Agreed. As upset as I am with him for doing drugs and putting the moves on me, I’m far more concerned about his health than I am about reading him the riot act.

I can feel Cole’s eyes on me. “I can give you a ride home if you’re willing to wait a bit.”

“I appreciate it, but I’m covered.”

I’m not since Tommy hasn’t returned my text, but I’d rather crawl back to my aunt’s home on broken glass than accept a ride from a Covington.

I’d probably be better off too, because at this rate they’d kill me and bury my body in the woods.

He faces forward. “Suit yourself.”

Whereas Jace is a consistent asshole, Cole has been almost pleasant for the duration of our short trip.

It puts me on edge. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

His brows raise in surprise. “I’m sorry.” He runs a hand through his dark hair. “Didn’t mean to offend you by not being a dick. I’ll do better next time.”

I make a left, turning down their block. “I didn’t mean it like that. I appreciate you being…polite. However, it’s no secret Jace hates me, and you’re not too fond of me either. I guess I’m just wondering why the sudden change of heart is all.”

I can tell he’s mulling over his response by the way his jaw works as we pull up his driveway.

I’m undoing my seatbelt when he finally speaks. “We all make choices and mistakes in this world.” Sadness shadows his eyes. “And there’s a small part of me that can’t help but think yours might have been the latter.” He shrugs. “If I’m right, chances are every time you look in the mirror, you’re already being punished far worse than Jace or I am capable of.”

He steps out of the car before I can ask him what he means or what mistake of mine he’s referring to.

Jace pulls up behind me, blocking Oakley’s car in, then meets his brother.

Oakley’s a little more alert after they help him out of the backseat, but he’s still really out of it.

“Are you mad at me?”

He looks so dejected I fold like a cheap lawn chair. “A little, but we’ll talk tomorrow.” They’re about to head inside, but I wrap my arms around him. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispers as we break apart and Jace and Cole take hold of his arms.

I zero in on my nemesis. “After you get him inside, come back out. We need to have a little conversation.”

Those sinister eyes examine me from head to toe. “Excuse me?”

I stand my ground. “You heard me.”

Jace starts to argue, but Cole says, “I got it from here.” He slaps Oakley on the back. “Come on, big guy. We can wake Bianca up and get her to make us some food.”

He perks up a bit and they make their way up the driveway.

The second they’re inside, I shove Jace against the car. “You’re a goddamn hypocrite. You knew Oakley had epilepsy, yet you still let me think he did all those bad things.”

Jace doesn’t look amused. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“No, I’m not, asshole. I attacked him over it.” My heart drops. “I could have seriously hurt him, Jace.”

I’m not sure what to make of the expression on his face. “Yeah, you could have. Yet, here you are standing in my driveway blaming me.”

He wraps his fingers around my wrist and yanks me until I’m the one against the car. “Newsflash, Dylan. I didn’t make you do shit. You chose to beat him up, because that’s your MO. Whenever someone hurts you or pisses you off, you take it to the extreme.”

Anger rises in my throat. He’s got a lot of nerve considering all he’s done. “Are you sure you didn’t steal from Oakley’s stash tonight? That’s your MO. The only thing I’ve ever done was be a good friend, which is a hell of a lot more than I can say for you.”

His upper lip curls and he leans in. “I wish you were a guy, because I swear, I’d beat the goddamn heartbeat out of you, you vile, manipulating cunt.”

I’ve been called a lot of bad things before, but this takes the cake. It’s the worst thing anyone’s ever said to or about me.

I slap his cheek so hard my own hand stings. “I hate you.”

I honest to God do in this moment. It doesn’t even matter why he’s mad at me, because I no longer care.

He plants both palms on the car, trapping me. “Is that supposed to scare me? Because it doesn’t. There’s nothing else you can do—there’s nothing else you can take from me. I won’t fucking let you.”

My heart slams against my ribcage. He’s talking in circles and it’s getting us nowhere. “I didn’t do anything to you.” I grab his face, forcing him to look at me. “You know me, Jace. You know me better than anyone. Whatever you think…”

“No. I don’t.” The sorrow in his voice strikes me low in the gut. “I’m not sure I ever did.”

I was wrong before. This takes the cake. “You’ve held my heart in the palm of your hand since I was eleven-years-old. If anyone has the power to hurt the other, it’s you, not me.” My throat prickles and a rush of anger fills the cavity of my chest. “Hell, it’s all you’ve been doing since I’ve been back.” I jab a finger into his pec. “Britney Caldwell? You think I’m vile? She’s the very definition of it.”

His hand slides to the nape of my neck and he grips my ponytail, tilting my head back. “She might be a bitch, but at least she never betrayed me.”

“Give her time.”

The tip of his nose skims the length of my exposed neck. “Careful, Taylor. Your jealousy is starting to show.”

I laugh. “Please. She has nothing that I want.” My eyes narrow. “Not anymore.”

“You sure about that?” he challenges.

“Positive,” I lie.

His lids lower. “Is that why you wore this sexy little shirt tonight?” His warm breath tickles the side of my neck. “Hoping to get my attention.”

“No.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

That earns me a husky chuckle. “Too bad.” He presses his lips against my throat. “Because it’s working. You have all my attention.” He walks his fingers down my torso. “Question is…what are you going to do with it?”

My teeth clench in frustration. “Tell you to go fuck yourself.”

I shiver when he flicks his tongue ring against my pulse point. “I think it would be more fun to fuck you.”

“As if I’d let you.”

My pulse skyrockets when his knuckles brush the bare strip of skin above the waistband of my jeans. “We both know you would.”

“You’re wrong.”

His nostrils flare on an indrawn breath. “Fine. Then tell me to stop. Tell me to stop touching you and go inside.”

I can’t.

“That’s what I thought.” I gasp when he traces the zipper of my jeans with his thumb. “I wonder what I’d find if I tugged these down and slipped my hand inside.”

Blood whooshes in my ears when his teeth graze the hollow of my neck. “I bet you’d be nice and wet for me.” He sucks the sensitive skin into his mouth. “I bet you’d beg for my cock, too.”