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

I haven’t had a chance to speak to Melissa about prom since she’s at North, but I have heard from Teddy that there are rumblings amongst Colt’s loyal fan club, all via classroom gossip since Teddy wasn’t at prom himself. Is Colt here for revenge? Or to outrun his lies?

Per Teddy, the students of Northside were appalled to hear of Colt’s relation to Buck and shocked, of course, about the two wives scandal making jokes about sister wives and such.

Apparently, though, they don’t care that Daddy is a rich dick, skipping over that information and focusing on Buck Stark, who’s mortal enemy number one since he crashed a party freshman year and trashed some guy’s house animal style.

When kicked to the curb, his only excuse was, he thought that’s how the poor assholes lived. Beyond that, Buck has made it his goal to be a jerk whenever possible, causing general mayhem wherever he goes. Nobody can stand the prick.

This is no surprise to me. Buck - for all his riches, is clearly a jerk with a god complex. You’ll never hear me say it to Colt, but if Buck’s anything to go by, Colt was better off without a full-time daddy dearest.

“You going to the party this weekend?” Nate asks with a flirty smile, flashing the dimple that surely makes the girls swoon.

Unfortunately, it’s lost on me because all my attention is centered on the guy who stands abruptly from his table and exits the cafeteria loudly.

Smiling at Nate, I murmur, “What party?”

*****

My curiosity about whether Colt transferred to get out of the mess I created is quickly put to rest when I halfheartedly agree to attend the party Nate mentioned the week before. Although he definitely gets the cold shoulder from many, he’s still got the adoration of the few, which rankles. Dick. I guess it makes sense why he values loyalty over everything.

Surprisingly, I’m welcomed with open arms by the same jerks who called me rich bitch and tortured me for months. It’s...weird.

Melissa pulls me away, and we grab a drink before sitting down by the fire. I’m determined to enjoy myself, even though I caught Colt lingering in the kitchen with Dirk and George taking shots.

His eyes lit up when he found me crossing the room, and I gave him a smirk and raised my brow, ignoring the way my nipples tightened in my shirt at his attention.

Beside him, George gave me a friendly grin, which I returned, but I ignored the others altogether. Despite their newfound acceptance of me, I’m still angry and admittedly hurt by their willingness to participate in my misery.

I don't see Sarah, which is just as well. The bitch deserves more than a punch to the face, and if she gets in mine, it might be me who starts the shit this time. Part of me is still pleased she lost out on prom queen, even though it was not my intention to be the one to take it from her.

Apparently, our peers voted for me, despite the fact I was no longer a student at North and the desperate look on her face when she realized it wasn’t her will live with me for some time to come, especially because she cruelly rubbed Colt’s betrayal in my face.

The crown and sash now have a place of honor on my dresser, and every day when I get up in the morning, I spy them and smile grimly.

I didn't plan it, but I sure got my revenge against the girl who craves attention like a whore in need of dick. Still, I think she deserves a little more of my consideration. Was she in on it? Were they all? I still don't know, which is why I need to bide my time and wait. Let them think I’m complacent, more fool them.

“How’s Southie?” Melissa grunts, turning her faded blue eyes my way.

Shrugging, I dip into my drink and say dryly, “It was better before Colt showed up.”

She chuckles evilly as I would expect her to do, and I give her a good glare, which she ignores, much as she ignores most of my antics. When I was at my lowest, when Colt kicked me to the curb in front of everyone, declaring we were done and oh, also that I was boring in bed, Melissa picked me up on the side of the road.

What ensued was a weird-ass interlude in the woods where she convinced me to scream my rage into the world, and I’ll never admit it to her, but there was a catharsis in there somewhere.

Since then, she’s wrangled me into parties and hooked me up with Hayden in a good, not sleazy way.

Because before that, she wanted to kick my ass, I’m able to trust she’s genuine in her interest. I sense that much like me, she’s tired of being judged, and maybe in that, we've found our kindred spirits. That and she’d kick my ass if I said anything otherwise.

“Colt’s had it bad for you since you walked in the door in that dreadful shirt,” she snorts, taking another gulp of her drink.

I grace her with a death glare, but she’s too into her cups to care, and she just guffaws, in my face, loudly.

“Whatever,” I grumble.

Apparently, I need to catch up because whatever she’s feeling has transformed Melissa from a scary beast to a laughing, joking human being. Who knew?

“It's true,” she says, sobering up slightly. “I’ve known Colt since kindergarten. He’s changed. Back then and up until a few years ago, he was fun. I mean, he’s always been an ass who will challenge anyone for a chance to pound some flesh.”

She says this in an admiring tone, to which I roll my eyes.

“And?” I ask, no longer caring if I sound too eager. She knows I’m eager.

She confirms my thought with a knowing look, and I just stick my tongue out at her.

With her own eye roll, she continues, “I don't know, it