On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,84
her pain and make it my own.
Fuck… this girl.
“So talk to me.”
“What are you doing, Zach?” Shirking out of my hold, Calli put some space between us.
“I... Well, I was trying to help.”
“But why? We’re not friends... we’re not anything anymore.” Her eyes shuttered as she sucked in another sharp breath.
I hoped it hurt her to say the words because it fucking hurt listening to them.
“I just...” All the endorphins and adrenaline coursing through me drained away, replaced with frustration.
“I need to go,” she rushed out.
“At least let me walk you back to campus.”
“Actually, I’m not headed back to campus. I think I’m going to head down to the beach. I need some air. See you around, Zach.” Calli hurried away from me like I had the plague.
A giant fucking black hole carved through my stomach, as I watched her go…
Wondering if this was how it was always going to be between us now.
I had just got out the shower when there was a knock at the door.
“Just a second.” I secured a towel around my waist and went to check the peephole. “Hey,” I said opening the door to Victoria.
“Hi.” She smiled, her eyes instantly running down the length of my body.
“I’ll go put some clothes on.”
“Yes, please do.” It came out breathy, but I didn’t feel the usual sick sense of satisfaction I used to.
Since the fair, things were strained between us. Maybe even before then. I’d avoided her most of last week, and she’d been out of town at the weekend. But taking some space was probably a good thing. The guys had a point, we were getting too close. Victoria had started to overstep, and in a bid to get back at my parents, my brother, I’d fucking let her.
The second I joined her in the living room she locked eyes on me. “You’re avoiding me,” she got right to the point.
I let out an exasperated breath, really not wanting to do this.
“It’s her isn’t it? Calli or whatever she’s called.”
“You know what her name is, Vic,” I gritted out.
“Were you two—”
“Doesn’t matter if we were. We’re not now.” My chest tightened. “I had no idea she was coming here, just like she had no idea I was already here.”
“But—”
“No buts, Vic. Calli isn’t the issue here, we are. What are we doing? You’re my brother’s girl for fuck’s sake.” My fingers went into my hair, tugging the ends in frustration.
“We need each other.” Victoria inched closer, her big eyes staring up at me with hurt.
“Do we?” My eyes narrowed. “Or are we just using each other?”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Her claws came out. This was the version of Victoria Penderton most people got to see. Cold and vicious. Vic was your friend if she was your friend. But if she wasn’t, she didn’t hold back. She had a superiority complex and it showed.
“You said it yourself, you like being around me because it makes you feel closer to Declan. That’s messed up, Vic. Is that why you almost let me fuck you? So you could pretend it was him?”
I immediately regretted the words, but she was pushing too hard. And when an animal was backed into a corner, it usually attacked.
“That’s... I can’t believe you just said that.” An indignant huff escaped her lips.
“Look, I’m sorry. But this... us... I don’t think it’s a good idea we hang out anymore.”
Hurt flashed across her face but she quickly steeled her expression. “Did you grow a pussy overnight? This isn’t the Zachary Messiah I know.”
“Watch it, Vic.” A low growl rumbled in my chest.
“Or what? You only got to where you are right now because of him. The team, Coach Baxter, your parents... they all only wanted you here for Declan.” Her words cut me like tiny daggers. “You were no one. No one before they plucked you from San Diego and brought you here. So don’t stand there acting smug because when Declan wakes up, and he will... everyone will forget all about you. You might be the King of Steinbeck U right now, Zachary, but the crown you wear belongs to him. Don’t forget it.”
She spun around and stormed from my apartment, slamming the door behind her.
Fuck.
Her words rattled around my skull, sinking into every crack and insecurity I had. Before I knew it, I’d grabbed a glass off the counter and thrown it across the room. It crashed against the wall, shattering into a thousand pieces.