my leg. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head, because I’m not. I’m angry, hurt, confused and, most of all, I feel guilty for just ruining everything for my father.
“She was just doing it to hurt you, Kayla. Don’t let her win. It was easy to tell she was making Cooper uncomfortable, too.”
I choke out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, not uncomfortable enough, considering he didn’t push her away.”
“You’re right. He should have.”
“He fucking lied to me, Julia. He said he hasn’t had anything to do with her since they broke up.”
“Maybe he was over at her house for another reason?”
I shake my head, dismissing the suggestion immediately. No way, it didn’t sound like that at all. I glance over at her. “Do you still have the invitation to that party in Callingwood?”
She hesitates. “Yes. It’s in my purse, but I sort of told Jax I wouldn’t go since you told Cooper you weren’t going.”
“Yeah, well, that promise to him is out the fucking window now, but you don’t have to come. I can drop you off at home on my way. I would completely understand, but I need to get out of here, Jules. I need to get my mind off of what just happened back there.”
She shakes her head. “Of course I’m coming. I’ll drive home if you want to have a few drinks.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, glad that she always has my back. Because that is exactly what I want to do—I want to party my ass off and forget this night ever happened, and more importantly, I want to forget about Cooper McKay. Though I doubt any amount of alcohol will ever erase him from me, especially my heart.
*
An hour later I realize this was a mistake, because no matter how much I drink or how much I try to mingle, nothing lifts the heaviness that’s weighing down on my chest.
People bump into me from either side as I make my way through the heavy crowd to find Julia. Some stop to hug me and ask how I’m doing, some try to get me to join their drinking game, and suddenly it all becomes too much.
I dart to the left and push my way through the crowded bodies until I finally make it into the deserted woods. The loud music starts to fade as I walk a little ways in, finding the privacy I need. I take a seat against one of the big oak trees and try to get my head together, but the quiet has me thinking about the night’s earlier events. Hugging my knees to my chest I let my tears flow freely, and try to think of how I’m going to make it up to my parents. As for Cooper… I shake my head, the pain is too much to think about it right now, but I know what I have to do.
The sound of a branch snapping has my head shooting up, and I see none other than Mark fucking Stevens stumbling toward me. Great, just what I need.
“Well hey there, Goldilocks.” The nickname I was given back in grade school by my peers slurs out of his drunk mouth.
“Keep walking, Mark, I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight,” I mumble and swipe at my wet cheeks, hating for anyone to see me cry.
He clutches at his chest dramatically. “Your words cut me deep.” I roll my eyes at his theatrics. He makes his way over to me, completely ignoring my brush-off, and takes the spot next to me. “Here, have some of this. It will make you feel better,” he says, thrusting his drink toward me.
“No, thanks.”
He dances the cup closer to my face. “Come on, take it, I know you want it.”
I push his wrist away with a chuckle. “Get the hell out of here. God you’re annoying. Anyone ever tell you that?”
“Only the ladies that want me.” I shake my head at his arrogance. “What’s going on, Kellar? Not like you to cry.”
“Yeah, because you know me so well.”
“I do,” he replies insulted. “I’ve known you almost my entire life.”
“You have gone to school with me most of your life, that doesn’t mean you know me.”
“I know you never cry, and I know that Julia is your best friend.” I quirk a brow at him. “I’m not just a pretty
I shake my head, because I’m not. I’m angry, hurt, confused and, most of all, I feel guilty for just ruining everything for my father.
“She was just doing it to hurt you, Kayla. Don’t let her win. It was easy to tell she was making Cooper uncomfortable, too.”
I choke out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, not uncomfortable enough, considering he didn’t push her away.”
“You’re right. He should have.”
“He fucking lied to me, Julia. He said he hasn’t had anything to do with her since they broke up.”
“Maybe he was over at her house for another reason?”
I shake my head, dismissing the suggestion immediately. No way, it didn’t sound like that at all. I glance over at her. “Do you still have the invitation to that party in Callingwood?”
She hesitates. “Yes. It’s in my purse, but I sort of told Jax I wouldn’t go since you told Cooper you weren’t going.”
“Yeah, well, that promise to him is out the fucking window now, but you don’t have to come. I can drop you off at home on my way. I would completely understand, but I need to get out of here, Jules. I need to get my mind off of what just happened back there.”
She shakes her head. “Of course I’m coming. I’ll drive home if you want to have a few drinks.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, glad that she always has my back. Because that is exactly what I want to do—I want to party my ass off and forget this night ever happened, and more importantly, I want to forget about Cooper McKay. Though I doubt any amount of alcohol will ever erase him from me, especially my heart.
*
An hour later I realize this was a mistake, because no matter how much I drink or how much I try to mingle, nothing lifts the heaviness that’s weighing down on my chest.
People bump into me from either side as I make my way through the heavy crowd to find Julia. Some stop to hug me and ask how I’m doing, some try to get me to join their drinking game, and suddenly it all becomes too much.
I dart to the left and push my way through the crowded bodies until I finally make it into the deserted woods. The loud music starts to fade as I walk a little ways in, finding the privacy I need. I take a seat against one of the big oak trees and try to get my head together, but the quiet has me thinking about the night’s earlier events. Hugging my knees to my chest I let my tears flow freely, and try to think of how I’m going to make it up to my parents. As for Cooper… I shake my head, the pain is too much to think about it right now, but I know what I have to do.
The sound of a branch snapping has my head shooting up, and I see none other than Mark fucking Stevens stumbling toward me. Great, just what I need.
“Well hey there, Goldilocks.” The nickname I was given back in grade school by my peers slurs out of his drunk mouth.
“Keep walking, Mark, I’m not in the mood for your shit tonight,” I mumble and swipe at my wet cheeks, hating for anyone to see me cry.
He clutches at his chest dramatically. “Your words cut me deep.” I roll my eyes at his theatrics. He makes his way over to me, completely ignoring my brush-off, and takes the spot next to me. “Here, have some of this. It will make you feel better,” he says, thrusting his drink toward me.
“No, thanks.”
He dances the cup closer to my face. “Come on, take it, I know you want it.”
I push his wrist away with a chuckle. “Get the hell out of here. God you’re annoying. Anyone ever tell you that?”
“Only the ladies that want me.” I shake my head at his arrogance. “What’s going on, Kellar? Not like you to cry.”
“Yeah, because you know me so well.”
“I do,” he replies insulted. “I’ve known you almost my entire life.”
“You have gone to school with me most of your life, that doesn’t mean you know me.”
“I know you never cry, and I know that Julia is your best friend.” I quirk a brow at him. “I’m not just a pretty
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