“It’s ethically—it’s ethically fucked.” His jaw hung open. “How could you do that. You’re supposed to be our leader.”
“So you’ve never considered it? It’s strange how everyone else in this school talks about how she sits on the front row in your class and spreads her legs for you—yet you’ve never once mentioned it to me.” I took a step closer to him. “It’s also very strange that she seems to be passing your remedial English class when she can’t seem to get a passing grade in any of her other classes.”
“I won’t deny being a weak man.” He touched his wedding band and started moving it around his finger. “I’ve been married to the same woman for twenty years. I love her, but—these girls in this school...”
“They’re no different than girls you meet outside of this school. How do you go to the mall without letting your eyes wander? Bethany Lewis is a beautiful young woman. She uses her body to get what she wants. She wanted a passing grade and you gave it to her for a little peek under her skirt. She wanted to give me a lot more than a peek.” I shrugged again. “I wanted her too, so I fucked her. I’ll probably fuck her again tomorrow.”
“What happened to you?” He continued moving his wedding band around his finger. “You were never like this. You were a victim just like the rest of us.”
“Let me give you some advice, Mr. Matthews.” I put my hands on my hips and shook my head. “Grow some fucking balls.”
I turned away from Mr. Matthews and walked into my office. The paddle hit my desk and I slumped down into my chair. I reached into the bottom drawer and pulled out my bottle of whiskey, downing more than I normally did in a single gulp. I heard Mr. Matthews leave and the front door slammed hard when he was gone. Mr. Matthews didn’t know that I wasn’t Sloane Thorne, but he knew something that was just as dangerous. I couldn’t even tell my brother what I had done with Bethany. If I confessed that, he would end our arrangement on the spot. I let the whiskey settle in my veins for a little bit before I headed home for the night. Sloane was already passed out in his bed when I got there, so I fixed some food in the kitchen and lay down on the couch. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding me. I didn’t regret what I did with Bethany, but I had also set a ticking time bomb off that could potentially ruin everything I was doing to try and turn the school around. Exhaustion should have made me rest easier when sleep finally came, but I tossed and turned all night long.
“YOU’RE UP EARLY.” I twisted my tie around my neck and pushed the long end through the knot as my brother entered the room.
“My liver hates me.” He held his side and groaned. “I need to cut back.”
“Yeah, you can’t go from one drink a week to full blown alcoholic overnight. You have to start gradually working your way up to that level.” I chuckled and sh
ook my head. “What are you still drinking for, anyway? It isn’t like you have anything to stress about.”
“I’m stressing every day! I’m worried you’re going to do something stupid and when the cops come for you, I’ll end up in the cell next to you for allowing you to do this in the first place!” He immediately walked to the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey.
“So, you’re stressed if you’re at school to the point that you want to quit, but if I’m there doing your job for you, you’re stressed because I might fuck something up? It sounds to me like you just need to get laid, bro.” I finished adjusting my tie and picked up my jacket. “That stress ain’t good for you.”
“I know.” He sighed and twisted the top off the bottle but hesitated before he took a drink. “Maybe I need to talk to someone.”
“A head doctor?” I shrugged. “If that’ll help.”
“I really appreciate what you’re doing. I know I’m freaking out right now, but deep down I know you’re still my brother. I want to believe you’re not the same guy that fucked my wife—I really do.” He sighed and put the cap back on the whiskey.
“Right...” I put on my jacket and walked out the door.
My brother knew how to lay the guilt on me without even thinking about it. I had done something he would consider stupid, even if it was one of the best nights of my life. I was an immature asshole when I fucked his wife and I knew that. I wished there was some way to take it back, but it was far too complicated. She could have fucked the whole world as long as she never spread her legs for me and he would have hurt, but he wouldn’t have felt the sting of my betrayal on top of it. I was taking him back down that path of betrayal again with a knife named Bethany Lewis in my hand. One wrong step and it would go deep into his back. I didn’t want to do that to him. I didn’t want to be that person again. I was going to have to talk to Mr. Matthews and do whatever it took to keep him silent. Prison taught me a few things about dealing with rats and Mr. Matthews was too much of a bitch to ever stand up to me if I showed him the darkness inside me.
Chapter 12: Bethany
I was sore when I woke up, my muscles protesting my first attempt at getting out of bed. My stomach was rumbling on top of that since I didn’t bother to eat the night before and I was famished. When I finally got to the bathroom, the soreness was resonating through my body. Anton had literally destroyed me and sent me a place I didn’t even think was possible. I turned on the water and stared at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look any different, despite no longer being a virgin. There was no brand on me that would tell the world my pussy had officially opened for business. I spent so much time pretending that I was taking dick on a daily basis that I doubted anyone would notice at all. The shower ran across my tired muscles and the heat started to relax them a little bit. I turned off the water and wiped my hand across the mirror, not even feeling like I had enough energy for makeup, but there was no way I was showing my face to the world without it. Anton would probably cringe in terror if he saw my visage without a layer of Maybelline.
“Food—I definitely need food.” I finished putting on my makeup and gathered my things for school before heading down the stairs.
“Well, good morning sunshine.” My mother arched her brow when I stepped into the kitchen. “You were out late last night. Another shopping spree with Amy?”
“No, the credit cards are safe.” I smiled and picked up a piece of toast. “I was—catching up some stuff at school.”
“Wow.” She blinked a couple of times in surprise. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard those words come out of your mouth. Grantham University must be doing something right.”
“You suddenly care?” I bit down on the toast and looked at her.
“We’ve always cared, Bethany.” She sighed and shook her head. “You’re so damn smart but you just won’t try. If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t be paying for you to go to Grantham.”
“I thought you just liked telling people I was in college. It can’t be easy for everyone like it was for Steve.” I walked over and poured a cup of coffee as I mentioned my brother’s name.
“Steve still had to work hard to get good grades. If you’ll just graduate high school, your father and I will figure something out for you. Is that going to happen this year, Bethany?” She sighed again. “Or are we going to be donating money to Grantham next year too?”
“So, you don’t want me to actually go to college there, you just want me to finish high school? Why didn’t you tell me that from the start?” I sipped my coffee and blinked when the steam rushed up into my eyes.
“I hoped you would grow up at some point.” She reached over and picked up a piece of toast. “Maybe that’s happening, finally? You’re actually putting some effort into passing?”