Spring, Colt's Senior Year, Corri's Sophomore Year

I groaned as I stretched my arms over my head, feeling exhausted as well as thoroughly beaten by the day I'd had. After my shift at the junkyard, I spent the rest of the evening training at the gym. I was gearing up for my first big time fight and I was throwing everything into my workouts.

I had parked my truck on the street and was trudging up the driveway when I noticed the car parked in front of the garage. Even in the dark I could make out two people in the front seat with their arms around each other. Like a punch to the gut, I heard the undeniable sound of lips smacking and soft, breathy moans. 

Her moans.

My duffle bag fell from my fingertips as I raced to the driver's door and yanked it open with fury. "Get your fucking hands off of her!" I demanded, dragging his body away from hers and slamming him against the side of his own car.

"Jesus, Colt! It's me!" Jason howled as I slammed my fist into his gut. He doubled over from the pain and only then did I notice I still had one hand gripping his hair while the other hand was balled into a fist and ready to strike again.

I felt Corri's hands curling around my bicep and tugging hard. "Colt! What the hell did you do?"

I let my arms fall slack as I turned to face her. She shoved me in my chest and rushed to Jason's side. He was gasping for air with his hands on his knees when she slid her hand over his back and rubbed circles. "I'm fine," he grunted, raising his head to meet my gaze. 

I stood there motionless as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in  for a tight hug. Corri peered over his shoulder and glared at me...hard. I couldn't stand there and watch her kiss his boo boos. And I couldn't apologize and say I didn't realize it was him.

I knew. They had been going out on dates since November. It didn't seem very serious, but I still punched him in the eye for that kiss on her birthday. He confessed that he liked her...a lot. But he didn't want to fool himself because he knew she liked me more. I didn't feel that. Sure I would catch her watching me and I loved all the sweet little gestures that let me know how much she cared, but I could never reciprocate. I needed to keep my distance for Charlie's sake.

So when Jason suggested that him dating her would be better than her ending up with a guy like Beau, I had to agree. But every time I saw them together, it killed me. It started with him sitting at her table at lunch. Then there were the times I'd found them in the basement, snuggled up on the couch watching movies. I'd never seen him kiss her before tonight. 

It affected me worse than I thought it would.

I spun around on my heels and stomped into the house, not even pausing when Charlie told me to stop slamming doors. I was still fuming with that image seared into my brain. He had his hand on her neck and his mouth fused with hers. I hated it. I hated that I couldn't be with her like that. And she was so brazen to kiss him in the driveway when I could so easily discover them. 

Fuck!

I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, my hands squeezing the counter and my head hanging low. I wanted to punch him again. Or maybe even beat myself up for allowing Jason to get that close to my butterfly.

I tore my sweat soaked t-shirt over my head and reached into the shower to turn the cold water on. I was about to remove my shorts when the door flung open and Corri rushed in. She caught me off guard when she shoved me hard, nearly sending me flying into the shower as I stumbled back.

"Stay out of my life!"

I righted myself and snapped the water off before rushing off to catch up to Corri as she stepped inside her room. She tried to slam the door in my face, but I caught it with my foot and forced my way inside. 

"Get out," she demanded with her back to me.

I shut the door and fell back against it, struggling to keep my feelings in check. I had so much I wanted to say to her. I wanted to tell her she was mine and it killed me to see her making out with my best friend. But I couldn't dangle the possibility of being together in front of her when that wasn't an option. 

"We should talk."

"Just go," she whimpered and it broke my heart.

I sauntered up behind her, allowing my bare chest to press against her back. "I'm sorry," I murmured, dipping my head and letting my words softly caress her ear.

"I'm not the one that needs the apology, Colt. You can't just hit people when you get mad."

Corri spun around slowly and peered up at me with hazel eyes brimming with tears. Seeing that I had hurt her made me sick to my stomach. Seeing her lips still swollen from his kisses made me want to vomit. And the need to show her how much she affected me felt like someone was cutting off my oxygen supply. "I'm not sorry for punching him, butterfly. I can't see you kissing anyone else but…"

My jaw snapped shut like a trap, the words dying on the end of my tongue. BUT ME, I wanted to scream. I lifted my hands and cupped her jaw, holding her so carefully. My little butterfly was so delicate in my hands and I couldn't deal with the thought of someone else touching what was mine. Her eyes fluttered shut when I stroked my thumbs up and down her jawline with a feather light touch. I had so much I wanted to do, to say to her, but I did none of them. I simply stared down at her, brushed my lips across her forehead a few times and then released her.

"He asked me to prom," she announced indignantly as my hand gripped the doorknob.

I squeezed hard and tried not to crush the flimsy metal. I faced her once again with a scoff falling from my lips. "And what did you say?"

"I said yes." No hesitation. No concern for how it affected me. She proudly blurted it like she truly wanted to hurt me.

"What the fuck are you thinking?" I ground out through clenched teeth. Suddenly I found myself in front of her with my hands squeezing her shoulders. "Prom, Corri? Do you have any idea what guys expect on prom night?" My mind was whipping itself into a frenzy at the idea of Jason with his hands all over her body.

Her face contorted in anger as she twisted out of my grasp. "Of course I know. Everyone knows that, Colt."

"So you told him no, right? Said you'd go to the dance but...no to anything else?" I was keenly aware of how desperate I sounded, but hard pressed to care.

"He said he wasn't expecting anything… that I didn't have to, but…"

"But what?"

She shrugged and glanced out her window before turning to face me again. "Maybe I want to," she replied ominously, her eyes back on me, waiting for me, wanting me to explode in anger?

"If it happens, it happens," she whispered into the space between us.

I advanced on her, gripping her waist with both of my bruised hands. "What am I supposed to say to that?" I gasped. 

Corri raised her fists to my chest and pounded. "Tell me not to go! Ask me to be your date and I'll tell Jason no! Say something, dammit!"

I stood there and let her beat on my chest until she collapsed against me with her hands finding their way around my back. "I can't do it. I can't offer you something else when I have nothing to give," I sighed into the top of her head as I lowered us to sit on the edge of her bed.

I don't know how long I held her like that, with her fingers clinging to my skin, but when she gazed up at me, I wanted to risk it all. I didn't care about the boxing match I had coming up or the fact that I could lose my place to live. 

But I did care about letting Charlie down, so when I heard his footsteps coming down the hall, I wriggled out of Corri's arms and left her sitting there. "Save me a dance," I told her, forcing a smile as I opened the door.

She turned her back on me and all I could do was leave her there.

"Is Corri alright?" Charlie peered around me as I stepped out into the hallway. 

"Yeah," I nodded. "I just made her mad… like always."

Charlie furrowed his brow with concern, but when he tried to speak again, I stammered out an excuse about needing a shower and bolted for the bathroom.

…

The next three weeks were brutal. Corri kept spending less and less time at the gym. Whenever I asked Charlie where she was, he said she was with Jason or shopping for dresses with her friends. I had become nothing but a ball of anger, blazing hot and destroying anyone in my path. No one wanted to spar me in the ring. All I wanted was to tear someone apart. My mind wouldn't let me forget what she said.

"If it happens, it happens."

"It" being sex and with Jason because I wouldn't fight for her.

"Go home," Charlie ordered as I worked the small bag. "You've been staying late every night. Go home and get some rest."

I opened my mouth to argue, but it was pointless. I didn't want to be at home in case Corri was there all snuggled up to Jason. Once I had arrived at home and showered, I heard the front door. I wandered out of the bathroom and found Corri in her room.

"Found a dress?" 

Corri was struggling to hang a large white dress bag on a hook near the top of her closet door. "Yes I did. Just in time too, since the dance is only a few days away."

I approached her from behind, pulling the bag from her hands and leaning over her to hang it up. "Thanks," she muttered before turning to face me. This was the first time we had spoken since I had punched Jason in the driveway.

Her eyes drifted down my chest and landed where I held my towel in a knot at my hip. "I forgot my clothes upstairs." I offered the lame excuse.

Her eyes darted away, looking anywhere but my wet, bare chest. I was big at this point. My ribs didn't show anymore. My collarbone didn't stick out from being emaciated. My shoulders were broad and every part of me was muscled and ripped. I had spent the better part of the last year bulking up and getting strong enough to box in a real match.

And the bonus was the way Corri looked at my body. I didn't see that pity I saw the first night. I knew she found me attractive and a small part of me was over the moon with the way she reacted to me when I got too close. "Can I see it?" I asked, reaching up to pull on the zipper.

"No!" she squealed playfully, pushing me out of her room. I couldn't contain my smirk when her fingers lingered on my skin just a little bit longer than necessary. "Go and let me get changed. I'll make us some dinner."

"I'll order pizza," I blurted. "We can watch a movie or something."

I could see the wheels turning in her head. "I was planning on seeing Jason later…"

"Well he's not invited."

Corri shrugged and then reached for her phone on the bed. "I'll text him and let him know."

My heart leapt at the thought of her dissing Jason to spend the evening with me. We had fun eating pizza and settling in for a movie. I wanted to pull her close and hold her against me, but I was too much of a coward.

A few days later, the day of the prom, she popped her head out of her room and called for me. I strolled in and found her standing in front of her full length mirror. She had her back to me, fuck, her naked back and my heart clenched. 

"Come here," she demanded as she gazed at me in the reflection. Both of her hands held the front of the garment tightly against her breasts as she waited for me to come closer. "Can you zip me?"

There was a zipper? All my mind was comprehending was her bare shoulders and smooth back and the faintest trace of black lace undies curving around her hips. The bottom of the dress was full and went all the way to the floor. It was a gorgeous shade of purple and covered in little sparkly crystals that glimmered in the light of her room. I stepped forward, as close as that full skirt allowed me to and slowly lifted the zipper, the garment closing tightly around her body.

"No bra?" I sputtered, swearing I heard my voice crack like pre-teen.

Corri adjusted her breasts inside the bodice of her dress (really?) and acted like I wasn't still standing right behind her. "No bra. I couldn't find a strapless one that didn't show, so...gotta go without."

She spun around to face me and any other thought I had, had vanished. "Do I look okay?"

Corri gripped the lower part of her gown and swished it back and forth, causing a rustling sound under all that pouf. I spied a pair of flat dress shoes under the material and gave her a look. "What?" she laughed. "Why be in pain with heels when no one can see anyway?"

She had a good point. Heels or no heels, she looked amazing. My eyes kept drifting to her ample cleavage, knowing that Jason's eyes would be going there too. Fucker. 

"You look really pretty," I was finally able to utter when she turned back to face the mirror.

She blushed slightly as she swiped her lips with a quick layer of gloss. I stood behind her as she clipped on a pair of dangly jeweled earrings and removed a necklace from her jewelry box. "Can you help me with this too?"

I stepped in closer as she handed me a necklace and watched my reflection in the mirror as I inspected it. I recognized it immediately as the one I bought her for her 16th birthday. "You're wearing this?"

Corri nodded and smiled. "It's my favorite."

I couldn't contain the way my chest puffed with pride when she gazed up at me. I opened the small clasp carefully and held the glittering silver chain in front of her chest. I hooked in the back and watched as her fingers caressed the tiny colorful butterfly that dangled just above her cleavage. "See? It's perfect," she confirmed as she adjusted it slightly in the mirror.

"I should go get changed," I announced, hesitantly walking away from her.

"You're going?" she gasped. 

I nodded slowly, taking one more good look at my girl. I hated the thought of seeing her in another guy's arms tonight, but the thought of not being there if she needed me was worse.

…

"Wanna dance?" 

Corri peered up at me from where she sat. This was the first time Jason had left her side all night and I wasn't losing my chance to hold her. She took my hand and let me lead across the crowded dance floor, hooking her fingers around my bicep as we walked. I felt 10 feet tall. 

I couldn't help but notice the way the guys had stared at her all night. How could they not? Her blonde hair was swept up in a fancy hair do where the curly ends were pinned into a pile on top of her head. A few wavy strands flowed around her face and her neck looked graceful and bare, save the butterfly necklace she wore proudly. 

I spun her around once and then pulled her into my arms. She gasped in delight, probably relieved that I wasn't stepping on her toes. I had been practicing in my room all week, preparing for this moment and hoping it was perfect.

"You're such such a good dancer," she sighed as we swayed to Good Life by OneRepublic. 

I scoffed, knowing it wasn't true. We were barely moving, clinging to each other more than anything else. "I think you just found the right partner," I offered with a smirk.

"And what about your partner?"

I glanced over my shoulder to find Katrina scowling into her punch and hating that I didn't just come stag tonight. "Don't worry about her. She won't cause any problems."

Katrina had been hanging around since the night of Corri's party. I had explained that the kiss was only because of the dare and there was no chance of a repeat performance. But it didn't deter the girl as she continued to show up at my job and the gym and when I felt particularly shitty about Corri accepting Jason's invitation to the prom, I had agreed to bring Katrina in a moment of weakness. 

"She's just hoping we'll go to a cool party afterwards," I shrugged.

"Yeah I heard there's a few going on tonight," Corri retorted, causing me to take interest.

"So you're going to one of them? With Jason?"

"I think he just wants to go back to his house."

I could feel the unmistakable burn of jealousy racing up my back. He wanted to be alone with her and why wouldn't he?

"May I cut in?"

I tore my gaze away from Corri's pouty lips when Jason sidled up beside us. I glanced between them, feeling how she was already pulling away and I hated it. I gathered her close and buried my face in her neck, drinking in the smell of her skin and the way her body moulded against mine. "You don't have to do anything you don't feel comfortable with," I reminded gently as my lips skimmed over her flushed skin. "Just say no."

Corri laughed and it was music to my ears. "I'll be careful," she promised as Jason swept her out of my arms and the music changed. I stood there watching her, losing her, as she floated around the dancefloor in Jason Fucking Young's arms.

I stormed out of the banquet hall and onto the sidewalk, pacing with no purpose. I considered my options, beating his ass again or kidnapping Corri or even calling Charlie to rat her out for planning to lose her virginity in the most cliche way. But none of those things would stop her if she really wanted to have sex. 

I stalked toward the alley and leaned against the brick wall with flattened palms and my head hung in defeat. "You look like you need this more than I do."

I raised my head slowly and found Katrina in her ugly gold lamè dress, thrusting a quarter pint of Tito's vodka in my face. "I don't need that," I groaned, flipping around to sag against the wall.

"You tried, okay? But she's leaving with Jason. And you know what that means."

Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard and all I wanted was to drown her out. So when she held the bottle out to me again, I took it.

....

A/N: okay so this isn't where I wanted to end it but I needed to change POVs and it was running long. The next part will explain more behind Colt and Corri's issues. See you then!

Thanks to Alwyn_Knighton for always sending me the right books to read that help me become so inspired to write! Ride or die, girl ♥️