self-centered imbecile.” I almost gag at the way he leaned into my personal space Saturday night. I can’t believe I liked him before. What in the world was I thinking?
“But Saturday night at the Devil’s Track, I saw you with him—”
“Nothing happened there, Dante.”
Except for the damn remote he gave me that I think is the key to what happened to Liam.
“Oh, good,” Dante breathes, his eyes lighting up all over again. The guy really wears his emotions on his sleeve, or his pimple-ridden face. Why the hell am I explaining myself to him about this and why does he look relieved like he’s got a shot with me?
“But you said he’s telling everyone that we’re dating?” I press, redirecting the conversation.
“Yup, he’s an asshole.” He looks away. “He’s been telling us how you two did it before the race, that’s why he won and that he had your back with the whole Fitz brothers thing.”
What the fuck?
“He said that?” This time I can’t stop the fury in my voice.
“Uh, yeah…” Dante mutters, looking uncomfortable.
“I did not and will never ‘do it’ with that jerk,” I seethe, feeling so damn furious and disgusted. “He’s also saying that I hate the Fitz brothers?”
“Yeah, he said you’ve been raving on and on about how you hate the Fitzgerald brothers for weeks now. And you even said that something should be done about them and that the prank shit for Saturday was your idea, but they found out and pranked us first.”
Holy shit. This isn’t happening.
“But I didn’t even know…” I start, my jaw dropping as I connect the dots. Not only did Shane give me that remote thingy, he’s been setting the stage for me to take the fall for something I never did. “When did these rumors start?”
Dante frowns. “After you left on Friday with your egged car, he was telling everyone that Saturday night was going to be epic.”
“Because I was planning something?”
“Yes, that and the fact that you were sick and tired of the Fitz brothers, so after Saturday night and the way you slapped Liam, everyone thinks—”
“That I attempted to kill him.”
“—that you truly hate them,” he says with a frown. “What did you say?”
My heart is pounding so hard in my chest, I think my ribs are cracking with each beat as intense pain threatens to overwhelm me.
“I have to go,” I pant, turning on my heel to run for the door.
“Hey, Mia, are you alright?” Dante calls after me but I don’t respond. I need to get out of here, the bitter taste of a set-up heavy on my tongue.
My mind is buzzing with all sorts of information that barely makes sense but is setting off alarms in my head.
Shane knew that Liam’s, well, Julian’s car was going to explode. But then, Liam wasn’t scheduled to race until the last minute, that means they were after Julian.
Julian saw me talk to Shane before the race. Did he see what Shane gave me too? Fuck my life, this is a mess and I now live with the guy!
As I round the corner, I hear heated voices.
Slowing down, I peep around the corner and notice Shane talking to a girl whose back is to me. They’re whisper-yelling at each other and I lean in closer.
“She’s not a hero!” The girl is whining, crying, no doubt trying to be sexy, but she sounds like a dying pig. “Now everyone wants to kiss her ass.”
Shane rolls his eyes, looking annoyed.
“It doesn’t matter what they think of her now. By the end of the day, they won’t think that.”
Without a doubt in my mind, I know they’re talking about me.
“She’s a fucking bitch. She doesn’t deserve all the attention she’s getting. You said she’d be in jail by Monday, but she’s being celebrated and praised like she’s a fucking queen.”
The girl’s voice sounds so damn familiar, but I can’t place it and I can’t tell who she is.
“Don’t worry about that. We had a deal.”
A deal? What deal?
I lean in closer, but right then, someone clears their throat behind me, and I jump. Turning around, I come face to face with Charlotte, her delicate eyebrow raised.
“Jumpy little thing, aren’t you?”
“Shh,” I shush her then peep back around the corner but there’s no one there anymore and I didn’t see who Shane was talking to.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“Did I mess your spy shit up?” Char’s voice is sarcastic and flat.
“Well, yeah Char, you did.” There’s no need to sugarcoat it.