Page 13 of Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t do it again, does it, Vee-card?” Logan’s thumb brushes down the side of my face, and I recoil. “Hell, if Ash is up for it, what do you say we make it a threesome?”

The worst part is, I don’t think he’s kidding.

“Get the fuck off me!” I shove him away.

“Such a dirty little mouth. I liked it better when it was wrapped around my—”

I slap him so hard even I’m shocked. His jaw goes slack, his eyes as dark as his soul as he takes a threatening step forward.

“You bitch,” he says through clenched teeth, stopping dead when Ashley’s voice climbs in volume. She’s on her way back, still on the phone. “Look, sissy’s coming back. What do you think? Bad time to present the threesome idea?”

Fear must be written all over my face because he cracks a spiteful laugh. Ashley and I just got our relationship back in a good place. She can never know about what happened.

Ever.

“Oh, don’t pout, Vee-card. Your secret’s safe with me.” Logan retreats to the bed where my sister left him. Tears prickling at my eyes, I swing the door open, but two seconds before I book it down the hall, Logan adds,

“For now.”

Aveena

It’s a quarter to seven when I park my car into Theodore Cox’s driveway and kill the engine. On any other day, I would’ve gone through every excuse in the book to skip this party, or “small gathering”—or whatever the hell they’re calling it—but I had to get out of my house.

Away from Ash and Logan.

Especially after my mom invited the psycho over for dinner.

It’s crazy to me how easily Logan can flip his “nice guy” switch on. It’s been well over a year since he and Ashley broke up, and the bastard still slid back into character without blinking.

He’s got his kiss-ass persona down to a T: the shy smiles, the please’s and thank you’s, the bogus compliments to my mom who wants nothing more than to believe she looks half her age.

Could’ve fooled me—hell, he did fool me. Fooled me into trusting him, fooled me into opening up, fooled me into betraying my own blood.

Theo’s driveway is packed with cars, one of them Dia’s lime-green bug car. Sauntering toward Theo’s single-story house, I pull out my phone to text my best friend a quick “I’m here.”

Crickets.

I’ve been to Theo’s place once before, for the back-to-school party Dia dragged me to at the beginning of senior year. I knock on the door five times before ditching my manners and walking in uninvited. Theo’s kitchen is desert, although every flat surface is covered in empty beer cans and red cups.

“Dia?” I call, craning my neck to peek into the living room.

Not a soul in sight.

That’s when a high-pitched scream slices through the air, accompanied by a loud splash and distant laughter. I tail the noises to the backyard and slide the glass door open to find Easton High’s elite in the pool.

Well, technically, only Finn, Dia, and Theo are in the pool. Brielle and cheer captain, Lacey Mattson, are lying out on yellow sun loungers in their bikinis while Axel Fletcher, a guy from the basketball team, eyes them like they’re racks of lamb.

I venture out of the house, anxiety stirring up in my stomach. Dia is yelling at Finn for pushing her into the water all dressed, splashing him, calling him names, but Finn’s smile doesn’t waver one bit as he swims toward her. He scoops her up into his arms to kiss her and she practically melts into his hands.

No one’s seen me yet.

I couldn’t fit in less if I tried. Yep, that’s my cue. I backtrack slowly, hoping to retreat to my car before they notice m—

“Vee?” I recognize Dia’s voice.

Shit.