For fuck’s sake, was he ever going to shut his fucking mouth?
I angrily threw a tennis ball at him as it bobbed past me, socking him in the eye with it.
“Mind your own fucking business, asshole.”
He rubbed his tender eye and scowled at me.
“Damnit, Aurora. You are my business.”
“Like fuck. I haven’t been your business in a long fucking time. It was all a fucking act anyways, so stop acting so heartbroken by me,” I bit out, watching his hands splash water everywhere as he smacked them against the surface with frustration.
“It isn’t a fucking act and it never has been! I fucking loved you, Rory, and you won’t even hear me out as to what actually happened!”
Tyler stood by the pool silently, glancing between us with confusion, but Caden and Jensen paid close attention as we kept arguing.
Lukas was lucky I wasn’t completely crazy, or I’d have drowned him where he fucking stood.
I flung my hands in the air with annoyance, flicking water across the water’s surface.
“You don’t know what fucking love is, so don’t give me that shit. I’m not doing this with you, back the fuck off.”
“Why won’t you let me explain?” He shouted, but I was fucking done.
“Because, you can’t fix it, so why fucking bother? You have no idea what you did when you walked away from me that day. No fucking clue,” then I swam to the edge of the pool and pulled myself out, snatching a beer from Tyler on the way past.
I made sure to slam the door on my way inside, and I didn’t care if I looked like a spoiled fucking brat either.
I was only alone for ten minutes before Caden found me in the kitchen.
He kept his distance as he spoke gently, waiting for me to go to him if I wanted the comfort.
“Hey, you okay?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said bitterly, but he just shrugged.
“That’s fine, just wanted to check on you.”
“Well stop it!” I shouted, his eyes narrowing at my outburst.
I pushed myself off the bench and finished my beer as I chugged it down, glaring at him with frustration.
I knew I was alienating the one person who appeared to have my back at this point in my life, but I couldn’t stop myself even if I wanted to.
“Stop pretending to care about me! You don’t give a fuck about anyone but yourself, so…”
He moved faster than I expected as my back hit the wall and he got in my face, his hand wrapping around my throat before I could shove him back.
Panic surged through me as he became nose to nose with me and growled.
“You hardly fucking know me, so don’t you dare tell me who I give a fuck about. Why the fuck wouldn’t I want to check on you?”
“Don’t fucking touch me!” I growled back, desperately clawing at his hands, needing distance from him.
He was scaring me.
“Why? You like it,” he sneered, his words digging deep inside me until I couldn’t fucking breathe.
My eyes watered as I tried to block the memories out, but I refused to let tears fall.
“Holloway, let her go!” Jensen snapped as he walked into the room, but Caden glared at him over his shoulder without doing as he’d asked.
“Fuck off, Gilbert. This has nothing to fucking do with you.”
“Bro, she isn’t breathing.”
“That’s because my fucking hand’s around her throat,” he replied sarcastically, making Jensen glare daggers at him.
“Holloway!”
He snorted, letting go and shoving me hard in Jensen’s direction.
“Fucking have her then. You only wanna fuck her anyways.”
I tensed up as Jensen’s arms went around my middle to catch me as Caden stormed off, but he let go instantly as I yanked back from him, keeping his concerned gaze on me.
“Hey, breathe. I won’t touch you, okay? But you need to work with me to help you breathe properly. Look at me.”
I peered into his piercing blue eyes, and the look on his face told me to do as I was told. There was something about him that made me want to trust him in that moment, and I reached a hand out to him, needing the contact.
He hesitated before taking it, pulling me closer so he could hold my face gently in his hands.
“C’mon, it’s just you and me, babe. Take a breath in with me, okay?”
I struggled, but after a few attempts I choked on fresh air, earning a small smile from him.
“There you go. Better?”
I choked again as more cool air filled my lungs, closing my eyes and leaning my forehead on his shoulder for comfort.
I wasn’t going to lie, Caden managed to scare the fucking hell out of me.
“Caden…”
“Meet the real Caden Holloway. See why people are so surprised that he took you in so easily? He’s not a nice guy unless you’re me, his mother, Ty, or Lukas. What did you say to upset him like that?” He asked gently, his fingers stroking my back in a calming motion.
Shame burned inside me, but I shrugged.
“Nothing.”
“Sure you didn’t. You gonna come back out to the pool to hang out or…”
I took a step back, shaking my head.
“Nah, I might head out for the night and stay somewhere else. I don’t want to be here.”
Not with the asshole still roaming around.
He sighed but gave me a small smile as if we were sharing secrets.
I guess we were since Caden was such a private person.
“Word of advice? Holloway won’t get violent with you. Ever. He didn’t hurt you right now, he just scared you. It’s how he works, babe. He just wants you to think he’s capable of physically hurting you so you fall in line. I promise you’re safe to stay here.”
I hesitated before nodding, my anxiety calming a tiny amount.
“Okay. Thanks, Jense.”
He looked uncomfortable, but he shrugged.
“It’s okay. I’ll see you later, call me if you need me.”
I thanked him again before heading up to my room and shutting myself inside.
I curled up in bed and finally let the tears I’d been holding onto fall.
It was going to be a long fucking night.
I woke in the middle of the night, jumping when I noticed Caden leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a hard expression on his face.
It was only just visible in the moonlight, but I could tell he was frustrated.
I scrambled back against the headboard, hearing him finally speak in a low voice.
“Never tell me who I care for. You drove me fucking insane this afternoon when you said that shit. You pissed me the fuck off if I’m being honest with you.”
“Why didn’t you hurt me then?” I asked softly, making him snort as his expression hardened more.
“Hurt you? I wanted to do more than fucking hurt you, Aurora. I wanted to fuck some goddamn sense into you and make you fucking scream from under me until you didn’t even know your own fucking name anymore.”
A shiver ran through me at his tone, and when I didn’t say anything, he stalked towards the bed and ripped the covers back.
His eyes scanned my face as he growled, “Tell me right now if I’m not allowed to fucking touch you, Rory. You got two seconds.”