Chapter 1 Everything Fell Apart

NINA'S POV

"Yes! Fuck me harder!"

I had my whole day planned out. Graduation, after-party with my fiancé.

I never imagined I would walk in on my fiancé-the man I pledged my life to-deep inside another woman. On my graduation night.

I've heard stories about cheating men. About the pain they cause. I never imagined my Jason would do it to me.

And how creative he got with it.

My feet stay rooted to the ground, ears filling with the raucous moaning and grunting behind the bedroom door.

My chest tightens, bleeding into my ribcage. Black, dark and ugly. My fingers tremble on the doorknob.

Move, Nina.

I twist the knob and walk into my nightmare.

A red haired woman lies there, mouth hung open in raw pleasure while my fiancé thrusts into her.

I blink hazily, wishing that's the only thing happening. It's not. He's got another man on top of him, pounding into his...ass.

Oh god...

He's like a human sandwich, moaning into the woman's ear as his ass lifts to receive the man's deep thrusts.

The pungent smell of sex fills my nostrils. In the corner, someone hunches over a camera, red hair spilling over her shoulders.

My stomach sinks. She turns, and I break.

Harper. My best friend.

My head swells.

She bolts from her seat, the sudden movement breaking through the haze.

Jason looks up, and freezes, eyes wide.

"Nina..." the man behind him thrusts deeper, brutally unaware of my presence. Or maybe he knows and just doesn't care.

A gruff moan escapes him before he pulls free from the man. I shut my eyes.

I'm dreaming. It's a fucking joke.

"I can explain!" His voice cracks. "We-"

"We needed the money...it's for your wedding!" Harper squawks, clasping her hands in front of her.

I don't spare her a glance. My eyes stay on Jason, ears ringing.

The bastard is still hard.

"Harper's right." He scrambles for his clothes. "I got broke and -"

"Are you fucking serious?" Something bitter settles in my chest.

"Jason, time out. Keep your bitch in check and let's get back to it." The naked man pulls the wet sheets over his torso.

My fists clench. Those are my fucking sheets.

Jason hobbles into his jeans.

"Baby, if you would just listen to me -"

"This is why you skipped my graduation?" My voice shakes.

He shakes his head.

"Baby..."

I turn to Harper. The bitch is crying. She filmed my fiancé cheating and she's fucking crying?

Pathetic bitch.

"You're dead to me." I say, voice sharp.

"Both of you."

"Good riddance. Can we roll again? I'm flaccid." The naked man sighs. The redhead chuckles, and I feel myself crumbling, dying.

I whirl around, vision blurring.

"Nina...please wait!" Harper calls, but I'm stumbling downstairs and out the door.

The night air slaps my face, mocking me.

This is what I get for believing in love again. For trusting yet another friend.

I slam my car door shut, suffocating on the smell of leather and the taste of my tears.

Jason runs out the door. Harper follows. They wave and scream and Harper sobs, but I just step on the gas, drowning them out.

They did it for me? What a dumb fucking excuse.

I drive past dimly lit streets and bright restaurants. I let down the window. The wind caresses my face, slithering through my hair.

I brake at a red light. My knuckles go white against the steering, and I suck in a breath in between sobs.

The city lights smear through my tears, and for a second, I can't tell where the road ends and stop lights begin.

Why didn't he tell me he was broke? Why did he have to...

No. It's not about me. He always wanted to do it. I shut my eyes, wishing away the memory of his sweaty body and the wet thrusts.

I fail. The image sticks like a stubborn tumor.

I run a finger through my hair, cursing under my breath. My diploma sits in the passenger seat, forgotten.

My phone rings, jarring my thoughts . I glare at it.

Jason. The fucking audacity.

I don't answer it.

It rings again, and I grip the steering wheel, fighting the urge to toss the damn device out the window.

But it's not Jason this time. It's my mother.

If he called her, I swear to God...

"Hi mom!" I force a cheery voice.

"How's my baby girl?"

Knots form in my throat.

I'm not fine, mom. You were right. Love is a myth.

"Great! I'm just...driving home from campus."

"Okay good! I have great news!" She quips.

Other than the fact that you completely forgot about my graduation, what else?

"I'm getting married!"

Oh...I did not see that coming.

"Oh...I'm so happy for you..."

I'm not.

"I know! This will be perfect. We can be a family again."

No. We don't need extras to be a family.

Her voice drones on, but I'm not listening. I'm breaking. Every part of me.

Rain drums softly on the windshield, a sharp irony to the searing pain inside me.

"Listen...can I call you back?" I whisper.

"Are you okay, honey?"

The line goes dead and I just sit there, driving slowly while the world moves on fast.

She didn't deserve that, but I'm past caring. I can't be happy for her while my life burns to ash.

I step on the accelerator. The car lurches forward, then jerks to a stop.

Panic rises in my chest.

"No,no,no,no!" I slam my fist on the dashboard, willing the damn metal to start. Smoke curls from the bonnet in response.

A horn blares impatiently behind me, forcing my nerves to life.

This can't be happening...

Seven trips to the mechanic this month and she still does me like this?

I yank the door open and step into the light drizzle. The bonnet pops open. Smoke bursts into my face.

"Oh...god..." I cough, blinking blearily at the dark mess that is my engine.

That's just great. First I get cheated on on my graduation, now my fucking car breaks down in a storm.

I'm convinced the universe has singled me out for cruel ridicule when a car pulls up behind mine.

Black Range Rover, oozing of wealth and power.

The door opens, and a man steps out. Leather jacket on black jeans, hair falling into his face, steel grey eyes fixed on me.

My stomach flips. He looks like a textbook knight in shining armour. Maybe he is.

"Car trouble?" He smiles warmly, flashing immaculate teeth.

My throat clamps shut. I just stare. Guys like him don't stop to help girls like me.

He doesn't come any closer, but I smell his sickly sweet cologne.

I must look stupid, standing in the rain in a wet gown and ruined make-up, but he doesn't seem to care.

"Come with me. I'll take you to the next gas station and you can find someone to fix it."

Cautious bells ring in my head. He could be a kidnapper...or worse.

"I...I'm fine, thank you."

He sighs.

"Look, I'm soaking wet already. So are you. I can't leave you here in good faith. Get in. I'm not gonna hurt you."

His eyes rake over my body. I feel a wave of unease.

"I promise." He extends a hand. I should walk away. I should.

But I don't.

He's right. I'm soaking wet. I won't get any help just standing here like some bimbo.

Fuck.

"Okay."

My teeth chatter as I trail behind him.

He holds the door open. I cast one last glance across the street, hoping someone sees me before I disappear.

No one sees.

The warm leather kisses my ass.

The door slams shut, and just like that, I'm riding with a total stranger.

How dangerous. How exciting.