Hate So Good: A High School Bully Romance (The Hate Series Book 2) Nina Lincoln (latest novels to read TXT) 📖

the corner, but I’ve told no one. For now, I plan to visit my mom and spend the day with her. All of these firsts without her are painful, to say the least, and I just don’t know if it will be a good day or a bad one.

It’s a chilly March day, the sun bright and blazing, winter still holding on with both hands. This doesn’t stop the guys from wanting to hang out by the lake, so eager for warmer temperatures they’re willing to freeze their asses off.

Although grudging because I hate being cold, I come along because I live for these moments with Colt. We’re all gathered around a blazing fire, sipping on spiked hard drinks while I snuggle up with him, my favorite place to be.

Dirk’s across the fire with another unknown chick. He cycles through them so quickly I’ve lost count and the will to get to know them better. I still haven’t gotten to the bottom of what Sarah said about Colt’s half-sister, but neither has so much as uttered a peep that leads me to believe it was true.

George is here with a cute girl named Sasha, who looks at him with adoring eyes. It’s so sweet.

Ramie sits beside me, staring glumly into the fire, watching out of the corner of her eye as Hayden, ho-extraordinaire sucks face with a cute freshman. He’s another one who cycles through the chicks. I suppose before me - Colt was the same. A thought which rankles, so I push it away.

“What’s Teddy up to today?” I ask Ramie, hoping to pull her attention from Hayden.

I guess she likes bad boys, just like me. Glancing sideways at Colt, I flush when he gives me a wink and turns back to the guys, making jokes.

Sometimes, when I look at him, I lose my breath painfully. Without the typically cold exterior, he shines so much brighter, and I marvel at where we are, together, touching because he craves it.

He can't keep his hands to himself, and every time he takes my hand, rests his on my knee, or pulls me under his arm, warmth blooms in my chest. His need for me is intoxicating, and I love that I’m his drug as he is mine. He hasn’t even backed off like he used to, growing cold with the panic of the feelings he couldn’t contain.

“Probably online with his stalker,” Ramie says, turning to look at me with a blush. She knows I know she has the hots for Hayden, but she ignores it, as do I.

My heart clenches in my chest before easing as I ask softly, “Stalker?”

Shrugging, she says, “Some chick online. I swear she’s obsessed, but he eats that shit up.”

“Oh,” I say.

I’m sure it’s a coincidence, but I wonder if Teddy has the same issue as I? Couldn’t be, he would have mentioned it. Right?

“I’m glad he has you, you know?” she says. “Since the accident, it’s been hard for him to find friends. Real friends. Although even before, it was a struggle.”

I squirm uncomfortably, reminded I’ve been remiss in reaching out, so caught up in Colt and rebuilding what we started not too long ago.

“Before?” I ask.

“Yeah, he was a little shit who got into trouble almost constantly. After the accident, car accident, all the kids he harassed took it as their free pass to get back at him.”

“Harassed?”

“Yeah, he was a total dick, but he’s much tamer now.”

I can’t imagine Teddy as anything other than the sweet guy who befriended me when no one else would. I guess we all change when life throws us curveballs, his it would seem for the better.

“What about Ben? Have you heard from him?” I ask quietly.

She turns her head away, a strange expression crossing her face. “Sometimes, he texts me, but I haven’t seen him. I don’t think he’s going to give up anytime soon.”

“Texts? Like what?”

Hesitating, she looks at me before her gaze moves over my shoulder. “Mostly threats. Ben doesn’t like to be told no.”

“Oh, are you, um, scared…?”

Her eyes fly back to mine, the jade green hue overtaken by her pupils, and the eerie look sends a shiver down my spine.

“Ramie?” I ask tentatively.

Blinking out of her thousand-yard stare, she mutters, “Yes, sorry.”

And I smile weakly, turning to glance over my shoulder when her expression darkens, spying Hayden practically fucking the girl for all to see. Disgusted, I turn away, but since I can’t help but feel bad for Ramie, and Hayden though a dirty ho, did help me out when I needed it, I decide to try my hand at matchmaker.

“You know, if you want him, you’re going to have to put yourself out there.”

She shifts uncomfortably but says, “How so?”

“Well,” I shrug, “I don’t think he’s going to consider making a move if he doesn’t know you like him. But, you know, just be warned, I’m not sure he understands the meaning of exclusivity.”

She chuffs out a laugh, “You think? Hayden’s a dark star with a black soul and barely repressed violence beating in his savage chest.”

Blinking, I stare at her. I surely never expected such vehemence in such an eloquent manner to pass from her lips. Ramie’s turning out to be an old soul.

Smiling, I gaze at Hayden again and say, “Maybe so, but no one’s past redemption. Hayden needs someone to reel him in and show him who’s boss. If that’s you, you can’t back down. Be strong, and don’t allow him to walk all over you.”

“You talking about me, Baby?” Colt asks, leaning into my neck and giving me a soft kiss.

Shivering, under his gentle caress, I say softly, “Always.”

He grins against my skin and bites into my neck, creating a pulse in my core that almost makes me moan out loud. Instead, I gasp, and he pulls me up and away, leading me back to the truck with the group’s chuckles trailing behind us.

Chapter Six

It’s my birthday, and I’ve been evading Colt’s attempts to hang out