Hate So Good: A High School Bully Romance (The Hate Series Book 2)

  Hate So Good

  A High School Bully Romance

  Nina Lincoln

  Copyright © 2021 Nina Lincoln

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Cover design by: Rebecacovers

  Printed in the United States of America

  About Nina Lincoln

  Hi! I’m Nina. I love to read. Obsessively. No joke. Just ask my husband. I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Pursued a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology in the great NYC and settled in Phoenix.

  I’m an avid Elvis Presley fan, a Tudor history aficionado (or at least I like to think so), and a zombie/end of the world junkie, who happens to also be a sucker for a happy ending! Yes, I see the contradiction.

  On those rare occasions when I am not engrossed in a good book or writing my own, I can be found cuddled up to my furry companions (the dogs, not my husband) and relaxing with my best friend (my husband, not the dogs).

  ~Nina

  Follow Nina: Nina Lincoln

  IG: NinaLincolnAuthor

  Twitter: LincolnNina

  Website: http://www.NinaLincoln.com

  Amazon: Nina Lincoln

  For the broken boys and the beautiful girls and everything in between.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  About Nina Lincoln

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  Books by Nina Lincoln

  Hate So Sweet – Coming Soon!

  Chapter One

  I spent the weekend visiting my mom's grave, catching her up on the shit storm I’ve been surrounded in since I moved here a few months ago. As you can imagine, it was mostly me talking, and I guess I’m not much of a listener.

  The summer before my senior year of high school, my dad lost his fight with his constant need for control, killing my mom in a rage. The culmination of years of abuse dwindled to one horrific moment that can never be taken back.

  Now my dad’s in prison for life, or so I thought until I found out he’s fighting his conviction - not the best of news.

  With my parents out of commission, I was shipped off to my Aunt Maggie, my mom's twin sister. The two couldn’t be more different, and I’m still getting to know her because, as you can imagine, we didn’t visit much when Dad was around.

  Although she’s been nothing but good to me, taking me in, we spend little time together, still, I’ve grown fond of her no-nonsense personality. She works two jobs and refuses to accept payment from my trust, and I guess I don’t blame her, it’s probably akin to blood money in her mind.

  When I came here and started my final year of school, I thought grieving over the loss of my mom would be the extent of my issues. I mean, could it get any worse?

  Apparently yes, because bad-boy hottie Colton Theroux had it out for me the second my feet hit the ground at Northside High, and maybe before since he apparently knew I was coming before I arrived.

  The year so far has been rife with insults, physical violence, and machinations I wouldn’t ever have guessed possible in the devious minds of my fellow students turned enemies. And to top it off, I stupidly fell for the bad boy who played me from the start.

  Finding out he used and abused me because he was bored should have been enough, but even that didn’t compare to what I found out next. He was posing as my stalker and contributed to the terror I felt at the hands of a nameless, faceless fan who left me threatening notes, the worst of which was left in my bedroom and tipped me right over the edge.

  I got my revenge, though, on prom night no less, exposing his mom and dad’s sordid love affair for the whole of Southside and Northside students to see.

  Colt, who’s tortured me from the beginning because I don’t fit in because I come from privilege, has his own rich daddy, who, by the way, is married to two women.

  Yep, I went there, and I’d like to say I regret it, but I don’t. Colt asked for every dirty bit of his life to be revealed. I mean, all’s fair in love in war. Right?

  Prom should have been the last hurrah of my senior year, but instead of snuggling up to a date who actually liked me, I was carefully constructing an act of revenge, which, if nothing else, showed Colt I’m no shrinking violet.

  Anyway, that shit show happened on Saturday, and as I let myself out of the house Monday morning, setting the alarm I had installed when I thought a psychopath was stalking me, I wonder how today is going to go down.

  Frankly, Colt’s lucky I didn’t report his psychopathic nonsense to the police, but I’m no snitch, and Colt, if nothing else, has taught me the value of the big play. I made him pay, and still, all I feel is numb. There’s not a spark of guilt on this conscience.

  I’ve no idea how everyone reacted or if they even know they have me to thank for the shocking information. I turned my phone off Saturday night, and only as I park at school this morning do I fire it up.

  Dozens of pings come through, but I ignore them. I’m still unclear who helped Colt with his devious plans, and until I am, they’re all on my shit list. He had to have little helpers planting his cruel notes and leaving me the gifts that freaked me out. The question is, whom amongst his group of friends do I have to be wary around?

  Unfortunately, until I figure it out, I’m left with just Melissa, who grudgingly helped me orchestrate my revenge on Saturday night, but not without dire warnings of what I’m getting myself into if I proceed. I owe her a debt, she’s still considering how I can repay, but it’s worth it, though, even if it costs me my father’s millions.

  I’m on the fence about Teddy, who’s only ever been nice to me, but he’s so close to the group who’s been gunning for me since I came, and I’m unsure of his involvement. It sucks to wonder if the only friend you had was acting for the benefit of Colt and his evil plans, but by default, Teddy would be loyal to his sister, and Ramie most assuredly falls in camp Colt.

  Exiting the vehicle, I breathe in the crisp air and long for warmer weather. I’m a transplant from LA and still not used to the chill that permeates my bones at times.

  Shivering into my jacket, I head for the doors absently, still caught up in the loop that is Colton Theroux. So, it’s with nothing but surprise I stop up short when I spy none other than him standing with Hayden, both of them grinning like fools.

  As of Friday, Colt was a student at Northside high school. Why is he standing in Southside’s lot on a Monday morning ten minutes before school starts?

  I transferred out of Northside to escape my stalker, which couldn’t have come at a better time when I was brutally confronted by Colt’s betrayal as he sucked face with his ex-bitch, Sarah Fremont.

  So, what’s Colt doing here now?

  Although he’s grinning, pretending to be ligh
thearted, I can see the cracks beneath the veneer. His sensual mouth is tight around the edges, and his icy eyes crinkle at the corners.

  He’s so beautiful I can’t help but shiver, remembering every line and peak that makes up his form.

  Despite how it all ended, I still dream about how we came together. Whether sweet or rough, those were the times I never doubted his feelings for me, but I guess that was me being foolish. As it turns out, Colt’s the greatest actor of them all.

  His gaze searches over the lot as though he can sense my stare, and maybe he can - he has a knack for finding me wherever I go. Bracing for the impact, I wait for him to see me, knowing what his stunning eyes do to my insides.

  Colt’s beautiful with dark glossy hair brushing his shoulders and pale grey eyes that are striking in contrast. He’s tall, slim with a powerful physique complete with sleek muscles and strong arms to which my body liquefies in memory of our intimate moments together even as my heart clenches painfully at his betrayal.

  It’s that which he sees when his gaze meets mine, his eyes lighting up with unholy fire. If I thought his icy glares from before were terrifying, freezing me out as they were meant to, his heated glare now promises retribution, which sends an answering thrill down my spine.

  He’s angry, so very angry. I have to suck air into my frozen chest because even in his hostility, his beauty is like a jab to the solar plexus, and my body tingles everywhere, answering his primal call.

  Bewildered, I'm caught in his gaze until I pass, his answering smirk telling me I didn’t do much of a job convincing him I don’t care.

  Which is fine - he can see my desire, but he can never see my need for more. I’ll have to bury it deep and never let it see the light of day again.

  Pulling on the door, I glance his way to confirm he’s still got his pale eyes locked on me, and a rush of heat passes through me as I give him a tiny smirk, and his mouth pulls up in answer.

  With a thrill, I escape inside - this is going to be interesting.

  *****

  Since moving to Southside, my day to day has become a lot simpler. Hayden, Colt’s ex-best friend, or so I thought, took me under his wing, and the bullying I had been subjected to at North subsided. Although it made my days a lot more peaceful, it also left me with an itch I couldn’t scratch.

  Admittedly only to myself, I missed the constant thrill of being around Colt even when it was at the hands of his cruelty.

  Yes, I know this makes me sick in the head, but I can’t help it - even now, my blood sings in my veins, knowing he’s just outside those doors.

  Every interaction with him leaves me trembling with excitement and desire. He’s like a live wire, beautiful to look at but deadly to touch.

  Fending off Colt may be harder than I thought, considering the devastation that inspired me to bare his secrets to all and my response to the savage call he pinned me with just moments ago.

  I know I can’t avoid reality forever, and now that Colt has made his first shot, I’m firmly entrenched in another battle, so I bite the bullet and settle into my seat in my first class, opening my phone.

  Regardless of whether I trust anyone, I need intel, and these fuckers are the only ones who can give it to me.

  My phone immediately flashes with incoming texts, and one by one, I open them to read.

  Ramie: Holy shit! Did you see what someone posted on the wall?

  Dirk: You’re a bad, bad girl, was that you?

  George: I’m glad you got prom queen, you deserved it

  Teddy: I guess I missed a helluva show last night

  Unknown: If you think you can run, you’re dead wrong

  Okay, creepy. I’ve had my fair share of haters since I started at Northside last year. Those who hated me on principle, those who followed Colt’s lead, and those who were jealous of what Colt and I had. I’m not immune to the abuse, and after a time, I’ve become accustomed to it.

  Here at Southside, Hayden, the king as Colt is or was at Northside, made that vitriol disappear, allowing me to escape any rancor that could have followed me.

  And with some peace, if a good dose of boredom, I settled in and focused on making Colt believe I left him and walked straight into Hayden’s arms. This was all Hayden’s idea, and I went along after a drunken night of self-pity, which left me grossly hungover the following day.

  However, now that I’ve seen them hanging around outside, I wonder if I can include Hayden on the list of jerks who played me. Did they laugh together when he convinced me to kiss him? Or the times I attended parties on his arm all for the sake of riling Colt up?

  It’s painfully harsh to wonder if you can trust anyone who’s been around from the beginning. Am I really that gullible? Or are they that cunning?

  Truthfully, I’m unsure if Colt even cared about Hayden’s overtures and our fake dating. Although at times his responses could be construed as jealousy, he was still, by all accounts, back together with Sarah Bitch Fremont, who I firmly believe assisted in killing whatever humanity Colt was clinging to.

  My head is so spun out from their games, and I have no notion of what is the truth, if any of it.

  Scrolling through, I open a text from Teddy that’s just come across. Teddy is the only soul at North who hasn’t screwed me over. He’s a jolly fellow who’s quite observant, sharp, acerbic, and paralyzed from the waist down.

  There are times I’ve questioned his loyalty, but so far, his biggest flaw, in my opinion, is his defense of Colt with the indefensible. Even so, it’s a hallmark of his true friendship, and I can’t fault him for that.

  Since he’s also Ramie’s brother, this further muddies the waters in terms of trust, which is all a complete mindfuck, but in my darkest times, he was the only light, accepting me despite Colt’s decree I was public enemy number one.

  So, it’s with a good dose of caution that I maintain our friendship, even as I worry about his motivations. Nothing is ever as it seems here.

  Teddy: what the hell is going on? Word on the street is that Colt’s made an appearance at South? Are you there? Is it true?

  Finn: I can confirm the sighting is true

  Teddy: what! What the hell is going on now?

  Finn: no clue

  Finn: have you heard anything?

  Teddy: not beyond the fiasco at prom, wish I could’ve seen that

  Teddy: Was that you?

  Finn: how is everyone reacting?

  Teddy: so far, I think everyone is just trying to figure out what’s going on...you should see Sarah’s face

  The bell rings overhead, and students begin shuffling in, their voices loud in the formerly quiet space. With a small smile, I close my phone and glance around.

  Sarah’s been a thorn in my side since I learned of her existence. It's hard to regret anything that’s coming to her. She’s a snake, and she needs to be caged if you ask me.

  I wonder how she’s feeling after she showed up to school and found her supposed boyfriend missing. It sucks to be used, hmm?

  I can’t say I’m surprised when Colt strolls through the door with a lazy smile and proceeds to scare off the poor chick who typically sits beside me before casually taking her seat.

  Ignoring him, as best I can, even if his proximity lights a fire in me that sends tingles down my spine and straight to the good stuff, I wait until he speaks to turn my head.

  This is all a game for him, and how I play it is the only control I have, but I’m ready.

  “Finn,” he says nonchalantly.

  “Colt,” I greet him, noting the same heated stare from before.

  Resisting the urge to squirm in my seat, I crook a brow instead. “Fancy seeing you here. What’s the matter? Get tired of Sarah already?”

  “Indeed, I find my interests lie here after all,” he says with a smile, but it’s decidedly savage, and I suppress a shudder at the dreadful sight.

  “Too bad, since Sarah made all that effort to be with you,” I say dryly.

  He shrugs, and it’s
so...him to casually disregard how a girl feels about him.

  Frowning, I turn away, for this is a reminder to keep my shit together because for Colton Theroux, it’s easy come, easy go.

  “Your jealousy is showing,” he mocks.

  “Hardly,” I snort, “I was actually feeling sorry for her.”

  “Is that so? And why would you feel sorry for her when she’s done nothing but try to bring you down?”

  Shrugging, I glance his way, “Because Colt, mere mortals like us like to think we have meaning in other people’s eyes. I know this is a hard concept for you, but Sarah wanted you to want her. Unfortunately, you’re clearly incapable of feeling anything, except maybe hate.”

  Raising a brow, he leans forward with a wicked grin, which does nothing to temper the liquid heat in my veins and murmurs, silkily, “On the contrary, I’m feeling another emotion this very second.”

  “Oh?”

  Nodding, he casually grabs his dick and stares at me, “Indeed, Baby, I’m hard as a fucking rock, and I’d like to fuck you against this chair right now.”

  Swallowing to drum up some spit in my suddenly dry mouth, I cross my legs under my desk, cursing my traitorous body as everything south of my waist tingles.

  With a surge of annoyance and a good dose of snark, I say, “Case in point, hate fuck, hate…”

  He grins devilishly, his eyes tracing my form with heated intensity, as his mouth curls back in a cruel smirk, causing my chest to constrict painfully.

  “You’re like the tin man under all that hate, with no heart. Jokes on you, Colt, you’re standing in the shadows, and you don’t even know you're missing the light,” I mutter, catching the volatile expression crossing his face.

  Before he can respond, the teacher begins her lesson, and he’s forced to turn away while I stare into nothing, my heart thumping hard in my chest at the pained remembrance of one of the many lies Colt uttered in an attempt to keep his game going.