All Chapters of His to Ruin: Breaking Chelsea : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

OVERLOOKED 2~CHELSEA POV~The kiss started gently. Hesitant. His lips were soft against mine, moving slowly like he was afraid I might break or disappear. One hand stayed on my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone, while the other found my hip, fingers curling into the fabric of my jacket.I kissed him back carefully at first, tasting the copper kick of blood from his split lip. But then something shifted. The gentleness gave way to something more desperate, more real. His hand slid from my hip to the small of my back, pulling me closer across the center console. I went willingly, my own hands finding his chest, feeling his heartbeat racing under my palms.The kiss deepened. His tongue traced my lower lip and I opened for him, the taste of him flooding my senses. He made a low sound in the back of his throat that went straight through me, heat pooling low in my stomach.My fingers moved from his chest to his hair, tangling in the dark copper strands. He groaned against my mouth, his ha

PRETENDING 2(Playlist: "touchin' me" Chandler Leighton)~DENVER POV~The disguise she had been wearing.....the confident, untouchable Crawford princess....shattered completely. Tears spilled down her cheeks, ruining her carefully applied makeup. Her breathing came in short, gasping sobs that sounded like they'd been trapped inside her for too long."I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean....""Val.....""I'm not a good person." The words tumbled out between sobs. "I'm exactly who you think I am. I'm shallow and manipulative and I use people because that's all I know how to do. My mother taught me that. Marry well, look pretty, never let them see you struggle. And I'm so tired, Denver. I'm so tired of pretending."She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the cold tile floor, knees pulled to her chest, face buried in her hands. Her shoulders shook with silent crying.I stood there for a long moment, torn between walking away and staying. Between protecting my frien

THE OFFER 2(Playlist: 'The other side" by Ruelle)~CHELSEA POV~I set an alarm for tomorrow and closed my eyes. Sleep came in fits and starts, interrupted by dreams of Kolt's smile and Chase's hospital room and Kade's hands on my face telling me I wasn't alone.When I woke up the next afternoon, my entire body protested. But I dragged myself out of bed, showered in lukewarm water because the hot water heater was broken again, and dressed in the nicest clothes I owned that weren't stained or torn.Black jeans. A simple gray sweater. The boots Kade had left in my locker that I'd sworn I wouldn't wear but couldn't afford to replace.Chase was on the couch when I came out, laptop balanced on his knees, looking slightly better than yesterday. "Where are you going?""Job interview."His eyes sharpened. "Where?""A club downtown. The Mirage." I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door. "It's nothing. Just checking it out.""Chelsea." His voice stopped me. "Be careful."I looked back at h

BLEACHERS AND BANDAGES{Playlist Suggestion: "Numb" by Linkin Park / "Way Down We Go" by KALEO}~KADE POV~The locker room quietness was louder than any scream I had ever heard.Usually, this place was a riot of noise....music blasting from portable speakers, the snap of towels, the crude roar of forty guys hyping themselves up for violence. But the second I walked in, the air was sucked out of the room.Conversations died mid-sentence. Eyes averted. The only sound was the squeak of my sneakers on the tile and the heavy thud of my duffel bag hitting the bench.I was the captain. Or at least, I used to be. Now, I was a ghost haunting my own team.Lucas Harper was two lockers down. He slammed his locker shut, the metal clang echoing like a gunshot. He didn't look at me. He just brushed past, his shoulder checking mine hard enough to make me stumble."Watch it," I muttered."Watch yourself, Kingston," Lucas shot back without turning around. "Try not to get us all suspended today."I grit

VELVET ROPES{Playlist Suggestion: "Glory and Gore" by Lorde}~CHELSEA POV~The Mirage didn't smell like a club.Venom smelled like stale beer, cheap disinfectant, and sense of desperation. The Mirage had the scent of old mahogany, imported cigars, and a vanilla cologne that probably cost more than my rent for the month.I stood at the top of the fancy stairs, fixing my black pants for the tenth time. Kolt had told me to wear something black, so I picked a nice blouse and dress pants... more like armor than something to impress. Down below, the VIP area had lots of soft seats and fancy glasses. It was quieter than the main floor, with soft music that made the ground shake a little. The lights were low and warm, meant to hide mistakes and make people feel good about themselves."Don't look so terrified," Antonio Castellano murmured, stepping up beside me. "They can smell fear. It makes them aggressive."I stiffened. "I'm not terrified. I'm observing.""Good. Then observe Table 4. Sena