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I pulled bothfor my composure Stella’s behavior had beco worse

"All I asked, was for you to tell me the damn truth," I said tiredly It ell after one in theto Dane and Kennedy, I decided it was tiet some answers Whether or not she told me the truth was a different story, and I wasn’t sure what to believe I was caught between irl I was still very much in love with

What did that make me?

"I told you the truth," cried Stella "But you’d rather side with your friends, than with your girlfriend Do I mean that little to you?"

"Of course not," I replied "It’s just that it’s so unlike Jade to do anything like this"

Stella huffed, and her face twisted into an ugly scowl "Jade is jealous, Reid She hates that we’re together, she told me herself"

"What else did she say?" I asked

Stella looked away, and started shuffling on her feet "She said she’d do whatever it took to get you back, and getin hten involuntarily Firstly, Stella wouldn’t look at me when she relayed what Jade had supposedly said, and secondly, I knew Jade, and she’d never say so like that I’d have bet my life on it if need be

My brows creased, but before I could call Stella on it she flung herself atin my neck At first I had no idea what to do withboyfriend would do and reassure her I gingerly wrapped my arms around her, and held her until she calmed down, very aware that she had in all likelihood played me for a fool

I turned us around and walked her backwards to our bed She started kissing my neck, and when I eased her onto the , even thoughts, about being inti Jade somehow And I kneasn’t because it was Jade who had walked away from me Still, I had no desire to have sex with Stella, and that in itself should’ve been another warning – YOU DON’T BELONG WITH THIS GIRL – and yet I stayed Like a fucking pussy afraid of being alone, I stayed

"Stop," Imy hands around Stella’s wrists Her skin was pale next toit to Jade’s war one

"I want to have sex with you, Reid," whined Stella Gone was the distraught girlfriend froirl who kne to playI wasn’t ready to give yet "We’ve been together for almost two months, and you haven’t wanted to fuck me yet"

The way she said it madefla more, and I realized then that after Jade I would never be able to see sex as just that I wanted that connection, I craved it, and realizing that Stella couldn’t give it to me was like a slap to the face

I couldn’t do this with her any Stella to believe that I could love her I’d becoet over another despite knowing it would never work

"I can’t do this with you right now," I said "Please, just go to sleep"

Stella’s face was blank of e in her shallow eyes She wasn’t going to let this lie, but I was going to end things before she could rip me apart over it I just had to wait until ere back froled herself from me, and turned her back as she crawled under the covers I was too wound up to sleep, so I stood up, andthe door behindfrom the kitchen, and when I followed the sound I found Kennedy talking to our friend Grady He had a scowl etched onto his face, and Kennedy looked worried

"Everything okay?" I asked They both looked up at me, and if looks could kill, I’d be a pile of ash on the floor

"No," said Grady, "It’s not, but we’re dealing with it"

The way he said ‘we’re’ didn’t sit ith hed, and turned her head towards Grady "He’ll find out one way or another," she said "Might as well tell hiet going, but I’ll text you when I get back"