Chameleon Soul (Chequered Flag #1) by Mia Hoddell Read Free Book Online

always were unusually close.”
    “Come on, Teo. Don’t be a jackass,” Dustin said.
    How dare he come into my home, the one place I felt safe, and ruin that! He was invading my sanctuary.
    When Dustin placed a hand on Teo’s shoulder, Teo shook him off instantly. “Are you, or are you not together?”
    “Not!” Dustin cried at the same time I shouted, “Why the hell does it matter if I live with Dustin?”
    Both of them whirled on me.
    “Because it should have been me!”
    I gasped at Teo’s outburst, my hand flying to cover my mouth. I could only stare at Teo, my gaze not wavering from his almost black eyes as he matched my glare. His breathing was ragged, and the resentment began transforming into regret as if he’d finally realised what he had said.
    He lowered his gaze and refused to look at me. Tears started to burn the backs of my eyes.
    I knew he hated me.
    The minute ounce of hope that he still wanted me vanished at the expression of regret. It had been an automatic reaction for him seeing as we’d been together so long. He’d spoken without thinking, and then when it caught up with him he’d realised it wasn’t at all what he wanted.
    Dustin regarded me with sympathy. He opened his mouth to say something, but I beat him to it.
    “Just…g-get o-out,” I stuttered. “Please leave.”
    I hightailed it out of the kitchen to return to my room. Slamming the door behind me, I sank against the wood, my knees buckling so I slid to the floor.
    I was staring up at the ceiling trying to blink back the tears when Dustin’s voice came from the other side of the door.
    “Raine?”
    “Will you go, Dustin? Please…”
    “Raine, open the door.”
    “Get out of here!” I screamed, tuning the lock for good measure then shuffling over to my bed and throwing myself onto it. When I didn’t get a reply I assumed he’d listened to me.
    How was I meant to face Teo again after that?

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Teo
     
    “Get your stuff and I’ll meet you at the car in a minute,” Dustin snapped, throwing me his keys. I caught them easily, spinning the key ring around my finger, yet I didn’t make any move to leave.
    “God help me, Teo, if you’re not out of this flat within five seconds—”
    I held up my hands, cutting off his threat. Not that I thought there was anything he could do to me.
    Crossing the tiny space they shared—I was still having a hard time processing that—I hovered by the front door. Dustin stood outside Raine’s bedroom door and when I hesitated to see what he would say to her, he glared at me and pointed fiercely over my shoulder.
    With a huff, I headed down to the car and attempted to make sense of what I’d just seen. I hadn’t meant for those words to slip out; the anger in me had taken over. Nonetheless, I’d meant every word. It should have been me she moved in with. Though she wasn’t aware of it, I’d bought a fucking house for the two of us before she dumped me. It was meant to be a surprise.
    I heard footsteps, then saw Dustin striding towards me with angry steps, his fists balled at his side. He looked like he wanted to punch me, and if he had I probably wouldn’t have stopped him. The sadness on Raine’s face that had appeared at my words made me want to hit myself, even if it didn’t make sense.
    “What the hell was that?” he hissed.
    “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
    “No way, you’re explaining yourself first.”
    I threw him the keys. “It just slipped out, okay? That’s all.”
    “You still have feelings for her, don’t you?”
    “That’s none of your business. Speaking of which, how the fuck did it not cross your mind to tell me you’re living with her?”
    “Because I knew you’d react like this. Low blow, by the way. How could you even insinuate I’d date Raine? You know we’ve been friends for ten years. I was the one who introduced you!”
    I opened the car door and leaned on it. “I know, I’m