Winter: A High School Bully Romance (Sunset Beach High Book 2)

by McKayla Box

  I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze. “Tell me.”

  “Nope,” he says, looking over his shoulder. “Just have to wait and see.”

  “I could make you tell me.”

  “Fat chance.”

  I slide my hand down between his legs. “Really?”

  “Fuck,” he says.

  I rub my hand against his shorts. “Tell me.”

  He looks over his shoulder again. “That's not going to get me to tell you, but it will make me take you inside, throw you up against a wall, and tear your clothes off.”

  I move my hand back to his waist. “Fine.”

  “I didn't say to stop.”

  “I'm aware,” I say. “You want more, then tell me.”

  He laughs. “I'm not telling you.” He twists all the way around so I can see his entire beautiful face. “But I'll get more later.”

  He's not wrong.

  He revs the engine on the bike and we shoot out of the driveway. I press myself into his back, my stomach jumping up into my throat as we pick up speed. He barely slows for the stop sign, then guns it forward and we take off like a rocket ship.

  I resist the urge to scream and try to keep my eyes open as my hair flies in the wind.

  He aims us away from the beach and toward the canyons that line the east side of Sunset Beach, deep gorges and hills that cut through the land. We race up one hill and he guns it as we crest the top. I swear we catch air before we speed toward the bottom, my stomach once again doing it's best to try and leave my body. We climb another hill and this time I know we leave the ground for just a second before we land again and jet down the hill. He slows the bike and makes a right hand turn into the canyon. There's a chain blocking the access to a dirt road with a sign informing us that the road is closed. He maneuvers the bike around the end of the chain, through some short bushes, and onto the dirt road.

  “Is this illegal?” I ask.

  “Most definitely,” he says. “So don't tell anyone.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You'll see,” he says.

  I think about reaching between his legs again to see if I can get more out of him, but I don't want him to crash the bike, so I don't. Instead, I press my face to his back and try to keep the dust from the trail from getting into my eyes.

  We ride deep into the canyon, the walls high on both sides, and round a bend. I hang onto him and move my head off to the side to see what's in front of us.

  And all I see are people.

  “What the hell?” I say.

  Trevor laughs.

  The bottom of the canyon is filled with people and I immediately start recognizing faces around me from school. There are lots of motorcycles, a few cars, and lots and lots of people. I can't count, but if I have to guess, it looks like nearly a thousand. The sun is dipping low in the sky and much of the bottom of the canyon is lit by car headlights.

  Trevor brings the bike to a halt and cuts the engine.

  “What the hell is this?” I ask.

  He gets off, then lifts me off. It's such a condescending, chauvinistic thing to do, but I love the feel of his hands on my hips and how I feel weightless when he picks me up.

  He sets me down. “Friday Bike Fights.”

  “Friday what what?”

  He laughs and grabs my hand. “Come on. You'll see. And don't be pissed at the girls. I told them I wanted to surprise you.”

  “They knew about this and didn't tell me?” I ask.

  “Everyone knows about this,” he says. “It's been going on for years. People come down here and race through the bottom of the canyon. Winner take all.

  “What the hell does that mean? Like, gambling or something?”

  “Sort of,” he says. “Winner keeps the loser's ride.”

  “You're lying.”

  He laughs and squeezes my hand. “I'm so not.”

  “And everyone's just here to watch?” I ask.

  “Pretty much,” he says. “Unless you're racing.”

  “How many races are there? Is it all night?” I ask. “This is insane.”

  “Usually only like five,” he says. “Sort of like an undercard and then the main event. Like, a big one. Usually for expensive cars or bikes or whatever.”

  I look around. People are laughing and drinking and having a good time. It's not unlike the parties I've been to at the beach.

  Except it's in a canyon and people are going to race.

  No big deal.

  “Bitch!” Gina screams. “There you are!” She runs up and hugs me, spilling a little of whatever's in her cup on my arm. “Shit! Sorry!”

  I laugh. “It's fine.”

  Maddie comes up next to her. “Surprised?”

  “Uh, yeah.”

  Gina punches Trevor in the arm. “This dickhead made us promise not to tell you. Such a drama king.”

  “Shocking you kept your big fucking mouth shut,” he says, but he's smiling.

  Maddie holds up her red cup. “The free booze you supplied us with did it for me.”

  I look around. “Where's Bridget?”

  Maddie and Gina both frown.

  “Definitely not here,” Gina says. “I haven't seen her and she's not texting us back.”

  “Same old, same old,” Maddie says, shaking her head.

  I can't help but be disappointed. She promised me it wasn't going to be like this. It was fine if she was off with her new boyfriend somewhere else, but not responding to the texts wasn't cool.

  “First race!” someone shouts and a roar goes up from the crowd.

  Gina lets out a piercing scream and Maddie laughs.

  Trevor pulls me through the crowd, Gina and Maddie trailing behind us. We find Brett and Jake standing near what looks like a start line. They each slap hands with Trevor.

  Jake grins at the girls. “Ladies. Nice to see you. I look forward to hooking up with one of two later on. Or both. Your call.”

  “I'd rather get fucked by a raccoon,” Gina says, frowning. “But, hey. Thanks.”

  He laughs and looks at Maddie.

  “Oh, you fucking wish,” she says. “Not a chance.”

  Jake cackles. “We'll see. We'll see.”

  Two guys on small dirt bikes get up to the start line. They shake hands, then look at what's in front of them. It's a narrow strip of dirt road, just like the trail we came in on. The canyon walls close in on the trail, looming over the straightaway. There are cars parked all the way down the makeshift track with their lights on. The lighting isn't great, but I can just make out the end. It's about two hundred yards in the distance.

  “Down and back,” Trevor says. “First one back wins.”

  “And losers fucking walk home,” Jake says.

  Brett smiles. “Long fucking walk out of here if you lose.”

  A starter pistol fires and I jump. The dirt bikes roar and kick up clouds of dirt as they take off, the crowd roaring. They get smaller in the distance. More dust kicks up when they reach the end and head back in our direction. The engines get louder as they come back at us and so does the crowd. The guy on the left crosses the line in the dirt first as they whip past us. More roars go up from the crowd.

  I crane my neck to get a better look. They both come to a stop. The loser gets off and hands his keys to the guy that beat him. The winner offers his hand and after a second, they shake hands. The crowd roars again and the winner is surrounded by his friends. A few people come up to the loser who is staring at the ground, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else but there.

  “Don't worry,” Jake says. “Our boy's never had to walk and it ain't starting tonight.”

  I look at him, confused. “Our boy? Who?”

  No one says anything.

  Trevor raises an eyebrow and suddenly I get it.

  Trevor's racing.

  TWENTY SIX

  “You?” I say, then shake my head. “No. Don't.”

  He laughs. “It'll be fine. I've done it before.”

  �
��He's main event,” Jake says. “He can't bail now.”

  “Main event?” I say. I look at Brett. He gives me a quick nod. I look at Trevor. “Tell me you're kidding.”

  He leans down and kisses me. “Not kidding, Pres. Don't worry.”

  But I am worried. I saw how fast the bikes went. I see how narrow the racing space is. And I know Trevor doesn't like to lose.

  I squeeze his hand. “Please don't. I'm asking you not to.”

  “I'll be fine,” he says, looking at me. “I promise.”

  “Your boy can fucking race,” Jake says.

  “Great,” I say, my stomach now a tight ball of nerves.

  We watch the next three races and nothing happens that changes my mind. If anything, I'm more nervous now because at the end of the third race, both bikes flipped as they each tried to get to the line first. Both riders ended up being fine, but not after a few anxious minutes. All I can picture is Trevor flipping his bike and breaking his neck.

  “It'll be okay,” Maddie whispers in my ear after the crash. “Trevor's good. He'll be okay.”

  I nod, but I'm not feeling it.

  At all.

  Trevor, Brett, and Jake leave to go get his bike and I stand there with Gina and Maddie. The sun is gone completely now and the only lights in the canyon are the car headlights.

  “I feel sick to my stomach,” I say.

  Gina puts her arm around me. “He'll be fine. He's been racing for forever. Jake wasn't lying. He's never lost.”

  “First time for everything,” I mutter.

  “I'm surprised anyone would even race him at this point,” Maddie says. “Do we know who he's going up against?”

  Gina shakes her head and squeezes my shoulder. “Nope. But it won't matter. He's gonna win and he's gonna be fine and you'll be off banging at his place in just a little bit.”

  I force a laugh, but nothing feels funny at the moment.

  I see the guys coming back with the bike as the crowd parts to let them through. Trevor's expression is different now. He's staring straight ahead, his jaw locked. He's focused.

  It would be sexy as hell if I wasn't worried he is going to die.

  They push the bike to the start line and Brett is checking the tires when I hear a voice that sounds familiar.

  “Goddamn, Robinson,” the voice says. “I'm seriously surprised you showed. Thought for sure you'd puss out.”

  I follow the voice to the edge the crowd until I spot where it's coming from.

  My stomach knots again.

  The asshole from the beach.

  Kane Tressle.

  Trevor looks at him, but doesn't say anything.

  The two guys that were at the beach with Kane push a bike up next to Trevor's, it's red and white with fat tires and gleaming chrome pipes. It looks brand new. There's a small vanity plate attached to the back of the seat that reads “FCK OFF.”

  Kane walks over to the bike. “But you asked for this so it's going to give me a serious hard on to watch you bitch walk out of here tonight.”

  You asked for this.

  Trevor asked for the race.

  With Kane.

  And I know it's about me. Because Kane came up to me on the beach and because I told Brett and Jake and because they told Trevor. He'd had a plan all along to get back at him for threatening me and this was it.

  “Then I'll take your piece of shit bike home and sell it for parts,” he says, folding his arms across his chest. “And I'll send you a picture each time I send something away. Bit by bit.”

  If Trevor's listening, he's not showing it. He's just staring at him, not saying a word.

  “But before we get started, I thought we'd make it a little more interesting tonight,” Kane says, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.

  Until they stop on me.

  He smiles. “I knew you'd be here, sweetheart.” He tilts his head to the side, grinning at me. “Probably missed me.”

  A murmur rushes through the crowd and I can feel eyes on me.

  “Get on the fucking bike,” Trevor says. “Race or get the fuck out.”

  Kane laughs. “So impatient, Robinson. I'm getting there. Just saying hi to your girl. While she's still your girl.” He looks at me again. “Don't worry, sweetheart. When your boy loses his bike, I'll take you home.” He smiles. “I'll give you a ride.”

  Trevor lunges forward, but Brett's already in front of him, his arms wrapped around him, whispering in his ear. Trevor's eyes are locked on Kane, who just laughs. Brett waits a second, then slowly releases Trevor.

  Trevor doesn't move.

  “You up for something a little more interesting?” Kane asks.

  The crowd cheers behind him.

  “Tell me,” Trevor says through gritted teeth.

  Kane milks the crowd, waiting a few seconds. “I thought we could...double up.”

  “The fuck are you talking about?” Trevor says frowning.

  “Let's each take a passenger,” he says. “I'll take my girl.” He turns and looks at me. “And you take yours.”

  TWENTY SEVEN

  I can feel all of the eyes on me again.

  And I'm scared shitless.

  “Fuck that,” Gina whispers. “Fuck that shit.”

  “The fuck are you talking about,” Trevor says. “You know the rules. We race down and back. Winner takes all.”

  “Yeah, I know the fucking rules, Robinson,” Kane says. “But let's have some fun tonight. Unless you're too chicken shit.”

  Trevor glances at me.

  “Come on,” Kane says. “She looks like she's up for it.” He looks at me. “Aren't you, sweetheart?”

  Trevor shakes his head. “You know the deal. Race straight up or it's off.”

  Kane is still looking at me. “Sweetheart. It won't take long.” He smiles. “You should be used to that.”

  Part of the crowd snickers.

  He's a gigantic asshole. He's trying to make look Trevor bad and do the same thing to me. I don't know the rules of their racing, but he's an asshole who needs to be put in his place.

  I walk over to Trevor, my heart banging on the inside of my chest. “I'll do it.”

  “You don't have to,” Trevor says. “He's fucking around because he's an asshole.”

  “I know I don't,” I say. “But I will.”

  “Your girl has bigger balls than you do, Robinson,” Kane says. “Looks like she wants in. Good for you, honey.”

  Trevor ignores him, his eyes focused on me. “You sure? You don't have to. He can fuck off.”

  “I'm sure,” I tell him. I take a deep breath. “I trust you.”

  The corner of his mouth flickers into an almost-smile.

  He looks over me at Kane. “Alright. She's in. Which one of your boys is riding behind you?”

  The crowd laughs and Kane's smile dims for the first time since he called me out. The butterflies in my stomach feel like flying elephants.

  “No worries,” Kane says, doing his best to recover. “My girl's here and she's ready for this.” He looks to the crowd on his side. “You ready, babe?”

  The crowd shuffles a bit, then parts.

  It takes a moment for her to emerge.

  And then the flying elephants in my stomach feel more like razor blades.

  Because Bridget is standing there, looking at Kane.

  TWENTY EIGHT

  Trevor laughs, disbelieving. “What the fuck?”

  I ignore him and march past the bikes and Kane until I'm right in front of Bridget. “What the hell is going on?”

  “I didn't know,” Bridget whispers. “I swear I didn't know he was racing Trevor.”

  “Kane is your new guy?” I ask. “He's the one?”

  She hesitates, then nods. “Yeah.”

  I can't believe what I'm hearing from her. And I can't believe she's standing there.

  “Bridget,” I say. “Come on. He's a bad guy. Trevor told me.”

  Her mouth sets in a firm line. “And this is what I was afraid of. Tha
t you and everyone else would judge. This is exactly what I was afraid of.”

  “I'm not judging,” I say. “But did you listen to him? He's a massive asshole. He was a massive asshole to me on the beach. You know that.”

  “I don't know anything,” she says. “Except that you're doing exactly what I knew you'd do.” She shakes her head. “This is exactly why I didn't say anything. And if he wasn't racing Trevor, you still wouldn't know.”

  I took her by the elbow. “Well, I do know. Come on. Let's not do this.”

  “Ladies, we are ready,” Kane says. “Let's go.”

  Bridget swallows. “I'm riding with him. He's not who you think he is. And I don't care who you think he is. I'm riding.” She pushes past me and goes over to him. He grins and puts his arm around her, smiling first at her, then at me.

  I walk slowly back to Trevor.

  “The fuck is going on?” Trevor asks.

  “I have no idea,” I say, shaking my head. “I have no clue.” I look at Maddie and Gina. They both are wide-eyed. “We didn't know she was with him.”

  “She's really with him?” he asks, looking over my shoulder. “Bridget is with Kane?”

  “Apparently so,” I tell him. “I...I literally have no idea what's going on.”

  “Hey, asshole,” Kane yells. “Are we doing this or what?”

  I turn around. Bridget is already on the back of his bike. She won't look in our direction.

  Trevor looks at me.

  I take a deep breath. “We're doing this.”

  TWENTY NINE

  “Just hang on to me,” Trevor says over his shoulder. “Especially when we get down there. Don't let go and lean in whatever direction the bike goes.”

  I swallow and nod.

  The bike rumbles beneath us. Sweat trickles down my neck. I purposely make sure I'm looking away from Kane and Bridget.

  But I can't stop thinking about them.

  He was the guy she hooked up with? And he was the guy she was ditching us for?

  It doesn't make any sense.

  Trevor revs the engine.

  “Riders ready?” a voice yells.

  Trevor revs the engine again.

  I hear Kane's motorcycle rev.

  I press myself into Trevor and lock my hands around the middle of his body.