

I drag my arm over my already sore eyes as the loud sobs begin. I hit the bottom step and fly across the foyer, needing to be out of this house. Needing the air, and needing clarity. My shoes thump against the marble floor making my every step echo through the massive foyer but the sounds are drowned out by my cries.

I reach the door and just as I tear it open, I look back to find Colton standing at the top of the stairs watching me go with his heart in his hands, completely and utterly shattered. I’ve never seen him look like that and I want nothing more than to run into his arms and tell him that it’s all going to be okay, but it’s not. I don’t know how I’ll ever be okay with this. Why didn’t he hand him over to the cops like he promised? Why did he have to ruin us like that?

I don’t hesitate a second longer and throw myself out of the big front door and the second the cool night air hits my face, I crumble.

My knees give out from under me and I fall to the hard ground with my face dropping into my hands as I cry for everything I’ve lost tonight. My mother is hurting from my betrayal and now Colton is someone that I have to forget.

I always knew he was going to hurt me but I never knew it was going to be like this. I never knew it would hurt so bad.

I hear the familiar sound of the security camera turning to face me and I pick myself up off the ground, knowing that he’s watching me. Always watching me.

Refusing to be the pathetic girl who can’t pull herself together, I start walking down the steps, unsure where the hell I’m going or where I'll end up. All I know is that I can’t be here.

I make it to the end of the long drive, not doubting for one second that Colton has painfully watched every step I’ve taken.

I slip through the large gates and only then do I finally pull out my phone and bring it to my ear. “Milo,” I say after the third ring. “I need your help.”Chapter 30I stand in the living room of Nic’s tiny apartment staring at the four Widows as Milo hovers awkwardly beside me. “Umm,” he grumbles, looking at the four boys and then slicing his gaze back at me. “Are you good here?”

“Yeah,” I tell him. “Go before your car gets stolen and stripped for parts.”

His eyes bug out of his head. “Fuck, are you serious?”

Nic raises a brow, watching Milo through narrowed eyes, wondering just how much he knows. “Yeah, I watched you pull up and park that sweet ride right on the street. Big fucking mistake. I can guarantee that my guys are already putting in calls and working out a plan to lift it.”

“Shit,” Milo groans stepping toward the door as I roll my eyes knowing damn well that Nic’s boys wouldn’t dream of lifting Milo’s Aston Martin while he’s one of Nic’s guests. The guys down on the street watched me step out of it. They wouldn’t be that stupid.

Milo reaches for the door handle before turning back and meeting my eyes. “So … I’m assuming you don’t need a ride to school tomorrow?”