“You did it to Blair.”
“Why the fuck would I do it to Blair?” The conviction in his voice has me pausing momentarily.Is it possible he didn’t know?
“The night of the accident. She told me she didn’t want to sleep with you, and yet, for some reason she did.”
“What?” Nathan’s stunned for a beat until he blinks a few times and complete devastation flashes across his face. “I didn’t… I’d never… fuck.”
“Fuck, alright. Did you tell any of your teammates that you wanted her?”
“Yes, but—”
“Someone fucking drugged her, Nathan. Andyoutook advantage of it.” There’s no way she drank enough to consider losing her virginity at a fucking party, not in that short spaceof time. That’s not Blair. “Admit it. You know she’d never have slept with you that night if she’d been of sound mind. You’re not that blind.”
“No.” He shakes his head, and if I thought he was pale before, it’s nothing compared to now.
“Bullshit.”
“I love her.”
“It doesn’t make it right. Whether you drugged her or not, you were part of the game. You did this. It’s why she left. Why she called me. Why Sierra was driving that night.” Sierra’s name rolls easily off my tongue and it shocks me. But I don’t show it.
“No,” Nathan repeats. “No.”
“Yes! Blair trusted you. She came to your house because ofyourinvitation. And you left her alone.”
“No. No.” Nathan’s denial comes back in full force, but this time he at least has the decency not to hide his emotions. He looks like he’s going to vomit.
“No, what, Nathan? No, you didn’t do it? Or no, you can’t believe that you took advantage of the girl you claim to love?”
Bile rises in my throat. They’d been playing that stupid game for years. Plying girls with alcohol, then slipping them something to push them over the edge. Most of the girls accepted what happened. One of them even joked about it with Cade once. That’s how we first found out. But when we’d asked around, we got a similar response. They all laughed it off. Blamed themselves.
But we fucking suspected it and didnothing.
My throat burns as I turn away, needing a second so I don’t fall apart.
If I’d told the police what I thought—toldanyone—Blair would never have been attacked.
Fuck, if Cade finds out, he’ll never forgive himself. Nor should I. We stayed quiet because it was easier than drawing attentionto ourselves. No one would have believed us anyway. We had no proof.
Fuuuck.
My head spins but I refuse to let Nathan see it. I refuse to spiral. Not again.
“Tell me, asshole.Now.” I turn back to face him, my muscles tense, my venomous gaze locked on his.
“I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t knowwhat?”
“That Blair had been drugged. She was on a no-go list. It was too dangerous. If she told you or Cade, you would have destroyed us all.”
Are you fucking kidding me?“She should have been on the no-go list because she’s not a toy for your fucking pleasure.Notto save your own ass. And while we’re on the topic, there shouldn’t have been a list to begin with because it shouldn’t have been fucking happening.”
My muscles ache from how tightly they’re wound and my head throbs.I let it happen.
I came here wanting to confront Nathan, to hurt him, but I’m just as bad as he is.
“Blair lost a piece of her soul that night. Because of you. Because of your games. You deserve to rot in hell. You deserve for me to call Cade so we can both beat the shit out of you. You deserve for me to tell Blaireverything. But instead, I’m going to let you stew over this. Then I expect you to tell her yourself. Do the right thing, or I’ll take it to the media.”
