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Sto, I took a step away from Gamble "So what did I do to Caroline, then?"

He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe I even had to ask "The fact that you had to hide what you had with her and didn’t even have the balls to letI need to know She’s just not that important to you"

"That’s complete bullshit She--"

"She wouldn’t have become your dirty little secret if you’d been open about it fro That’s all she was to him too That first prick who knocked her up She was just his trailer-park-trash dirty little secret And you’re ain If she’d one behind s You would’ve fought to be with her openly instead of sneaking around like a fucking coward"

"Jesus, ht of me, then ere you ever my friend?"

"Because I’m not a woers, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want you to becoirl who’s i to learn what soht of ood way I didn’t knohat to say to him Not even one of my stupid, smart-ass comments came to mind It felt as if he’d just handed me my ass and nowith Caroline I didn’t deserve her I’d never treat her right, and if I really cared about her, I’d stay away

But the very idea made me want to puke

Not sure what to even do, I just turned away and walked off in a strange daze

Fear crowdedestion It was hard to even function I was so scared

Last week, I’d been hurt Every tiirl in soony had wracked me until I was dizzy with it So I’d stayed away to protect et over my own pity party

I’d spent a lot of tinancy fears, and I’d begun to calrew uncertain because I wasn’t sure how to approach hi exactly what I’d pro hi assince I’d seen him, talked to hi him to my bedroom and have my wicked ith him But then the nerves had instantly knotted in my stomach because I didn’t even knoas supposed to face him after I’d left hihim had seemed like the only option until he’d forced my hand, until he’d made me look into his eyes and face the truth He’d missedspiraled out of control I hadn’t been able to let him think I didn’t care Noel hadn’t been able to stay away, and he’d tried to keep us apart And Oren hadn’t been able to step back and beeverything explode

When he’d chased after Noel and then didn’t return to the backyard when Noel did, I knew they’d had more words

"Gamble," Pick started, but Noel held up a hand "Why don’t all you backstabbing et out of my yard? The party’s over"

"Does he mean us too?" Colton asked Aspen

"No" Noel pointed to theuysinside"

Aspen was pale as she ushered Brandt and Colton away I grabbed my brother’s arm "Noel"

He wouldn’t even look at me He shoved his palm in my face "I don’t want to talk about it"

"Well, too bad" I tightened o away just because you want it to"

He glanced at"Caroline"

But I didn’t heed his warning "I did this," I said "I started it I came on to him multiple times before I had to resort to trickery and sneak into his roo, he turned his face away "I don’t want to hear this"