Page 129 of Unexpected Prejudice

“Yeah, we all partied at the twins’ place, and I was drunk. You know how I am when I drink.”

As he continued to talk, my sole focus was on the twins. After knowing what they had done and promising me they’d pay, Shay-Lee had still hung out with them? I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe any of this.

“You know, if you want to ask Shay-Lee about it, you can talk to him,” he suddenly said.

“I’m sorry?”

“You seemed upset I mentioned him, so why not talk with the dude? He’s with the twins right now. The whole team skipped school to party. I would’ve told you, but Don and Lin pretty much hate you, man.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Ty nodded. “One hundred percent.” He reached for his pocket, pulled out his phone, and showed me the screen. Don had taken a selfie, with a few of the guys behind, one of whom was Shay-Lee.

Grabbing my bag from the floor, I stepped toward him and tapped his shoulder. “Thanks for telling me, Ty. I appreciate it.”

“Wait, you’re not going there, are you? A-and are you sure you don’t want to go out?” he asked as I continued to walk.

I didn’t bother to answer him. My mind was too busy thinking about Shay-Lee and the knife he had stabbed me in the back with.

The party was in full swing when I arrived. Girls in tiny bikinis ran around while guys chased them into the heated pool. Loud music was playing through the house as my drunk classmates danced and partied.

Pushing through the wasted crowd, I entered the main house and looked around. The glances I got from people I used to call my friends made it more than clear that I wasn’t welcome, but I didn’t give a shit. They could burn in hell for all I cared. All but him.

Shay-Lee.

I needed to find him so I could hear what he had to say in his defense and to listen to what lies he’d come up with.

While some of my old team members were partying in the living room, Shay-Lee wasn’t there, so I stepped outside and found him sitting on the patio by the pool, surrounded by Lin, Kamper, and the rest of his groupies, looking like the king he was with not even a trace of the guy who promised to keep me safe.

Remembering that day in my motel room where he held me as I cried and whispered empty promises in my ear made me feel like such a fool. Knowing I believed his lies so easily filled my body with rage, not only for him but for myself for being so dense and blind. Or maybe I had chosen to ignore them because I wanted him too badly. He was just like my father, who fooled me for years until it all came crashing and left me with nothing.

“How could you?” I shouted as I pushed my way into their tight circle, stopping once I was before him. Unfazed by my aggression, Shay-Lee looked up at me with a bored expression.

Lin attempted to stand, but Shay-Lee signaled him to stay put while getting up.

“What are you doing here, Keller?” The blue eyes I admired looked at me like I was a stranger.

My brows drew close. “What am I doing here? What are you doing here? With them?”

A cold smile spread on his face. “I’m here with my friends, Keller. You should know that.”

My heart beat fast, and my lungs felt like they were burning. I was furious but also confused. So fucking confused. I expected to see some regret in his eyes, which would help me understand where he’d been for a week and why he told Ty he might have a chance with me. I hoped to see the truth, but all I saw was a cold, scary stranger who didn’t care for me.

“The fuck is he doing here?” Don barked as he joined us with a drunk girl pressed to his chest. The idea of him being next to a girl, or anyone, freaked me out, and I snapped.

“Stay away from him,” I shouted at the girl I didn’t even know. “Just stay the fuck away from him.”

“Calm down, Keller,” Shay-Lee said, putting his arm on my chest and forcing me to step back. “And go home.”

“They’re fucking rapists,” I screamed, pointing toward Don and Lin.

“The hell did you just say?” Don snapped, letting go of the girl and coming at me. The only reason he stopped was Shay-Lee, who stood between us.

“I said you’re a rapist. You raped Laura Mayers. She killed herself because of you, and yet, you’re still here, partying like nothing ever happened. Like you weren’t the one to put that bullet in her head.”

“Shut your fucking mouth, Keller.” His ugly face twisted with rage as he spat out his words. “We’re no longer friends, so that’s how you try to crawl back to the top? By spreading lies? Just get your homo ass out of my fucking house, you faggot.”

My eyes widened with shock right before I clenched my fists. “The fuck you just say?”