Page 87 of Use Me

I took a sip of my wine and placed the glass on the high-top table next to us. “I guess he is.”

Rhys took a deep breath. “I can’t believe your ex is Corey Pritchett.”

I sighed. “I can’t believe you went to high school together.”

“He told you?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but that’s all he said.”

“We only went to high school together my freshmen year.”

“Really? And you still remember him after all this time?”

He looked off into the distance, and took a few minutes before responding. “Kinda hard to forget the guy who used to beat me up for no reason.”

My eyes widened as my stomach dropped. “He was the one who bullied you?”

“Almost every day.” He took a sip of his drink.

My throat started to close as I remembered what Rhys told me before about his bully and how he ran into him a few weeks back. The same night Philip tried to date rape me. “Now I know why you hate him so much.”

Rhys sighed. “It was a long time ago, but fuck if it doesn’t make my blood boil to know he’s your ex.”

We were silent for a few moments. I didn’t know what to say because I couldn’t change my past just like he couldn’t change his. I also didn’t know what I would do in his position. I wasn’t bullied as a kid. In fact, I was one of the popular girls. What I did know was that I loved Rhys. He had come into my life and was like the sunshine after a rainstorm. The thought of him leaving me would end my world. I wouldn’t be able to move on with my life if he wasn’t in it. It was Rhys I needed to make me happy.

I stepped closer, and Rhys wrapped his arms around me. Before I could come up with what to say, the devil himself walked up.

“Are your panties still in a bunch, Cole?”

I felt Rhys’s body go taut against me. “Fuck you,” he hissed.

Corey chuckled again. “Just remember that paybacks are a bitch and I’ve waited many years to get you back.”

And all the anger that I was keeping at bay came barreling out. I spun around and shoved Corey. “Just shut the fuck up, Corey!” Corey stumbled back, and Rhys grabbed my waist, trying to pull me back, but I kept pushing as I yelled, “We want nothing to do with you. Leave us alone!” At that moment, I didn’t care who was around, and I didn’t care if my outburst was all over the internet. I was so over Corey’s bullshit.

A girl appeared at Corey’s side. She was pretty, blonde, big boobs, and a fake tan. A tan in fucking winter. “Don’t touch my man!” she hissed.

I balked, and it wasn’t because she thought we were going to fight over her man, but I’d realized Rhys and I were better than this. Better than the trash these two people were. “Fine.” I threw up my hands then grabbed Rhys’s hand. “Corey, take a flying leap off the front of the boat.”

I towed Rhys behind me. I had no idea where we were going, but I didn’t want to stand there with them. We went to the back of the boat where people were standing around. The places we could go were becoming less and less, and I couldn’t wait to get on land. God, I wish we weren’t on a boat.

“Take a flying leap off the front of the boat?” Rhys chuckled.

I groaned and looked up at the dark sky. “I’m so pissed right now. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

Rhys wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him. “If you hadn’t stepped in, I would have decked him, and the cops would probably be waiting for me when we got back to the pier.”

I rolled my eyes out of frustration. “What are the fucking odds?” I could still feel the heat coursing through my veins. I hated Corey. Hated. What if he’d never broken up with me? What if he’d asked me to marry him like I thought he’d do one day? Would I have seen his true colors?

“How about we never come on this boat again?”

I nodded against his shoulder, staring out at the twinkling skyline. “I was thinking the same thing.”

We stayed like that for a few minutes until our friends came up behind us.

“There you guys are,” Kenny said.

We turned, and Rhys spoke. “Who won?”