Chapter 7
Kelsey’s epelashes fluttered nervwadly.
“Nothing special,” she replied calmly. “The completed all my credits anyway, Graduating early and starting to look for joten sens like a good idea.
Jason stared at her in disbelief. “You’re looking for joha? Not going to college?
Kelsey avoided his gare.
“Yeah, I’m skipping college and going straight into the workforce ”
She was leaving for Lendon in two days.
Mthis
cal moment, she didn’t want to tell Jason about her departure and risk rating recessary drama. But the didn’t keep up this charade for the Juilliard nomination, so saying she was going to work seemed like the cleanest break
This way, Jason would have no reason to continue pretending
Jason was clearly stunned.
He had always assumed that with Kebey’s exceptional grades and talent, she would definitely stay and compete for
But she wasn’t planning to continue her education at all?
His momentary d
- Juilliard nomination,
distraction gave Kelsey the chance to try to pull away, but he quickly mapped back to reality and tightened his grip around her
“Where are you rushing off to? His voice carried a note of irritation. “I’m starting to feel like you’ve been avoiding me lately.”
Kelsey nurned her face away, refusing to meet his eyes.
“I haven’t been”
Jason’s frown despened.
In the past, whenever he’d hold Kelsey like this, her pale face would Dush bright red almost instantly,
But now, her expression remained unchanged. Even with their bodies pressed together, he could hear her heartbeat–steady, unaccelerated, unmoved by his proximity.
Awave of frustration surged through Jason without warning.
As if trying to prove something to himself, he gripped her chin and forced a kiss on her, his hand boldly sliding beneath her shirt.
I wanted to see her blush and tremble like she used to
He just v
Kelsey panicked completely
Hadn’t she just told h she wasn’t pursuing the pulliard nomination? What more did he want from ber?
“Jason!” She grabbed his wrist “Tm–I’m on my period! We can’t!”
His hand momentary paused.
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow, his voice already bunky with desire. “But I can’t help myself, Kels
Kelsey trembled. Before she could protest further, Jason’s gaze fited on her lips still glistening from his forceful kiss
His eyes darkened.
“You kous, your mouth is really pretty,” he murmured, sliding his fingers between her lips without warning.
12 13
Almost in Love with You Before That Cruel Summer Took Everything
Chapter 7
Your
ngue in an soft ton. I wonder what it would feel |
“STOP IT!”
Kelry finally screamed in outrage, being down hard on his fingers.
har“ Jasım yanked his hand hack man. When he looked up, he was shocked to see tears welling in Kelsey’s ejes.
Be from “Kelsey, what-
Kebey squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear another second.
Why?
Why, when she had explicitly said she wasn’t purwing Juilliard anymore…
Why wouldn’t Jason just leave her alone?
Was she really nothing more to him than a body in use whenever he wanted?
The humiliating tears threatened to spill over. Seeing her to this, Jason felt an unexpected jab in his chest. He tilted her chin op, forcing her to look at
him
“Kelsey, why are you crying-
His phone rang suddenly, cutting him off mid–sentence
Jason answered irritably to hear Bryce’s voice.
“Stan! Everyone’s here waiting for you! It’s my birthday, man–don’t ball on me
Jason suddenly remembered his comment.
I’ll be there,” he muttered.
He hung up and turned back to Kelsey.
“Come with me.”
This time, Jason didn’t give Kelsey a chance to refuse. He practically dragged her to Tyler’s lake house where the party was already in full swing.
but when they walked through the door, Hannah was there among the guests.
Derek leaned in to whisper to Jason
“Hannah just showed up saying she was invited. None of us wanted to kick her out, so
Jason didn’t comment, just pulled Kelsey down onto a couch beside him.
The party quickly spiraled into chaos.
An hour later, almost everyone was completely wasted, with only Kelsey and Hannah remaining sober.
Teeling increasingly uncomfortable and seeing that Jason was too drunk to pay attention to her, Kelsey decided to leave
But just as she reached the door, a cold voce stopped her.
“You heard everything at the cafe today, didn’t you, Kelsey?”
She turned to find Hannah standing behind her.
Kelsey sighed wearily.
50 Hannah had noticed her leaving the cafe earlier.
There was no point in lying. She mbled
Chapter 7
“I did, by coincidence”
The color drained from Hannah’s fare.
“You probably think Im despicable, manipulating Jason’s feelings like that?
She gave a bitter sale.
my father is a convicted felon. My mother tan away when I was five, after he nearly beat her to death. Eve fought tooth and rail for everything
have now.”
“So it doesn’t matter if you think I’m awful. I’m just trying to secure a better life for myself “
Kelsey studied Hannah for a long moment before quietly responding
“I don’t think you’re awful. And I’m not planning to tell Jason mything
She meant it.
This was between Hannah and Jason. She was leaving anyway, and had no desire to get further involved in their drama
sorry–ever since I was five, when my mom promised she was just going to the store‘ and neved
“Thank you,” Hannah said with a wean smile. “But I’m sorry–ever
came back. I haven’t been able to trust anyone.”
“So I can’t trust you either. I have to make sure you and Jason are finished for good.”
Kelsey frowned, about to ask what she heart, when Hannah suddenly smashed her glass against the wall and dragged a shand across her own cheek.
eam echoed through the house, Jason recognized the voice immediately.
A piercing scream
“Hannaht”
He burst through the door to find Hannah on the floor, clutching her bleeding face and sobbing as she pointed at Kelsey,
“Why would you do this to my
fate, Kelsey?
