Page 40 of Hate So Deep
Chapter 16
NOW
Lauren
I don’t know what I was thinking but I should have begged my dad to go with him. I would’ve willingly surrendered to those detectives if it meant avoiding my half siblings, their fucking mother and Dirk with his red-headed girl.
Fuck me.
After Celia rounds us up, I pause at the door and look back to the stairs, leading to the lavender walls of the only sanctuary I have here.
I would be doing the group a good service if I stayed behind. It’s not like I’m feeling the Christmas spirit, and I don’t give a fuck about the damn bazaar downtown.
Except before I can make my excuses, Dirk whispers in my ear as he brushes past, “Coward.”
I’m not a fucking coward.
Of course, I take the bait like an asshole and march out the door only to slow down when I see that my choice of transportation options includes Celia and the girls in one vehicle or Colt and Dirk in the other.
Since I’m tired of Dirk and his jerk ass face, I head toward Celia’s vehicle only to pause and turn back to the truck.
When I meet Dirk’s eyes through the windshield, they narrow, and I fight back a grin. Fucker wants to play, I’ll play. I don’t care what Colt does or does not know about Dirk and I.
So, let’s see how much Dirk sweats when I’m sitting in a vehicle with him and my half-brother.
Of course, Colt’s brows furrow when I slide into the backseat and wrench on my seatbelt, but no one comments as we back out of the driveway.
The women lead the way in Celia’s vehicle, and I stifle a snort when I consider how awkward that car ride would be, although to be fair this is no picnic.
Still, my goal was to make the dick squirm and when I look up and our gazes clash, I summon a dirty smirk.
Dirk grunts but doesn’t comment as we slow to a stop in front of the old school arcade that used to be a hangout for Academy students before they closed it down last year.
When Dirk’s brows furrow and Colt glances at him sideways, my spine tingles and I lean forward, for what, I don’t know because neither speaks as we accelerate through the light.
Still, the interior of the cab feels darker than it did before.
“Remember that chick in high school? Blonde with big…eyes,” Colt asks, breaking the tension.
Clenching my teeth, I turn to the window as Dirk chuckles and says, “Polly…no, Pansy. Something like that.”
“Yeah,” Colt says, tipping his chin toward the window.
Dirk follows his head, and his brows rise before he says, “Fuck, bro. I totally forgot about that.”
“Me too,” Colt murmurs.
I admit, I’m curious about this memory but I don’t ask because I have some pride.
“Stacey hated that bitch,” Dirk mutters and I look between them.
Polly…Stacey…?
“Wait! Stacey?” I ask and Dirk’s eyes meet mine in the mirror once more.
“Huh?” Colt grunts.
“Stacey Hughes,” I say. “She…”
