It All Started With Hate

langley

Raven and Levi decided to spend the past year traveling, and with Levi's money, they were surely comfortable. Every week, I had a new picture of Raven sitting along the beach with a glass of wine in hand.

God, how I wanted to be there for that wine, and I guessed her, too. She was scheduled to come back to town for good the week of spring break, though.

I'd never admit it out loud but the moment the two left, I felt something so unrecognizable, it made me want to barf. I missed them. Their tales, the drinking, our group dinners, our girls nights. Even though we all scheduled at least one video call a week, it wasn't the same.

The Christmas lights was an extraordinary time though, even if it was cut short by Kimberly and Kades' departure from the group, moments after their exchange of tongues.

I wasn't completely in this by myself, though. I'd made a friend from college; she was a engineering major, like me. Her name was Quinn, and she was pretty cool. At least cool enough to where I didn't want to walk away mid-conversation. I had a tendency of doing that if the person on the other end was too annoying.

Other than her, Kimberly and Raven, my boyfriend, Xander, was the only other person who wasn't related to me that could be worthy of my time.

Jax hadn't said anything directly, but he was my twin, so I knew. He didn't like Xander, but he tolerated him when he was around. Since Jax and I shared an apartment, though, that was pretty often.

Despite everything, life was decent. It was peaceful enough for me. I was peaceful.

Until Luke Vaudest walked in.

I had no idea what he was trying to do. After giving me his daddy's money, I thought that was it. I wasn't even going to use it; I didn't want him to have anything from me, ever again.

The only instance that was a minor contradiction was that night at the party. We had been wasted, and willing to fuck anything. I'd been joking about the bloody nose he'd suffered from Kade, he'd gotten pissed, we traded insults, and next thing I knew, he had me under him. Then, on top of him, then in front of him, and in every other position I could think of, and shit the rumors were true.

The bitch had a big mouth, but I had to admit it. He had something else that was big and useful, as well. I couldn't lie, either; he was definitely the best I ever had in my bed, even now. But, it was just one night, and one mistake. 

I never even planned on bringing it up, again, but he did. Every time he saw me, he made sure to remind me of how bare I'd been that night to him, but I made sure to make my own trademark every single time, as well.

I fucked the little bitch so good, I had him moaning my name, and whimpering in my ear before the night was over, so I had nothing to be embarrassed about. It was just annoying that it had to be Luke Vaudest.

"Maggie."

I jerked around at my name. Lowen was there, his lips in a frown as he approached me. I definitely wasn't scared of him, but I was afraid of losing my job. And, by the evil shadow over his expression, I knew it was coming.

His crusty mustache fell as he yanked his hat off. An oiled hand scratched at his scalp before he nodded at me. "Go ahead, and clock out. Take the rest of the week off, too."

I froze in shock, my mouth falling. Do, what?

Immediately, Luke's smirk filled in my assumptions. It wasn't even a question to it. He had done this.

"F-for what?" I stammered, blinking at him. "A week? I can't afford that." I had my half of rent, insurance, and a million other shits to pay. I couldn't get behind.