Until the End (Sea Breeze #9)(19)

Yep, that was enough. “I need to go. They’re waiting on me,” I said in a rush, before hurrying off toward my friends and brother. All their eyes were trained on me.

“Trisha,” Rock’s voice called out.

I heard Noah saying something else, and then Rock raised his voice. I believed that he didn’t want to be with her tonight. It was just that this was something he would always deal with. And I didn’t want to be a part of it.

“Trisha, please!” he called out, and I realized his voice was closer. He was following me. And did he have to say please again?

I turned around and saw Rock coming after me and an angry Noah standing where he had left her. Her eyes were shooting daggers at me. Noah Miller was just one of many. She could make my life hell at school. And all the other girls would react the same way she was.

Rock was beautiful and strong and so damn hard to say no to. But I couldn’t bring the drama into my life that would come with saying yes to him.

“Just let me go,” I begged. “I can’t do this. She’s just one of many. Go to her. I’ve got bigger problems than fighting over a guy.”

He flinched and I turned away.

Krit’s arm came around my shoulder, and he was scowling at Rock. He didn’t know what had happened. I’d have to explain to Krit that he didn’t need to be mad at Rock. But right now I just wanted to go.

“Let’s go get that burger,” Davey said, breaking the silence.

Krit pulled me closer to him with the crook of his arm. “Yeah. I’m hungry,” he agreed.

Rock didn’t come after me again.

Rock

Two weeks of trying to forget her. Trying not to look for her. Trying to ignore her when she smiled in the cafeteria. Two weeks of hell. Trisha Corbin was put on this earth to remind me there are some things I can’t have. I would have thought having f**ked-up parents would be enough of a reminder. But no . . . the universe had decided that Trisha was needed.

I hadn’t gone with Noah that night after the game. I’d been crushed. Having been so close to getting Trisha for just a little bit and then having it snatched from me was too much. I had gone home and sulked.

After two weeks of sulking, I was determined to get Trisha out of my head. I wouldn’t be using Noah to do it, though. Rose Mann, however, was hot and more than interested. I was going to hook up with her at the pool party at Marcus’s house. His parents and little sister were out of town, so he was throwing a small get-together. Which meant most of the school would be there.

Dad was working days this week, which meant I had his truck. The last two Friday nights I had owned the field, so he was in a good mood. I was no longer on his shit list. As long as I was a star, he was happy. Once I would have done anything just to have his attention. But now I didn’t give a shit. Except I really needed his truck.

Something up ahead caught my attention, and I turned on my high beams to see what looked like a girl walking. What the hell? It was dark outside, and this road wasn’t a busy street. I turned off my brights and slowed down until I was beside her.

What happened next would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Trisha Corbin turned her head to look at me, and one of her eyes was swollen closed, her lip was busted, and there was blood on her face. She was limping and holding her arm funny. That pretty blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail that looked like it had been messed with. Hair was loose and sticking out in crazy directions. Motherf*cker! I was going to murder someone.

Slamming on my breaks, I jumped out of the truck and ran around the front.

“Trisha” was all I could get out of my mouth. My heart was in my throat, and my damn hands were shaking.

She stared up at me through eyes wet from tears.

I was going to jail. Because whoever f**king did this was being put down. Slowly. And painfully.

“I need . . . I need to go to the . . . h-hospital.” She said each word like it hurt.

“Yeah, sweetheart, you do. How can I help you get into the truck? I don’t want to hurt you.” It was a helpless feeling. Picking her up in my arms was what I wanted to do. And tuck her against my chest so no one could touch her. But I knew from the odd angle of her arm that touching her wasn’t a good idea.

She inhaled sharply and held her breath a minute.

“Just stand . . . behind me in ca-case I lose my balance. I think my legs”—she paused and winced, then whispered—“are the only things that aren’t broken.”

“Shit, Trisha. Goddamn” was all I could say. I wanted to ask her who had done this, but it hurt her to talk. I would find that out later.

I opened the passenger side of the truck and watched as she limped, and listened to her whimpers. I had thought her rejection was hell. This was so much worse. I hated seeing her in pain. I would take her healthy and rejecting me any damn day over this nightmare.

When she started to lift a leg, she lost her balance and I dropped to my haunches and held her h*ps steady. “Can I lift you if I hold you here? Will this hurt?” I asked.

“That’s not too bad,” she said in another whisper.

I took her lower h*ps firmly and lifted her slowly until she was sitting safely in the seat. I moved her legs around to face her forward. “I’ll drive slow and safe. The seat belt might be too much.”

She nodded and mouthed, “Thanks.”