Chapter 2
1144 Words
What the hell had I just seen? Nate and Cass were seriously…? Oh God, I was going to throw up. I could feel everything from earlier rising in my throat.
Just ten minutes ago I had been fixing my lipstick in the bathroom like an i***t, thinking tonight was going to be special. Nate’s team had just won the championship, everyone was celebrating, and for once everything in my life actually felt perfect.
I thought he loved me.
“Ashley? What’s wrong?” Lisa asked when I stormed across the room.
I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to leave before I completely broke down in front of everyone.
“Baby, it’s not what you think,” Nate said, grabbing my arm. “We didn’t—”
“Are you seriously still lying to her?” Cassie shouted behind him.
The entire room went silent.
“She saw us, for f**k’s sake. Just tell her the truth.” Then, noticing everyone staring, she smiled and raised her arms dramatically. “That’s right, people! Nate and I have been sleeping together for over three months!”
The words hit me like a slap.
Three months.
My chest tightened painfully as dozens of eyes landed on me. I suddenly felt stupid. Humiliated. Like everyone in the room had known except me.
“Shut up!” Nate snapped, still holding onto me.
“Baby, look at me,” he said desperately. “What Cass is saying isn’t true. We just—”
“It’s fine,” I murmured, forcing a smile even though I could barely breathe. “I’ve been cheating on you this whole time too, so now that I know you’ve been unfaithful, I don’t feel that bad.”
“What?” Nate and Cassie said at the same time.
Honestly, my internal reaction was pretty much the same.
What the hell had I just said?
“You heard me.”
“Oh really?” Cassie crossed her arms. “And who exactly have you been cheating on Nate with?”
Oh no.
Come on Ashley, think.
Just say any name… but not someone from this party. It had to be someone Nate hated.
Someone dangerous.
“Easton. Easton Cash.”
The silence that followed felt unnatural.
“Oh s**t…” someone whispered nearby.
“Isn’t Easton Cash the criminal on campus?”
“Didn’t he go to jail for assaulting a cop?”
“Isn’t he the psycho who smashed Nate’s car with a baseball bat?”
I swallowed hard.
Yeah… mentioning Easton Cash had probably been the worst possible decision.
“Since when?” Nate demanded.
“Do you really want me to tell you?”
I looked at Cassie, who had suddenly gone completely silent.
“Happy now, Cass? You finally got what you wanted. Nate’s yours. I’m giving him to you.”
I was about to leave when I turned back to Nate one last time.
“Oh, and by the way, sweetheart…” I smiled sweetly. “The reason I never wanted to sleep with you was because Easton is f*****g amazing in bed. There’s nothing you could do that he hasn’t already done.”
“Ashley—”
“Enjoy the party.”
I walked out as fast as I could, hearing the mixture of gasps and whispers behind me.
The second the cold night air hit my face, reality finally crashed into me.
Why the hell had I said Easton Cash?
Out of everyone on campus, I had chosen the most terrifying guy possible.
♡ ♡ ♡
Being the center of attention was something I was completely used to.
After all, being born into a wealthy family and having two parents recognized by high society made people look at you differently. The girls at school constantly talked about my perfect relationship with Nate Gray, captain of the Bicentennial Wolves hockey team.
This time, however, things were different.
Ever since Friday night’s championship party, everyone had been talking about how Nate cheated on me with my best friend, Cassie Williams.
And worse?
They were talking about how I had supposedly cheated on Nate Gray with Easton Cash.
I stared at my reflection and forced myself to smile naturally.
I needed to look okay.
Unaffected.
Untouchable.
But the truth was completely different.
I had spent the entire weekend crying over losing the person I thought was the love of my life and the girl I considered my sister.
“Nate and I have been f*****g for over three months.”
I bit my lip hard, trying not to cry again.
I couldn’t fall apart.
Not here.
“Is everything alright, Miss Donovan?” Hank, my driver, asked carefully.
I nodded nervously.
I still hadn’t gotten out of the car.
What if Easton had already heard the rumors?
What if he denied everything publicly?
Oh my God.
What if I became the laughingstock of the entire school?
My stomach twisted anxiously until the loud sound of a motorcycle interrupted my thoughts.
Every head near the parking lot turned instantly.
Easton Cash had that effect on people.
Tall. Tattooed. Dangerous.
The kind of man that made people instinctively move out of his way.
Rumors followed him everywhere. Some said he’d gone to jail. Others said he nearly killed someone during a fight. Honestly, looking at him, it wasn’t hard to believe.
After parking his black Harley-Davidson, he removed his helmet and ran a hand through his messy brown hair with complete indifference, like he didn’t notice everyone staring at him.
Or maybe he simply didn’t care.
Unfortunately for me… Easton was also Nate Gray’s biggest rival.
Perfect.
After finishing his cigarette, Easton walked into the building without sparing anyone a glance.
“Thanks for the ride, Hank,” I murmured before quickly stepping out of the car.
Finding Easton inside the school wasn’t difficult.
Finding Nate, however, destroyed me.
Because he was standing there with Cassie.
Again.
The pain that exploded inside my chest instantly turned into anger.
Before I could think rationally, I grabbed Easton by the arm and pulled him toward me.
The moment his blue eyes locked onto mine, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and kissed him aggressively.
The action shocked both him and me.
Were Nate and Cassie together now?
How? Why?
Millions of questions flooded my mind, but everything disappeared the instant I felt a tongue slide into my mouth.
My eyes widened in surprise.
I immediately tried to pull away, except Easton’s hands slid around my waist and stopped me.
An involuntary sigh escaped my throat.
His lips were warm, soft, and demanding.
I placed both hands against his chest with the intention of pushing him away, but instead my fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his shirt.
I had to admit it.
Easton Cash kissed like a professional.
- Writer
