Different sizes of pictures of that girl and Ryan hang on the eggshell walls. That’s the thing about pictures—they can paint illusions of happiness while there’s a shit show happening behind the scenes. The house looks like any traditional home with an upstairs that I didn’t bother lurking in. I go into the kitchen. It’s small with a white fridge and flat top stove. Repulsive-ass place. Then after I finish looking around, I head back to the recliner in the living room.

Several minutes later, I hear the key jingle in the lock before the front door opens, and feet pad against the pale wooden floors.

“Nova, you goddamn bitch. You better have my dinner ready. I had a horrible day, and I’m not in the mood to wait. For every minute I have to wait, you’ll get slapped.” He throws his keys on a wooden stand next to a bowl filled with fake fruit.

He has a bushy beard and freckles sprinkled across his tan face. He’s built like a bodybuilder. But he’s a good three inches shorter than me.

“She isn’t here, dipshit,” I say. His dark brown eyes snap to me and widen in surprise.

“Gunner Underwood. Why the fuck are you in my house? Where’s Nova?”

I push myself off the recliner and stomp up to him, and his chest brushes against mine. “She left you and won’t be coming back.”

“Get the fuck out. I’m calling the police.” He takes out his phone from his breast pocket.

“Go right ahead, call them. You can tell them how you use Nova as a punching bag.”

I fold my arms across my chest. I planned everything in my head before this motherfucker showed up. I’m going to beat him so bad no one will be able to recognize his face.

“You come here to steal Nova like you did Gia? You really take sloppy seconds to another level, don’t you?”

“I didn’t steal her from you.” I never wanted to beat someone’s ass as much as I want to now.

“You didn’t, huh? That’s why you showed up to the library all the time and sat with her. She left me to be with you.”

“She left because you beat and raped her.” I shove him, and he stumbles backward.

“You can’t rape someone who belongs to you. Gia was my property.” He grinds his molars as he shoves me, and I take a few steps back, balling my fists so hard my nails dig into my palms.