CHAPTER 13
1187 Words
Ever since that day in the girls’ bathroom, nearly a week had passed. And yet, my mind refused to rest. The thoughts wouldn’t stop. The anxiety wouldn’t fade.
But finally, I had a moment to myself. Thomas had been called to the principal’s office—probably about his scholarships. A bunch of top universities wanted him, not that he needed the money. His family was rich enough that he could burn cash for fun.
I sat in the library, trying to focus on the open book in front of me. My eyes scanned the words, but none of them stuck. My mind was still trapped in that conversation, looping over the things those girls had said. The pit in my stomach hadn’t left since then.
“Hey.”
I flinched. My train of thought derailed as I looked up. Tyler.
“Uh—hi.” I felt awkward. He had a couple of books in his hand, probably here to grab something for class.
“You’ve been glued to Thomas lately,” he teased.
I froze. “Uh—yeah.”
God, why was I still so bad at talking to guys? I mean, seriously. I slept with Thomas, and I still couldn’t hold a normal conversation with another guy without feeling like a total i***t.
But wait—Tyler. He’d been Thomas’s friend for years. He would know.
As he turned to leave, I blurted, “Tyler!”
He glanced back. “Yeah?”
I hesitated. My fingers curled into my sleeve. “Do you, um… do you know about… Sharon?”
His brows lifted slightly. “Thomas’s ex?”
I nodded, my throat suddenly dry.
He tilted his head, considering. “I mean, they were just… a normal couple, I guess.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to know.
I wanted to know how obsessed Thomas had been with her.
“They were pretty much inseparable. Mostly Sharon, though. She followed Thomas around everywhere. Like, every time I went to his house—” Tyler made a face. “You know what? Never mind.”
No. I needed to know.
He sighed. “Look, they spent most of their time in bed, okay?”
My stomach twisted.
“Listen, Vivian,” Tyler added, watching my reaction. “It wasn’t deep. It was physical, not emotional. That’s just how guys are.”
I didn’t respond. I just nodded and swallowed down the ache in my chest.
Tyler gave me a quick wink, like he thought it would somehow make me feel better. It didn’t.
If anything, I felt pathetic. Why did I even care? Why did I suddenly want to be the only girl Thomas ever cared about?
A tear hit the page of my book before I even realized I was crying.
Shit.
I snapped the book shut and bolted from the library. I needed air. I needed space. Maybe I’d just skip my afternoon classes.
My phone buzzed the moment I stepped outside.
Martin?
I blinked. My cousin. We hadn’t talked in ages. We used to be close as kids, but after I moved away, we barely kept in touch. He was one of the few guys I never felt nervous around. Probably because we’d known each other since we were crawling out of diapers.
“Hey, Vivian! How’ve you been?”
“I’m fine. What’s up?”
“I’m in your city for a bit. Wanna hang out?”
A distraction. Perfect.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll show you around.”
Martin arrived right on time. We spent the afternoon together—coffee, museums, and finally, bowling. For the first time all week, I felt like I could actually breathe.
Then my phone died.
Crap. I’d forgotten to charge it last night. If Thomas tried to call and couldn’t reach me… oh, God. I could already hear the lecture.
“Vivian, come on! Try one round!” Martin called, grinning.
I shook my head. “No way. I suck at this.”
He rolled his eyes and grabbed my wrist. “I’ll teach you!”
I sighed, letting him pull me over. He stood behind me, adjusting my arms, guiding me into position.
And then—
BAM.
“Get your f*****g hands off my girlfriend.”
Thomas.
My breath caught. What the hell?!
Before I could react, he grabbed Martin’s arm and yanked him back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Thomas! STOP!”
“You turned off your phone just so you could sneak around with this guy?!”
“What?! No—he’s not—”
Martin barely had time to get up before Thomas swung. Hard.
Martin stumbled, dazed. But Thomas wasn’t done. He clenched his jaw, rearing back for another hit.
I yanked on his arm. “STOP IT, THOMAS!”
He turned to me, eyes blazing. I’d never seen him this angry before. He looked dangerous.
And then, without another word, he grabbed me—hard—and dragged me out of the bowling alley.
People were staring. I struggled. “Thomas! Let go!”
He didn’t listen. He threw me into the passenger seat of his Porsche, slammed the door, and sped off.
The speedometer climbed past 120.
“THOMAS, SLOW DOWN!” I screamed, gripping the seat for dear life.
He ignored me. His knuckles were white around the wheel. His jaw was clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack.
“THOMAS!”
Nothing.
My chest tightened. This wasn’t just anger. This was rage.
It took thirty minutes before he finally pulled over. But it wasn’t anywhere I recognized. A house. A huge one, deep in the woods. Some kind of private vacation home.
He slammed the brakes so hard I nearly hit the dashboard. Then, without warning, he got out, ripped my door open, and yanked me over his shoulder.
“What the hell are you doing?!” I screamed, pounding my fists against his back.
He threw me down onto the couch. Hard.
“What the f**k is wrong with you?!”
“What the f**k is wrong with you, Vivian?!” he shouted back. “You think I wouldn’t notice? You think I wouldn’t see the way that guy was touching you?!”
I gaped at him. “He’s my cousin, you psycho!”
“Bullshit!” Thomas snapped. “I saw the way he looked at you. He wants you.”
I felt like I was going insane. “You’re being insane!”
“Oh, I’m insane?” He laughed coldly. “And what about you? Huh? Playing innocent? Acting like you’re scared of men, but letting him put his hands all over you?”
He took a step closer.
“You’re a f*****g liar, Vivian. You know that?”
I saw red.
I punched him.
A terrible f*****g mistake.
Thomas’s eyes darkened. A slow, wicked smile curled at his lips.
And then—he grabbed me.
Hard.
Yanked me against him.
“You’re mine, Vivian.” His voice was low. Dangerous.
His fingers curled around my wrist, his grip unrelenting.
“I’ll make sure you never forget that.”
- Writer
