EIGHT YEARS AGO
Jack: Michael and I were supposed to go to the movies but he has a family thing and canceled.
Jack: Want to go out for drinks?
Nate: Again? Isn’t it like the third time hecanceled on you in like two weeks?
Jack: Yeah.
Jack: Sucks, but it’s okay.
Jack: His grandmother has been sick for a little while.
Nate: I have something to do tonight, but I’ll meet you after.
Jack: Another girl?
Nate: Just handling a problem and helping someone out.
Jack: Is that what you call fucking someone’s brain out?
Jack: “Helping”?
Nate: Dude.
Jack: What? You’re being sketchy.
Nate: I’m not.
Nate: I’ll let you know assoon as I’m done.
Nate: Nuri’s working tonight, she can keep you company at the bar until I’m there.
NATE
It’s been bugging me all day. I don’t like this.I don’t like that I don’t like this. Jason Perkwood is not one to offer his help to a girl without having ulterior motives.
But now, he’s about to go and meet Prue.
In her room.
The both of them alone.
And I want to smash his head on a wall for it.
I’m not a violent person, but the last few months have been filled with threats. The first one to Dante, in late September, when he commented about her “fuckable ass” just as she was walking with Nuri to sit at a table in the dining hall. I threatened to drown him in swim practice if I ever saw him approaching her. Ever since that day, Jack and I had an understanding. Protect his sister at all costs. Mainly me, because Jack couldn’t scare a fly to save his fucking life, but I’ve been more than willing to help.
All those fuckers don’t deserve someone like her. And I fucking hate myself for the way she makes my heart miss a few beats every time she just smiles. Or walks in front of me. Or fucking breathes.
Because she’s Jack’s sister. And he saw me fuck my way through the lastthree years. He knows I don’t deserve her any more than those other assholes do. No matter that I haven’t been interested in fucking anyone since we came back in September, until now, mid December.
Fuck, what a mess.
And now, I’m sitting here, in the locker room, my gaze locked on Jason and his couple of dumb friends, listening and trying to figure out what I’ll do to stop it.
Simple threats won’t do. He might be younger but he’s bigger than me—I swear, that kid’s on steroids—and doesn’t look like he’ll scare easily with words alone.
So I wait. He’s supposed to meet her in fifteen minutes, and except for tripping him down the stairs, I’m not sure what to do.
