Page 31 of Fueled Hate

“If you touch me again, I’m going to make sure you won’t be giving any rides for a very long time.”

“Can everyone take a seat … in an empty chair please? Now.”

Dylan doesn’t seem embarrassed or bothered. Me on the other hand, I know my face is beet red. Not just from embarrassment but also from rage. I really need to give him a good kick in the balls soon.

His grip finally releases me and I shove off him, hurrying into my seat across the aisle.

I jump when I hear a voice whispering over my shoulder, just behind my ear.

“I told you to stay away from him,” Kyle says. I glance over my shoulder to look at his tight expression.

“And I told you we were done.” I resume my task of getting situated for class since it’s already in progress. The professor is lecturing but there are still a few sets of curious eyes staring in my general direction.

“You’ll never be done with me.” His voice is flat, unemotional but his words send a shiver down my spine because it sounds more like a threat than anything. Or maybe it just feels like one because I’ve never realized how suffocating Kyle could be until now.

The class goes by rather smoothly considering how it started. Willow and I walk to the Coyote Café and settle in at our table to get the daily ritual started after grabbing a coffee.

“So, what’s going on with you and Dylan?”

“Nothing.” It’s not nothing. I know that. Willow knows that. But nothing is the only word that comes to mind that I want to admit. Anything else makes things much more complicated. Nothing is the easy answer. I doubt there is a good answer where Dylan is concerned.

“It didn’t look like nothing.” Willow isn’t going to let up. It’s obvious something is going on when Dylan makes such a scene in middle of a class, but it doesn’t change the fact that I need to stay far away from him. Very, very far.

“He’s unhinged. And just like Kyle, can’t take a hint when it’s bluntly stated.”

“He’s nothing like Kyle,” she utters, glancing around the café.

“I know you hate Kyle, but Dylan isn’t any better.”

Thankfully, Parker arrives, sitting in the seat next to Willow. Kissing her cheek, he then whispers something in her ear, drawing her attention away from me. Willow will never believe that anyone could be worse than Kyle. Part of the problem is Parker—because he’s not a problem. Other than their minuscule, petty arguments, they get along better than any couple I’ve seen. No one is perfect, I fully believe that, but I tell Willow all the time that Parker is as close as they come.

“Bye,” Parker says, giving Willow a quick kiss. “Bye, Sadie.” He’s off, across the café before my goodbye leaves my lips.

“He seems distracted today.”

“Yeah. He’s been distracted a lot. He lost a lot of money on the race.”

The topic makes me unsettled because it once again revolves around Dylan. I haven’t even known the guy a week, but he’s inserted into nearly every conversation, moment, and thought in my day. And none of that is good right now.

“Sadie,” Willow says, getting my attention by waving a hand in front of my face. “What were you thinking about? Or should I ask who?”

“Yeah. My dad and brother. That’s who. It was a long weekend.” I tell Willow about my trip back home and what I said to my dad.

“I’m sure he knows you didn’t mean it.”

“I hope so. I know he’s trying, but I’m worried about Levi. He hasn’t been responding much to my calls or messages.”

“He has a life. It’s his senior year and he’s enjoying it.”

“I know that. I just miss my brother.”

“Invite him here!” Her voice squeaks as she gets excited. “The only thing better than a high school party is a college party when you’re in high school.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, and it’s not like we go to parties very often.”

“True, but we should. Invite him up one weekend and we’ll show him around campus. Maybe get him excited about higher education.”

“The only higher education you’re referring to is the kind that he doesn’t need. He’s back on the team and on a good path. Let’s keep it that way.”