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

Collapsing on the couch, I contemplate my day and Colt’s interference at every turn. I knew the consequences of what I did would probably be extreme, and I’m not looking forward to it, but I’m not unprepared either.

What I said was true. What could Colt possibly do after the shit he’s already pulled?

From day one, he was gunning for me. He got the whole school to hate me, judging me without cause. Then he set me up to meet some dick from Academy, who coincidentally turned out to be his half-brother, to make me look like the Princess he continues to call me - this after suckering me into thinking he would get everyone to back off if I just got the dirt from the same dude.

Apparently, that wasn’t enough, though, because he made me fall for him and betrayed me in front of the whole school.

All of which pales in comparison to his ultimate scheme, scaring the living shit out of me by orchestrating the stalker shit too.

I’ve been hated, tormented, called names, forced to see I’m not good enough, scared out of my wits, and humiliated in front of my peers. I mean, there’s nothing left.

Still, my mind whirls with the possibilities because if I were to underestimate Colt, it would be to my detriment.

*****

The following day, after facing off with Colt in every class and ignoring his efforts to piss me off by flirting with some chick who usually hangs off Hayden, I confirm Nate’s statement about the senior trip. And then spend a good fifteen minutes arguing with my last period teacher to no avail.

I can’t envision going on a fucking trip into the woods with these fuckers who’ve shown the depths of the depravity to which they will sink. And my own less than stellar memories with my dad have been circling my mind since Nate brought it up yesterday.

To my annoyance, Colt is waiting for me with a smirk on his face when I exit the classroom with a huff.

Sailing past him, I growl when he steps in beside me and says, “What's the matter, Princess, don't you like to camp? Maybe you don't like to get your hands dirty?”

I’m frustrated enough that I bark out a response without thinking it through, which I regret immediately. I’m done over-sharing with Colt about anything that involves me. He doesn’t deserve to know the things that formed me, my heartaches and traumas, my happiness, and good times. Not a single piece of it. Not even my terror at his hands.

“Yeah, camping trips were real fun with Dad. The last time I went willingly, he took me out to the middle of nowhere and left me behind when he got angry because I was tired and hungry. I was twelve, dick. It took me five hours wandering through the dark before I found the campsite.”

His face is frozen, but I don't bother to stay and hear whatever he has to say. Speaking my truth has brought something out of me that's pinching my skin, and I feel it pressing at my throat, needing to get free.

Leaving the school, I head straight to my mom’s grave, laying out across her plaque and gazing at the sky. Sometimes, dredging up the past is like reopening a wound that’s barely scabbed over - other times, it rolls off my back easily. I never know what’s coming and today is apparently a bad day.

“So now, I have to go on a camping trip. Blah. I’m dreading it. You know I hate it. You know…”

“Colt’s at South now, and he’s out to get me, but honestly, Mom, I don’t feel like I have anything left to lose.”

“Did you hate him? Dad? Or did you look into his eyes and feel pathetically hopeful only for it to be crushed when he broke his promise once again?”

*****

Colt’s on me all week, giving me heated smirks from across the room, taunting me in classes where he's wrangled a seat next to mine. The sick part of me enjoys the attention, but in the wake of his betrayal, I can never feel the unfettered joy I felt around him again.

Now I’m like a crack whore, tempted by something I know is terrible for me but will give me the high I’ve been craving.

By lunch Friday, I’m annoyed and tired. Everywhere I go, he’s there, and I’m not sure of his game, but he’s definitely keeping me on my toes.

Since I’m suspicious of just about everyone’s motives, I accept Nate’s invitation to eat at his table. He’s the only one who doesn’t appear to have an affiliation with Colt, and although he’s all smiles, which makes me a bit uncomfortable, he hasn’t made any more moves, allowing me to relax and enjoy my lunch as much as I can anyway.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling I’m going to have to let him down eventually, which means I could be about to lose a friend - depressing that.

Colt sits across the way at Hayden’s table, which makes me even warier of the duo. Clearly, they know each other better than they let on, and the picture I found of them from a few years ago only confirms that suspicion.

Not only that, but Hayden’s harem surrounds them, happy to turn their greedy attention to Colt. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t leave me cold to watch him flirt, but I’m also not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it.

Besides, I can flirt too.

Giving Nate a pretty smile, I glance at Colt from the corner of my eye and find him staring at me, to which I raise my head to glare back, giving him my iciest eyes.

He only grins brutally, which gives me goosebumps that I refuse to admit are anything more than an internal warning system of things to come, even if my body turns to liquid fire at his savagery