The Humiliation
"No way, man. You’re lying," Miller’s voice echoed, followed by the distinct clink of plastic cups. "There’s no chance you actually pulled it off. Not with Tina Black."
"I told you, didn't I?" Chase replied. His tone was light, effortless, and laced with that arrogant laugh she used to mistake for charm. "When do I ever lose?"
"Dude, she’s literally invisible at Ravenstone," Jax piped up, laughing. "How did you even get her to look at you, let alone get her into bed? What did you do, write her a poem?"
A chorus of snickers erupted from the group.
"It didn't take much," Chase said smoothly. "A few nice compliments, a little bit of eye contact in the hallway, and she was practically begging for it. Girls like her? They’re desperate for a guy like me to pay attention to them. Easiest hundred bucks I ever made."
"Pay up, Miller!" Jax shouted, clapping his hands together. "Hand over the cash! I told you Cox wouldn't back down from a dare."
"Man, you are a menace," Miller grumbled, the sound of a crumpled bill changing hands. "She actually thought you liked her? That’s cold, Cox. She probably thought you were her high school sweethearts dream."
"Come on, look at her," Chase chuckled, a slow, dismissive sound that cut straight to the bone. "Did anyone actually think I’d take someone like her seriously? It was a bet, nothing more."
Tina’s chest went completely cold. The warmth of the last few weeks—the late-night texts, the shared smiles, the sudden, overwhelming feeling that Chase Cox actually cared—evaporated in a single heartbeat.
She stepped around the doorframe before her brain could convince her legs to stop.
The laughter died instantly. Jax froze mid-laugh, his eyes darting between Tina and Chase. Miller lowered his cup, an awkward look of guilt flashing across his face as he took a step back.
"Bro..." Jax muttered under his breath, nudging Chase’s shoulder. "Quiet down..."
Chase didn't flinch. He just leaned against the wall, a red solo cup resting lazily in his hand, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an unimpressed smirk.
"Careful, Black," Chase said, his voice maddeningly calm. "Eavesdropping isn't a good look on you."
Tina’s hands trembled at her sides, but she forced her chin up. "Was everything... was all of it just a bet?"
Miller cleared his throat nervously. "Hey, Cox, we’re gonna go grab another drink..."
"Yeah, catch you outside, man," Jax added quickly, both of them practically tripping over themselves to escape down the hall.
Once they were gone, Chase took a slow sip from his cup, looking her up and down without a shred of remorse.
"Don't look so tragic, Tina," Chase said, tilting his head. "Come on. Look at you, then look at me. Did you honestly think this was leading anywhere?"
"You used me," she whispered, her voice tight.
"You got what you wanted, didn't you?" He chuckled softly, brushing past her shoulder as if she were nothing more than a minor inconvenience in the hallway. "Don't take it so hard. It was just a game."
Tina didn't cry. She stood frozen as he walked away, promising herself that Chase Cox would never, ever get close enough to hurt her again.
