Veils of Rivalry Chapter 67

Blaise's POV

Two days pass. Cole sleeps in my bed, and then he leaves. What do I do with that? I’m not familiar with the rulebook. We’re back at college. I’m a zombie at the table in the cafeteria, picking at my food, but not eating. I’ve spent the last ten minutes rolling a piece of pasta around the plate.

Tiago winces when he looks at me. I haven’t slept more than an hour here and there. I look like shit.

Glancing behind him when Cole enters the cafeteria with his friends, Tiago communicates silently with Ronnie. An entire conversation passes between them before Ronnie grits his teeth and slides his chair closer. The metal frame scrapes on the floor, and the scent of his clean clothes invades my senses. He rests his arm on the back of my chair. I pause with my fork on the plate, looking at him questioningly, but it’s half-assed. I don’t have it in me to care anymore.

Ronnie glares at Tiago, who gestures widely with his hands. Leaning forward, Ronnie hisses, “I don’t want to get beaten the fuck up, okay. Why don’t you sacrifice yourself for the greater good?”

“Because,” Tiago says, looking past us as he leans across the table, “it’s more believable if it’s you.”

Ronnie looks confused. “Why?”

“I’m too close to Blaise. Best friends.”

“I am, too,” Ronnie argues.

“Are you his therapist? I have the seat and everything.”

Ronnie blinks, and Tiago sighs tiredly as though the world weighs on his shoulder. He pushes his chair back, rounds the table, and pulls me to my feet. “You’re paying for my medical bill if I end up in hospital.” That’s the only warning I get before he crushes his lips to mine, right there, in the cafeteria for everyone to see.

I’m too shocked to react. I stand frozen for all of two seconds, feeling confused as fuck, before Tiago is pulled off me like he’s a sack of potatoes. Cole shoves him with such force, he crashes into the nearest table, causing a group of girls to scream. Then he punches him square in the face, and blood sprays everywhere.

Cole breathes like a bull. I don’t remember ever seeing him quite this…provoked. Not even when he picked me up from Jackson’s. Ronnie and Luke fly from the table to help Tiago, but I stay rooted to the ground.

Cole stalks away, and my feet become unglued. I run after him and pull him to a stop in the hallway. “What was that? Why did you punch him?”

“Why do you think?” he asks, pacing on the spot.

“I don’t fucking know.” I’m sarcastic, but I think Cole is too angry to catch on because he glares at me like he wants to incinerate me on the spot. “Okay, fine. Tiago kissed me. It’s not like you care, right? You won’t let me kiss you.”

He sneers, resuming his pacing.

“I’ve tried. Numerous fucking times. I’m paranoid, right? Everything is fine. That’s what you say.” I motion between us. “This isn’t fine, Cole. You won’t let me touch you. You won’t talk to me.” I lower my voice as a student walks by. “I’m not paranoid, Cole.”

The air escapes his lungs as he leans back against the wall. He looks exhausted. His chest expands with a ragged inhale. He stares up at the ceiling, his hands in his pockets.

How do you get someone to talk who doesn’t want to talk?

Instead of trying, I run a hand down my face. I’m tired, too. We’re both fucking tired. “I’m done.”

As I walk away, shoulders hunched, he calls out, “Remember at the beach when you said you’ve done some things you regret?”

I draw to a halt, but don’t turn to face him—not now when my heart is racing.

His voice is closer now, caressing my nape. “What is it that you’ve done?”

The video of Cole fucking Mia after I drugged them flashes before my eyes. And the mask I found under his bed… I can’t tell him. He won’t understand. I’ll lose him for good. Haven’t I already lost him?

Wetting my lips, I reply, “I haven’t done anything for you to worry about.”

“Is that so?”

His whispered words crawl down my spine, and I shiver.

“I’ve told lies, Cole.” I slowly spin around. “We both have.”

Cole flicks his hard eyes between mine.

I round him, walking back toward the cafeteria. “I’m gonna check on my friend.”