"Fuck you." I let the tears I'd been holding back well up in my eyes. "You two deserve each other, but you should know that tonight wasn't about her wanting you or being interested in you. It was about getting me. So, I hope it was good. Being used isn't the best feeling in the world, but one we share, I guess."
I turned as a sob lifted from the center of my chest. Bastards. All of them. I hated everyone one of them in the house, other than Katelyn. My mother and her fucked up sorority could burn in hell for all I cared.
After stumbling down the stairs, I found Amy and Lucinda in the kitchen.
Lucinda turned and reached for me with concern on her face. "Oh my God. What's the matter? You look horrible."
"Fucking Paul was upstairs screwing Carolyn Jacobs. I need to get out of here. I'm sorry." I pressed my hand to my mouth and glanced over my shoulder to find Kade watching me. "Now. Before I make another mistake that I'm sure to pay for."
"Alright. Katelyn is going home with Martin. Let's go get a few gallons of ice cream and go back to my place." Amy wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked out of the frat house and into the freezing cold.
"Why do guys have to be such animals?" Lucinda opened the door for me before getting in the front seat with me, though there really wasn't room for all three of us up front.
"It was Carolyn more than Paul. It's always her." I let out a quick breath and pulled my shirt up to blot my eyes with it. "She's been after me since our freshman year. Stupid bitch."
"Then, you need to go after her. Pay her ass back for all she's done." Lucinda snuggled against my side and laid her head on my shoulder. "Paul wasn't right for you, anyway. He was too much of a pussy."
"What? I thought Paul was one of the good guys." Amy started the car and pulled out onto the main street. "Obviously, I was wrong."
"It's alright. Really." I closed my eyes and let my head drop back. I was surprised how quickly my thoughts returned to Tate. Being with an upper class guy like Paul was what was expected of me, but he'd been like every other jerk I'd dated over the years – selfish, greedy, and more concerned about what someone could get him in life than how they might feel after he ran over them.
"Boys suck." Lucinda turned up the heater before pressing her chin to my shoulder. "Let's go to a foreign country and find men who know how to treat a woman."
Amy snort forced my lips to lift in a smirk. "Is that a fucking joke? Foreigners are the worst about women."
"Neither of you know what you're talking about." I glanced between both of them, challenging them to combat fact.
"You're right." Amy let out a long sigh as she pulled into a large grocery store. "Let's go get something that is sure to love on us all night long and never leave our sides."
"Or our thighs." Lucinda laughed and opened the door. She slid her arm into mine as we moved quickly toward the warmth. "Anyway, I see you with a rugged, good-looking guy who's more focused on matters of the heart. You deserve a good guy, not an asshole."
"I met a guy tonight who fits the physical description, but I'm pretty sure he was a playboy, too." I let out a soft sigh as we walked into the grocery store. The warmth engulfed me and worked to thaw my fingers and the tip of my nose.
"Kade? He's a total player." Amy grabbed a cart and shook her head. "But I sure as hell would love to have him play me."
I laughed. "He's a player for sure, but I'm talking about the guy that stopped to help me when the damn car died. He was a biker guy with tats and the sexiest lips I've ever seen."
"Oh, nice." Lucinda lifted her eyebrow at me as she released my arm. "Did you give him your number?"
"No, but I got his." I slid my hands into my pockets, checking to make sure the card was still there. "It's nothing, I'm sure. He just wants to change my tire and check the engine on the car."
"He sounds hot. I'd let him look under my hood and play with my knobs any day." Lucinda bumped me with her hip before she walked ahead of us toward the freezer section.
"Hey. You okay? I know that was hell." Amy pressed her shoulder to mine as we stopped in front of the ice cream display case.
"Yeah. I really didn't want to date Paul anymore, but having it happen like this just makes me feel worthless all over again. I'm numb." I shrugged.
"Well, you're not worthless. That's your fucking mother making you think that. You're beautiful, insanely talented, and one of the best people I know." Amy patted her chest. "In here."
"Thanks." I gave her a quick hug and moved up to help Lucinda pick out a few flavors. Seeing Tate wasn't a good idea with me feeling as shitty as I did right then. Besides, my dad would have a mechanic on the nice side of town. There was no way he would pay for anything unless it was done just the way he wanted it done.
And, I had nothing other than a small allowance.
No money. No boyfriend. No hope.
Maybe I wasn't being fair by looking down on people who appeared to be needy. It was hypocritical in the worst way because the truth of the matter was that I was the neediest of them all.
Chapter 6