Page 6 of Almost Rotten

I slow-blink, confused.

“Ty,” I try, reaching up to cup his cheek.

This isn’t my best friend. While I recognize the anger and the darkness, he’s never once aimed any of his ire at me.

He turns his head, avoiding the gesture, but doesn’t drop my hand.

I tug, which only makes him tighten his hold further. “Ty, if you squeeze my hand any tighter, you’re going to hurt me.”

His lips curl in a wicked smile, but his grip does loosen.

“Then I guess we’re even, petit diable, because when you let that man fuck you in my jersey, right in front of my goddamn locker, you hurt me more than you could possibly know.”

I’m shell-shocked and speechless as I process the implications of that statement. My chest constricts, nausea swirling in my gut and burning up my esophagus.

One piece clicks into place, then another.

With a hand over my mouth, I choke back a cry. I think I’m going to be sick.

The footage of Mercer railing into me from behind, with Ty’s jersey number clearly on display.

The grainy footage shot from somewhere nearby, as if the person filming was watching from around the corner.

I gasp as realization settles in my bones. The answer clicks into place, but I still have to hear him say it. “How did the dean get that footage, Tytus?”

He bares his teeth. “How do you think he got the footage of you in front of my locker getting fucked by your professor while wearing my jersey, Sawyer?”

I slam my eyes shut and force myself to breathe.

This is my worst fucking nightmare.

Tytus took that video.

Tytus caused this entire situation.

I never would have wanted him to see that.

My stomach twists painfully.

Tytus doesn’t know that Mercer and I are together. Or he didn’t. I’d never want him to find out in such a harsh way.

And yet… I’m still missing a few pieces.

I swipe another errant tear from my cheek. “The dean said the footage was intercepted.”

“It was. An unexpected hiccup, but ultimately, it worked in our favor.”

The brutal smile on his face grows.

“I can see your wheels turning, petit diable. This is the part you haven’t worked out yet. The dean thought the footage was of you and me. Imagine what would happen if he knew it was actually you and the professor.”

Bile rises in my throat, but I choke it back quickly. It burns and it stings, incinerating me from the inside out. But the painis nothing in comparison to the agony that hits me as Ty’s confession sinks in.

He did this.

On purpose.

Now he’s threatening Mercer. And for what? To prove something? To hurt him? To hurt me? Maybe he doesn’t realize we’re together. Maybe he thought he was witnessing a one-off or an interaction much more casual than it was.