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

His cherubic grin makes an appearance, and my heart warms at the familiar smile. Teddy brings me solace, and I miss it when we’re off. In some ways, I need him as much as I need Colt.

“Let me see the goods,” he says, rubbing his hands together.

Plunking my phone into his hand, we crowd around him eagerly until he looks between Colt and me and frowns. “This is going to take a while. And I don’t need you hovering over me.”

He urges us to the door with a pointed look, and I can see Colt gearing up to fight, so I grab his arm and lead him from the room.

Ramie disappeared, so we find our way out back to their little patio, which is just as sad as the front, with dead, withered plants sitting in pots beside the door, the stalks brittle and dry.

The tiny yard ends before it begins with smelly, dank furniture torn apart by the weather surrounding a fire pit long out of use.

Colt pulls me to the concrete steps, and I sit down beside him, staring up at the stars.

We’re quiet for a moment before he says, “I told my dad about what’s been going on. I think he’s going to hire a private investigator.”

Wow. Momentarily speechless, I reach out and grab his hand, saying softly, “Thank you. I know that must have been hard.”

“I’d do anything to keep you safe,” he says, clutching my hand tightly.

Melting at his passionate speech, I lean into him, happy when he pulls me into his side. It feels so right. I know this is where I belong, and of course, I feel a tingle race through me, but I ignore it for now.

Since he’s brought up the topic of his dad, I can’t help but ask, “Why do you hate her so much? Her. The first wife. I mean, she’s as much a victim as your mom?”

Colt’s expression drops to ice, and I shiver under the change. It’s a reminder that his story is just as painful and sordid as mine. I should tread carefully, for some wounds are more lethal than others.

“That bitch isn’t a victim of anything. She’s a fucking psychopath,” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“She doesn’t care about Dad having a second family. She never has. I think she’s known from the beginning. As long as she controls the outcome, she’s content. It’s, I don’t know, it’s like she enjoys holding this over my dad's head. It’s another way of making him do what she wants.”

“That’s weird.”

I can’t imagine. Maybe, even though I don’t like Colt’s dad one bit, I can understand why he sought out someone else to love - because his wife is such a bitch. It doesn’t excuse the entire situation, but it goes a long way to explaining it.

“She told me once to keep my mouth shut and do as I’m told, or she’d ban my dad from us. If I don’t conform, my mom and sister get punished,” he says bitterly.

“That’s sad. But Colt, this isn’t your problem. You can’t live your life worried about her or your mom. They’ve both made their own choices.”

“Maybe,” he says, looking away with a heartbroken expression, “anyway, I just hate it when Mom’s upset, you know?”

“Yeah,” I say sadly. “I know. My mom stayed with my dad for me. How do I get past that? I mean, she died for me!”

“Finn, your mom loved you. Like I said, people do strange things for love,” he says with a wry twist to his mouth, but there’s a strange desperation behind his eyes that worries me.

“Colt-“

“Anyway, along with rich bitch came Buck, who’s a spoiled little bitch. When I found out about the whole situation, I lost my shit. It wasn’t pretty, and Buck was there all the while rubbing salt in the wound. It didn’t help when he came around and treated my sister terribly. He’s just like his mother. Wouldn’t surprise me if he kicks puppies or some shit.”

Not surprising, Buck is clearly a jerk, but it’s too bad because they could have been there for each other over the whole fucked up situation.

“Is Buck your only other sibling?” I ask tentatively.

I rationalize my hesitation to reveal what I overheard about Dirk by convincing myself whatever Sarah said that night at the amusement park could have been a lie.

“I have a sister,” he mutters.

Okay, not a lie. Now what? Do I hurt him further by telling him that Dirk dated this other sister at one time or another? To what end?

It won’t make the situation better, and Colt’s dealt with enough drama to last a lifetime. No, this isn’t my secret to tell, at least not now.

“Why is she, um, Buck’s mom so worried about what you do?”

Sighing, he stares into the sky. “When I first found out, I was angry. I went to their house and confronted him. She was there. She didn’t want me to ruin the facade they have going and warned me off…”

“And?” I ask, sensing there’s more.

Shrugging, he turns away, and my stomach sinks. Here comes another zinger.

“She found out about Fight Club.”

“Okay?”

“She’s a sick bitch, Finn. She blackmailed me...into fighting because I don’t know, she made money off it. Or more likely, the bitch liked knowing she could make me do whatever she wanted,” he mutters.

“Wait? What? You’ve been fighting because of her?” I exclaim. Okay, now I hate the bitch.

“Yes, I didn’t have a choice,” he says heavily.

“That’s insane! Didn't you say she’s rich? How much money could she truly get from Fight Club?”

“Like I said, I think she enjoys the thrill, I don't know,” he says, grimly.

“But-“

“It is what it is, Finn, but I’ve refused to be her little toy, and now she’s angry.”

“What are you going to do?” I whisper.

“Nothing,” he says with a grim shrug, “I’m done playing her sick games.”

Mulling it over silently, I say, knowing he’s reeling under the painful truths he’s already revealed, “I’m proud of