Used (Unlovable, #1) (Unlovable Series)
Read Used (Unlovable, #1) (Unlovable Series) Online
Authors: Lynetta Halat
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trade- mark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trade- marks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Copyright ©2014 by Lynetta Halat
Edited by Tracey Buckalew
Proofread by Lea Burns
Cover design by © Sommer Stein of Perfect Pair Creative Covers
Photography by © Toski Covey of Toski Covey Photography-Custom Design
All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above copyright owner of this book.
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition: January 2014
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
www.lynettahalat.com
Halat, Lynetta.
Used / Lynetta Halat. – 1
st
edition
ISBN-13:
9781310902192
ISBN-10:
1. Used—Fiction. 2. Fiction—Romance 3. Fiction—Contemporary Romance
A PERSONAL PLEA: PLEASE DON’T PIRATE OR SHARE MY VERY HARD WORK. UPLOADING A FILE TO A SITE OR EVEN FORWARDING A FILE TO A FRIEND IS THEFT.
Table of Contents
Dedication
For the flawed, the broken, the dreamers, the unique. And for those who don’t find us unlovable.
Used
Playlist
If you’re anything like me, you love music with your books. I hope you enjoy these beautiful songs that embody so much of this book. You can listen to the playlist on
Used on Spotify
for free.
Slut Like You – P!nk
Big Jet Plane – Angus & Julia Stone
Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend – Scotty McCreery
I Will Possess Your Heart – Death Cab for Cutie
Song For Zula – Phosphorescent
Kerosene – Miranda Lambert
Hang Me Up To Dry – Cold War Kids
Fastest Girl in Town – Miranda Lambert
Real Good Man – Tim McGraw
Angels – The xx
Come a Little Closer – Dierks Bentley
Gods & Monsters – Lana Del Rey
Use Somebody – Boyce Avenue
Body Electric – Lana Del Rey
Falling – The Civil Wars
Come Over – Kenny Chesney
Somewhere With You – Kenny Chesney
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Alive – P.O.D.
Gives You Hell – The All-American Rejects
If I Loved You – Delta Rae
Toxic-Live Acoustic – VersaEmerge
Lazy Eye – Silversun Pickups
I Don’t Want This Night to End – Luke Bryan
I Touch Myself – Divinyls
Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift
The Cowboy in Me – Tim McGraw
Comin’ Home – City and Colour
Jealous Again – The Black Crowes
Brick – Ben Folds Five
Only Prettier – Miranda Lambert
You and Tequila – Kenny Chesney, Grace Potter
Possession – Sarah McLachlan
Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
Down – Jason Walker
Try – P!nk
arms – Christina Perri
What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts
Prize Fighter – The Killers
Help I’m Alive – Metric
The Great Escape – P!nk
In the End – Linkin Park
Control – Puddle of Mudd
Fix You – Coldplay
Prologue
I
LOST MY
virginity on the floor of my sister’s bedroom. I was sixteen years old.
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t good. It wasn’t in the slightest bit romantic.
But what it was, was done. Finally done … and on my terms. For years, various so-called men had been trying to take it, the most treasured prize in a most dangerous game because of what I had deemed as a curse upon all of womanhood—possessing innate innocence. An innocence that many were determined to rip away and own for themselves.
Determined to be in control, I was more than happy to hand it over to someone I trusted—my best friend. After that, I knew he’d never be anything more, but at least he wasn’t taking it from me. At least I could tolerate to be around him, and at least he didn’t make my skin crawl. He understood what I needed, let me set our terms—friendship and sex. Nothing more, nothing less.
What I didn’t bargain for was what I felt when it was all said and done … absolutely nothing. In many ways, feeling nothing was more excruciating than feeling everything. Even worse, with all my calculating and planning, I failed to consider how my act of desperation and defiance would shape him.
Chapter One
Denver
“
S
HE’S, AT BEST
, a fuck buddy. However, I prefer the term ‘whore.’ Fuck buddy is far too nice a term for the likes of her,” a catty voice cracks from behind me.
I take a deep breath and look up at the ceiling, saying a little prayer that maybe the venomous voice isn’t referring to me. I thought I left all that behind in Anaconda. We’d been here for all of three days, so it’s highly probable they’re not talking about me, right? Looking back down, I continue pouring Jack in my Solo cup, surpassing the line that is recommended for liquor.
“Yeah, so apparently, she’s got some serious issues and doesn’t ‘do’ relationships. So, she puts out for her guy friends whose girls are too good to give it up. That’s her idea of a relationship.”
“Really? That’s kinda gross,” I hear the other girl mutter.
Sonofabitch!
I groan. Yep, they’re talking about me. I splash a little bit of Coke in my cup and stick my finger in to stir it around a little. Tears spring to my eyes, and I berate myself for still having feelings and giving a shit what people think about me. Years of dealing with this crap should have made me immune, but I really hoped college would be different. And how the hell do they even know about that shit? Strengthening my spine, I turn and give them a beguiling smile, which causes them both to blanch.
Yeah, bitches, you’ve no idea who you’re dealing with.
“Ladies,” I say with a quirked eyebrow. Removing my finger from the drink, I place it in my mouth and suck off the excess. With a pop, I release it. “I see my reputation precedes me. Well, let me just reassure you that I’m
very
good at what I do. When you won’t give it up for your guy, he’ll be looking me up, and I’ll be more than happy to take care of him. No questions. No strings. Just lots of meaningless … hot … sex.” I peer around them with a searching look. “Are they here? Your boyfriends?” I look back at them innocently. I almost snort at their mutual expressions of surprise and disdain. “Or,” I continue, “are the sticks up your asses enough so that you don’t need a man?” Both of their mouths drop on that line.
Yep, gets ‘em every time.
“Oh, no judgment here,” I vow. “I
totally
get not wanting to be tied down to any one Dick … or Tom … or Harry.”
I skirt around them and mutter, “Later,” as I search out the only friend I’d made—my roommate, Maggie. I sure as hell hope she hadn’t already heard the rumors and now wanted nothing more to do with me. Hopefully I could explain, and we could continue with our new friendship.