Free The Best Kind of Trouble by Courtney B. Jones

unpleasantly.  Nathan was the only man I’d been with, and I was still in love with him.
     
    And he stole your virginity, broke up with you and is upstairs with another girl right now, my mind told me.
     
    I nodded at Daniel before I could question myself.  He grinned, hopped up, and practically dragged me upstairs.
     
    “Hey, can I use the bathroom?” I asked just as he opened the door.
     
    “Sure,” he said, oblivious to my internal struggle, and pointed to a door down the hall.  “Just come in when you’re done.”
     
    Daniel disappeared into his room and I made my way down the hall.  It took me several seconds to process the sight in front of me when I opened the door.
     
    Blondie was bent over the sink, her skirt pushed up and Nathan—I swallowed hard—was pounding into her roughly, his fingers tangled in her short hair.  Bile rose in my throat and a pained whimper escaped my throat.
     
    Nathan froze, his blue eyes flashed to mine in the mirror.  I couldn’t even describe the look on his face. Horror, maybe. 
     
    I covered my mouth with my hand and turned around.  I looked up, tears blurring my vision to Daniel standing in the hallway.  His eyes took in the whole seen quickly.
     
    “I’ll take you home,” he said quietly.  I nodded gratefully as fat tears started to slide down my face.
     
    I didn’t look back.
     

Chapter 10
     
     
    But I've lost all control and I need you now. And I don't know how I can do without. I just need you now.
     
    ~Lady Antebellum
     
     
     
    By Friday night I was spitting mad. 
     
    It had taken some time for me to get there too. To work up this level of fury. 
     
    When I left the party, I was heartbroken.  I felt battered and bruised and I cried myself to sleep.  Sunday and Monday weren’t much better.
     
    But slowly, after replaying every conversation, every moment I’d spent with Nathan. 
     
    After rehashing the whole sordid scene in the bathroom, a small angry lump began to form in my chest.  As the week drew on, it turned into a raging ball of fire.
     
    That stupid selfish son of a bitch.
     
    He pursued me!  He was all sweet and slow and perfect.
     
    And then, as soon as I fucking slept with him, he broke up with me.
     
    Blathering on about being scared one minute and missing me the next.
     
    Acting like a damn caveman when he sees me with another guy.
     
    And then screwing the next available blonde bimbo as soon as he gets the chance.
     
    “Asshole,” I muttered.
     
    Katie was sitting next to me in the student union.  When she heard me, her head snapped up from her lap top where she was furiously trying to finish an assignment.
     
    “What? Where?” she craned her neck around, looking for the source of my ire.
     
    Fortunately for him, he wasn’t around.
     
    “Nowhere,” I said.  “I’m just thinking.”
     
    Katie sighed. “You still seemed really pissed.”
     
    I snorted.  “Of course I’m pissed!”  I turned my incredulous eyes on her.  “Don’t you think I should be?”
     
    “Or course,” Katie replied.  “But—”
     
    “But what! He’s…ugh.  I just can’t believe him!”
     
    “I know, I get it.  Trust me. But—” Katie paused and chewed on her lip for a moment.  “Drew says he’s a mess.  They almost lost last week because he’s been playing like shit, and—”
     
    “And what?  That’s not my fault.  And it sure as hell isn’t my problem. He broke up with me, remember? Because of football!”
     
    Katie furrowed her brow. “I know, but—”
     
    I threw my hands out. “But what, Katie? You’re my best friend, who’s side are you one?”
     
    “Yours, of course.  It’s just…” she sighed again before reluctantly continuing in a muted voice.  “You love him. And I think there might be more to the story.”
     
    My anger didn’t die, instead it sparked to life even as tears blurred my vision. I swallowed hard and clenched my fists. I couldn’t answer.  I didn’t