Page 181 of Dear Love, I Hate You (Easton High)

Break something.

Hit her head, maybe.

Grow a fucking conscience in the process.

“Xav?” Theo pesters. “Did you hear me?”

“He’s been distracted all fucking week,” Finn comments.

“Hm?” I glance at the assholes I call my best friends.

“Where’s your head at, dude?” Theo snorts.

Back between Vee’s legs.

“You haven’t heard from Duke yet, huh?” Theo fishes for a reason to justify my behavior.

“Nah,” I lie.

“It’ll come, man.” Theo shakes my shoulder. “I got the call just a few days back.”

The truth is, my call came days ago. More specifically when I went up to my bedroom to throw a T-shirt on before driving Vee home. I’d like to say I couldn’t believe it, but at this point, I felt almost entitled to that damn scholarship.

Before Vee, ball was my whole life. I hate to admit it, but Brie was nothing but a convenient piece of ass. I spent years killing myself for that five-minute phone call.

I haven’t told a soul.

Theo was bummed because he hadn’t heard back at the time, and I didn’t want to rub it in his face. I also don’t need Dad on my ass during the playoffs. I can already hear his speech about showing Duke they made the right call.

Proving myself worthy.

“Still waiting for my call,” Finn jokes, and I scoff. Finn’s dad is so loaded it’d be a fucking joke for him to get a scholarship.

He wouldn’t need one in a million years.

Plus, just because I’m dying to turn pro doesn’t mean Finn does. He loves ball, sure, but he’s admitted to seeing a big black hole when thinking about the future. He said he’d take a year off after high school to figure shit out.

Finn, Theo, and I saunter out of the locker room together, the guys raving about some party I couldn’t give less of a shit about. I just want to head home. Maybe pull up to Vee’s house and beg like a pussy until she takes me back, not that we ever really dated, but fuck, if it was up to me, we would. I’m thinking she won’t have a choice to talk to me if I show up on her doorstep.

If you’re

thinking that sounds desperate as hell…

It’s because I am.

Disgust tickles my throat when we turn the corner and I spot Brie by the drinking fountain next to the gym. She’s in her cheer uniform, her red hair pulled in a high ponytail, her nose still bruised from Vee’s punch. There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that she’s waiting for me. Sure enough, her head jerks up as soon as I come into her line of vision.

She smirks. “Hey, sexy.”

The guys take notice and snort out a laugh, certain I’m about to get some after-practice action. I almost laugh at the thought. I might play along in public, let her kiss me—while wishing she was someone else—but she’s fucking insane if she thinks I’d ever touch her again willingly.

“We’ll leave you two,” Theo quips.

“See you, man.” Finn gives me a quick handshake.

He and Theo trail off, leaving me alone with my egomaniac ex. I don’t waste calories acknowledging her and carry down the hall. Brie trails after me, following me around like a lost puppy. I check my text conversation with Vee as I walk.

Still no answer.