Hate So Good: A High School Bully Romance (The Hate Series Book 2) by Nina Lincoln (best fiction books to read txt) 📕

can imagine, it’s slow going, but I’m hopeful. When I get out, Finn, we’re gonna be back to how we were. I’m looking forward to spending time with you. Don’t worry, my lawyer thinks there’s a good chance. If that asshole judge had just approved the change of venue, to begin with, I might not even be here now.

I’ve been thinking, not much more to do here. Remember the time we went on vacation to New Orleans? You were so scared to walk through the cemeteries but loved the parades. That was a fun time. I wish we could go back, start over.

But I guess there are no do-overs.

Well, kid, I’m closing out. Send me a note. Let me know you’re alive.

Love, Dad

Running my fingers over the letters, I stare at it absently. In some ways, I’m still shocked he has no insight into his own clearly deep-seated neuroses, but I guess I shouldn't be...he couldn't figure out how selfish and crazy he was before. Why should it be any different now?

That trip to New Orleans is emblazoned on my brain, but not because it was fun. No, Dad harped on us the whole time, pouted when we got tired, and at one point pulled my mom into the adjoining room and did god knows what to her.

That evening she stayed in bed ill while we went to dinner, and I’ll never forget his lighthearted demeanor as though beating the shit out of your wife was just another thing. Gotta keep the bitch in line, eh?

Yeah, by the time we got home from that trip, I was grim-faced and sad. My mom hid her bruises behind heavy makeup, and we no longer complained in his presence. He was the devil riding our shoulder, and we never could escape his mean.

I’m tempted to write back just to tell him how much I hate him and let him know since he’s clearly fucking delusional, that I’d never be around him again. But it's not worth it, and he doesn't understand. He never will.

And the letters - they’re just a ploy to keep me under his thumb. I don’t need to know what he has to say, and if he does by some fucking fluke get out of prison, you better believe I’ll be first in line at the prosecutor’s office to volunteer to testify again.

Feeling strangely peaceful on the matter of my dad, I throw the letter away and turn my thoughts.

I’ve got two texts from Teddy, and I don't know what to do about my misguided friend. He’s been so weird lately. Shit, they all have, even Melissa is still avoiding me like the plague. I don't know what I did, but my feelings are hurt just the same. It's all this and my lovely moment with Colt earlier that rides my dreams as I lay on the couch and doze.

The next morning, I’m late for class, having slept through my alarm, but I’m not sorry because I actually got some sleep for once.

The parking lot is relatively empty when I jump from my car and rush toward the school, and in my panic to get to class on time because old habits clearly die-hard, I miss Tiffany standing by a car looking miserable.

She catches my arm as I pass, and I spin around in surprise, my bag pulling me sideways and unable to stop the momentum, I drop to the ground with a thud, staring up at her with alarm.

“Seriously, I don’t know why they all obsess about you so fucking much. You’re a mess,” she mutters, glaring down at me.

“True,” I huff, pulling myself up and dusting off.

“Look, I can’t be seen here, so this is gonna be quick. I don’t care about you. This is for Colt,” she insists.

“Okay,” I say slowly. I mean, what else can I say? Thanks?

“If you don’t stop hanging around with Colt, he’s gonna be dead. This isn’t a joke, and you’re making him angry.”

“Who?” I whisper, but she just shrugs.

“I told you. I don’t know. It’s not like we get together for tea,” she snarls.

“If you had to guess?”

Cocking her head to the side, she ponders me for a moment and says, “Ben or maybe Nate.”

“Nate?” I ask with surprise.

Slowly she nods, a sad expression crossing her features, and pity flows through me. What horrors has she seen?

Because I can’t resist, and even though I don’t want to know, I can’t let it go, I ask, “What did you do with Colt the other night?”

She smirks, cocking her head to the side, but she’s so emaciated and tired looking the vicious effect falls flat. What stands before me is a husk of a person with nothing left to lose.

Exhaling slowly, I mutter, “Never mind. Can you at least tell me how you know what the creep wants? I mean, if you’ve never seen him, he what, texts you?”

“Texts, notes, whatever,” she says dismissively, “if he wants to find me, he can.”

“How long have you been, um, doing stuff for him?”

“Since freshman year, he sent me a threatening message. I had no choice.”

“Threatening?” I whisper. Who is this dick?

She gives me a serious look, and it’s this that causes ice to race down my spine. “He knows fucking everything, Finn. If he wants you, it’s only a matter of time.”

“Wh-“

“Look, I don’t have time for this. Stay away from Colt,” she says, backing away.

When she’s a few feet from me, I turn to grab my bag. “Finn?”

Glancing her way, she says softly, “Nothing is as it seems.”

With those ominous words, she takes off, disappearing between the cars, taking this stealth thing next level as she crouches between them before running to the next in line.

As I watch, I don’t know whether to be sad about her paranoia or scared.

With a sigh, I trudge into the school and enter first period late, my eyes landing on Colt immediately, but he doesn’t so much as glance at me. Ignoring the disappointment, especially after his words