Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
She sniffs away fake tears, all part of the show. Cece is an excellent actress. When we were kids, she used to mimic the voices and expressions of the characters from our favorite video games. Though she’s an amazing coder, acting is her true calling.
“I’ve always loved you, Jamie. When I broke up with you, it was because we were moving apart for college. I thought it was better that way. Because I knew we would find our way back to each other.”
“Well, your plan backfired,” I shoot back. “Too much time has passed. You’ve done too many things to make me hate you. Now that I know you’re The Queen, I can put all of this behind me. So, I guess, in some ways, I should thank you. Because now I can move on… without you.”
She covers her mouth with her hand and gasps, the tears now falling from her eyes. Mascara streaks slide down her cheeks. They might be actual tears, but I doubt they’re real. Unable to look at her anymore, I push open the front door. One last time, I look back at her. To think I ever loved someone like her breaks my heart all over again.
“Cece.” Her eyes find mine. The corners of my mouth turn up into a wide grin. “Game over,” I say with a wink before I leave my first love behind.
I hear glass breaking from inside the house. Something hard hits the door behind me, followed by Cece’s shrill voice. My smile widens as I slide behind the wheel of my car.
I’m finally ready to move on.
Now, if only Shannon will forgive me.
Chapter Twenty
Jamie
The next morning, I stop Tucker on his way into the kitchen, telling him I need to talk to everyone. He grabs an energy drink from the fridge and then follows me into the living room. I cup my hand around my mouth and yell upstairs for Drake, Preston, and Trent. I haven’t spoken a word to anyone since leaving Cece’s house. But I have to get this off my chest. They all deserve to know who’s been trying to ruin their lives.
A minute later, the rest of my friends shuffle into the living room. Trent sits next to Tucker on the couch. Drake and Preston take their places on the other side of the sectional. With my hands shoved into my pockets, I stand in front of the coffee table staring at each of them.
I suck in a deep breath to prepare myself for the barrage of questions I’m about to receive from them.
“Cece’s The Queen,” I confess.
My confession drains the energy from the room. All of them look too stunned to speak. Slack-jawed, Preston shakes his head at me.
“That bitch,” Drake says, breaking the silence. “Taylor wouldn’t even talk to me over the dick-pic post.”
“What about me?” Preston growls. “She called me out on dating Bex before I told Coach about us. He could have kicked me off the team.”
“Instead, you kicked yourself off the team,” I quip. But he doesn’t look so thrilled by my attempt at a joke.
Preston’s jaw hardens as he stares at me.
Tucker laughs, which confuses all of us.
A beat passes between us before Tucker glances over at Preston and says, “You got to be kidding me? You hooking up with Bex is nothing. How about what she did to Trent and me?”
“And Jemma,” Trent adds. “We weren’t planning to tell anyone she was pregnant.” He holds out his hand to motion to the group. “Except for you guys.”
“I’m sorry for what she did.” I wave my hand in the air to get their attention, and once I have it, I continue, “But we have bigger problems.”
Drake crosses his arms, pushing out his chest. “She put us through hell.”
“Why did she do it?” Preston asks.
“To get to me,” I admit.
Preston smirks. “You fucked her, didn’t you?”
I look away from him, shoving my hands into my pockets. He thinks he knows me so well. But the new Jamie can control himself around Cece because she’s no longer my weakness. I proved that much last night.
“Like you even had to ask,” Drake says. “He can’t resist that stupid cunt.”
“Never could,” Preston adds.
“Hey, all of you need to shut the fuck up,” I growl, throwing my hands in the air. “Look, I’m sorry she told the entire school about you and Bex…” I say to Preston, “… and about you showing your dick to every girl on campus,” I say to Drake. Then I turn to Trent and Tucker. “And most of all, you two. I mean, what she said about you guys could have gotten Tuck kicked out of school. She exposed Jemma’s pregnancy and a bunch of other shit. I don’t even know what to say other than sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Tucker says, his tone sincere. “You didn’t make her do shitty things to us.”