Crashed(book three)(121)

And I’m done. The innocent routine ended a long f*cking time ago when it comes to her and her goddamn lies. At least I recognize it now. After what she did to Ry? And now tried to do to me?

Batter up, sweetheart.

“Yeah, why?” I bite out. “Because you f*cking lied through those perfect white teeth of yours? Used my accident to—”

“Colton I didn’t try to—”

“Shut the f*ck up, Tawny! I don’t care about your goddamn pathetic excuses! ” I shout at her because I’m on a roll and f*ck if it doesn’t feel good to let it out. Release all of the anger and the fear and the uncertainty that’s ruled my f*cking life over the past few weeks. Left me a goddamn disoriented mess just like driving blindly into the smoke after a crash to hope I come out the other side of its oppressive f*cking haze. “You didn’t try to what?”

My anger’s eating me raw. I need to move. Need to expel some of it so I shove open the door of the Rover and start pacing back and forth, shoving my free hand through my hair as my feet hit the f*cking ground beneath me.

“You didn’t try to use my accident—my f*cked up head—as a means to get what you wanted? Tell me I f*cked you when I didn’t? Trap me into being the daddy for your illegitimate kid? How f*cked up is that? What kind of piece of shit does that, Tawn? Huh? Can you answer me why the woman I used to know—was my friend once upon a f*cked up time—had to stoop so damn low that you used a kid to try and get me back?”

There’s not enough f*cking asphalt in this parking lot right now to help me abate the f*cking fury in my veins, because the more I think about it—about what she was trying to do to me—the stronger my rage grows.

Goddamn right she’s quiet, I tell myself, when she doesn’t respond to a single thing I’ve said. All I hear are whimpering cries on the other end of the line.

“To think I used to care about you. Fucking unbelievable, T.” I shake my head and swallow a huge gulp of air. “Is this how you treat the people you claim to love? Use a kid to manipulate? To f*cking deceive to get love?”

“You got back the results.” It’s not a question, just a soft statement that’s eerily calm.

And she knows.

“Yeah, I got them back.” The quiet steel in my voice should have her running for f*cking cover.

“You f*cked with me once, Tawn. I dealt with it as gently as possible since our families are connected.” I lean my back against the Rover and just keep shaking my head, my pulse racing, and breath panting out in shallow breaths. “But you obviously don’t care about that because you just majorly f*cked with me again. Tried to ruin me with the one thing you know would f*ck me up more than anything else. So I suggest you listen closely because I’m only going to say this once. I’m f*cking done with you. Don’t contact me. You sure as f*ck better not contact Ry. And family functions?” I laugh and it sure as f*ck isn’t because I’m feeling happy. “I suggest you have the stomach flu or some other reason not to attend. Got it? You were my friend and now you’re just … nothing.”

“Please listen,” she pleads and her voice—the voice that used to mean something—does f*cking nothing to me. At all. “Don’t be so cold—”

“Cold?” I shout at her, my body vibrating with anger. “Cold? Cold? Get ready for the polar f*cking ice cap because we’re done. You’re dead to me, Tawny. Nothing else left to say.” And I hang up the phone despite the sob I hear coming through the other end. I turn and brace my hands on the side of my car as I process everything. As I try to comprehend how a childhood friend could do that to me.