Page 120 of Broken Prince
Guilt hits me. I feel like I’m betraying him by moving on with someone else. That I’m betraying all three of them.
“Please don’t be like that.” I look over at him.
“I’m sorry,” he sighs. “It’s just. This fucking sucks.”
“What does?”
“You, being away. I get why you're doing it, but I fucking hate it. I feel like I lost you before I even got the chance to have you. I thought we could at least be friends, but we can’t even have that.”
I don’t know what to say, my stomach twisting up inside. “I’m sorry,” is all I can come up with.
“Don’t be. It’s life. And mine is always complicated,” he whispers, looking out the window.
I turn to look at Winter, who’s watching him with a sad expression. “E, tonight is a night to party and have fun!”
“We don’t party,” he grumbles. “I don’t even know why we’re going out. We normally sit at home and watch movies.”
“I know. But this year, we have Laney. And we can’t hide away all the time. We’re in college. We gotta enjoy ourselves.”
“Can’t wait to go hang out with a bunch of drunk assholes, most of whom have made our lives a living hell. Yay.”
Well, this is awkward.
“Elijah Cross. If you do not stop being a Debbie Downer, I will have the driver turn this car around and leave you at home!” she scolds. Oh, I sure do love feisty Winter.
“Sorry,” Elijah mutters.
“Better,” Winter huffs.
“Looks like Winter has a little frostbite.” Justin grins.
“Really?” I laugh at the corny comment.
Thankfully, it’s not a long ride to the frat house that’s holding the party.
“I need a drink,” Elijah says, leaving us as he heads into the house.
“I’m gonna make sure he’s okay,” Winter tells me.
“Maybe tonight wasn’t a good idea.”
I was in a good mood before, but now I’m kind of just wanting to go home and go to bed. I feel like I’m always ruining things. They didn’t ask for me to come into their lives and change everything, yet since I’ve been here, all I’ve seem to have done is hurt people.
“It is. He’s just missing you. I promise we can have fun.” She smiles before running off after Elijah.
“Come on, Laney Girl. Let’s go get you fucked up.” Justin tosses his arm over my shoulder.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea.”
An hour later, I’m drunk. I’m not even joking. I’ve been taking shots left and right. I just want to shut my brain off.
I hate who I am right now. I hate how complicated my life has gotten.
I’m head over heels for an older man who is my professor. I’m pinning after my stepbrother, who has a baby mama from hell. And I find myself having the hots for his two brothers.
Maybe I should just transfer to another school and start over again. Where no one knows me, and I can have a fresh start.
Yet the idea of leaving makes me want to fucking cry. I’m so over this shit.