Never His Girl: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 2)

by Rachel Jonas

  “This kind of thing happen often?” I ask, recalling the situation from the other week, when Southside had to rush to her rescue.

  She smooths her hair, taking a deep breath to calm down. “Only since, well… you know.”

  Fuck. I do know.

  She means since ‘the porno with her sister’, as that little shit put it.

  I feel like the biggest fucking asshole right now, knowing this is my fault, so I’m glancing down at the bags in my hands.

  “Here, take this,” I say, handing over the game system that was supposed to be Joss’s to Scarlett.

  Next, I nod at the other kid.

  “What size shoe do you wear?”

  “Eleven,” he grumbles.

  I glance down at Sterling’s size thirteens in the bag. “Here, you’ll grow into these.”

  I hand off the gifts and know I’m kind of a walking contradiction right now—using presents to make up for shit I messed up. Like Vin does.

  Scarlett beams from ear-to-ear when she realizes what I’ve just given her, and the other kid’s smiling a little, too, now.

  “Holy crap! Thank you!” Scarlett screeches, coming in fast for a hug. I embrace her lightly, so I don’t smash the few bags I still have left.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  I scan the area after that, as discreetly as I can manage, but who the fuck am I kidding?

  “Your sister here with you?”

  I definitely just violated this whole ‘give her space’ thing by even asking, but damn. I’m over all the rules and gameplay at this point. I like her, want to be around her, but can’t even admit that shit for fear of scaring her off.

  “No, we’re here with Shane’s Aunt Carla,” Scarlett shares. “Blue’s visiting our brother.”

  That was about the last thing I expected her to say, but guess she’s on a quest of her own for answers.

  “Should I tell her you say hi?” Scarlett asks, flashing a coy grin right after. Basically, she knows as well as I do that I’m obsessed with her sister.

  “Sure. And if those kids mess with you again, Blue’s got my number. Call me and I’ll drop everything to come back up Shane.”

  He seems to appreciate that I didn’t leave him out of that.

  “Noted,” Scarlett pipes up. “Merry Christmas.”

  She walks off the next second, grinning when she peeks inside the bag with her new game system in it.

  I hear footsteps coming up from both sides, but don’t turn to face my brothers. Not while their gifts are still in sight, walking off toward the food court.

  “Was that Southside’s sister?” Dane asks, popping a cookie into his mouth.

  I nod. “Yep.”

  “What was that about?”

  “Nothing really,” is all I say.

  He shrugs and then they both glance down toward the bags in my hands. It only takes a second to notice I’m carrying far less than when they walked away a moment ago.

  “The fuck? You gave that kid our shit?” Sterling asks.

  I sigh and my only response is to dig into my pocket, pulling out my bank card.

  “I owe you shoes,” I say to him. “And… we might also need to head back into the game store.”

  “What the—”

  “Just go rebuy your shit so we can get out of here,” I say, cutting Dane off before he can ask too many questions. Before he can find out I have kind of a soft spot for Southside’s sister.

  I know what I did here today doesn’t even come close to making up for what she’s been through on account of me, but it was better than nothing.

  “Know what? I think I had a watch in that bag, too,” Dane jokes when we start walking.

  “Well, if you did, fuck you and that watch,” I shoot back.

  He shrugs, readjusting that stupid candy cane scarf. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  Chapter 28

  BLUE

  ‘For your safety, for Scar’s… I’m begging you to let this go, Blue. Please’

  Hunter’s words have been swimming around in my head since he spoke them hours ago. They’re the reason I called Uncle Dusty on my way home, asking him to watch Scar this coming weekend, instead of Jules. Simply because, by comparison, Uncle Dusty is way more capable of protecting Scar should something happen.

  Should someone come after her.

  I hate that I even have to worry about this, but crying about it won’t change things. The situation could definitely be worse, though, and that isn’t lost on me. Scar and I are together, and we’re fine.

  For now, anyway.

  As a loud laugh from the living room floats into my bedroom, I smile a little, grateful Scar has no clue how bad things really are. She deserves to just be a kid, not concerned with all the other B.S. that haunts our family like ghosts.

  “No!” Shane yells when Scar beats him in another round of whatever they’re playing, on a gaming system I couldn’t even dream of buying her.

  My first thought when she walked through the door carrying that huge box was that Ricky had slipped her some cash, before his Aunt Carla took her and Shane to the mall. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d done something like that. However, I quickly learned I assumed wrong. The one who brought that huge smile to my sister’s face was the last person I expected.

  West.

  I almost told her she couldn’t keep it. Not because it came from him, but because I don’t want her getting used to people giving her things so freely. Mostly, because I know for a fact that there aren’t many who do so as ‘freely’ as they pretend to, but I decided not to take this from her. She’s endured some pretty ugly shit. One gift won’t spoil her.

  Settling on the edge of my bed, needing a break from packing for the bus ride to the game tomorrow, I glance toward my phone. Despite nearly a week passing since West left his number, I haven’t called. Maybe it’s pride? Maybe it’s knowing that a phone call would further build the bridge between us? One I waver between being ready to mend, and also kind of uncertain about.

  Although, I’m positive that kiss on Monday told us both all we need to know.

  It dawns on me that I’m probably overthinking all of this, so I stop being wishy-washy and just grab the phone.

  It only rings twice, which is unexpected.

  “Shut the fuck up,” he whispers first, catching me off guard before a rushed “Hello?” touches my ears

  I hold back a smile. “Uh… not sure if I should say ‘hello’ or if I should just shut the fuck up.”

  West lets out a quiet laugh and I melt at the sound of it. It always gets to me when he’s softer like this, easy.

  “Yeah, sorry about that. Tried to quiet down Dane and Sterling before I picked up, but I guess my timing was off,” he explains, sounding sort of surprised to hear from me.

  Can’t blame the guy. I haven’t exactly been easy on him lately. Or maybe not ever, but that goes both ways.

  Scar lets out another noisy laugh and I’m reminded why I called.

  “Listen, thanks for what you did for Scar today.”

  “No problem. I don’t think those pieces of shit will bother her again, but if they do, I know my way to South Cypress High.”

  My brow tenses when his response isn’t quite what I was expecting. “I was talking about the game system. What were you talking about?”

  The silence on the other end lets me know he’s starting to wonder if he’s said too much. And it has me wondering if Scarlett didn’t say enough. Her story was that she ran into West and he just handed these things over to her and Shane. There was no mention of anything else going down.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I thought—”

  “Was someone messing with her at the mall?” I cut in.

  West hesitates again, but likely knows that when it comes to Scar, I won’t let up.

  “There was a group of them. Kids about her age. Guys and girls.”

  My breathing turns shallow as rage sets in. Sounds like the same group of ass
holes who chased her into the bathroom the other week.

  “They pretty much bailed when I walked up. Just took me getting in their faces, talking shit,” he explains.

  Hearing this, I imagine it, West coming to Scar’s rescue this evening.

  I’ve threatened to kick his ass on many occasions for even mentioning her name, but tonight I was grateful he’d been around when she needed him.

  “Sounds like I have two things to thank you for,” I say quietly, still trying to shed the anger from what I’ve just been told.

  “Not a problem.” He pauses, but I sense that he’s not finished. “Those kids the same ones from the other week?”

  I don’t talk about my homelife with most people, but he’s not exactly ‘most people’ at this point.

  “Yeah,” I confess. “They’ve been giving her a hard time lately.”

  “Since the video,” he adds.

  I don’t confirm or deny, because he already knows.

  “Shit.”

  “It’s not on you,” I remind him. “This was Parker’s doing.”

  I’m almost shocked by how easy that is for me to say, which is telling of how I’ve come to believe West’s story. Our talk the night he stayed over impacted me more than I realized, I guess, removing the lingering doubt that he hadn’t been the one behind leaking our footage.

  “Just wish I could undo it all,” he admits, but then another of those sexy, quiet laughs leaves him. “Well, maybe not all of it. The sex part was pretty damn good.”

  Not sure how he draws a smile out of me, feeling as low as I do right now, but he does.

  “Shut up.”

  “Just telling it like it is,” he adds.

  He isn’t wrong. Before we started down this road to forgiveness, my biggest battle was separating how he set my body on fire from how he broke my heart. Now, since things have been getting better, I haven’t been nearly as vigilant about keeping thoughts of him at bay. Shit, who can blame me? Boy’s touch has me sweating just thinking about it. And don’t even get me started on his—

  “We should hang out this weekend,” he suggests, cutting my lust-filled thought short. “The team usually hits a party the night before a big game.”

  Did I hear that right?

  Did West Golden just invite me to a party with him?

  From what I’ve come to know about his history, he’s only ever seen stag, never with a girl on his arm anywhere. Even when he and Parker were somewhat solid, he attended things alone.

  But, apparently, he doesn’t want that tomorrow.

  “You sure your brothers won’t mind sharing you for the night?” I ask, smiling as I fall back against my pillow, twirling the end of my ponytail around my finger.

  “There should be plenty of girls around. Pretty sure they won’t even notice they don’t have my full attention,” he answers, sounding amused.

  “Then, in that case, sure,” I finally answer. “Sounds fun.”

  Also sounds like I need to go raid Jules’s closet before I seal my suitcase.

  “I’ll make sure you have a good time,” he promises.

  I draw in a breath and accept that I’m much more excited about this than I’m letting on. It’s been a hard day. Hell, a hard few months. I could use some fun.

  “Will there be a honeymoon suite waiting for me when we get there?” I tease.

  “Hey, if you want to trade rooms, just say the word.” He laughs when he finishes speaking, but I don’t doubt for a minute he means that.

  I’ve come to learn that Joss wasn’t too far off with what she said about him. There is a side to him I missed—because it was buried in a shit-ton of anger and hatred—but it’s there and it runs deep. Granted, he’s still kind of an asshole by nature, but I’ve seen that he’s capable of dialing that back for the people he cares about.

  It isn’t until I think these words that I realize I consider myself to be one of those people. Whether that’s naïve or not, I suppose I’ll find out, but it feels real.

  So real.

  “See you in the morning?” he asks, as if he suddenly wants permission to stalk me at my locker, and then walk me to class.

  I laugh a bit before answering. “Like I can stop you.”

  He laughs, too, but I think he knows I’m only teasing.

  “Looking forward to it,” I add, hoping he knows all his effort to change my mind about him hasn’t been in vain. I’ve noticed.

  You wanted me to see you, KingMidas, and my eyes are wide open. Also, damn you for making me admit this, but… I’m open to wherever this is headed.

  Just don’t make me regret it this time.

  Chapter 29

  BLUE

  One thing’s for sure. No one can ever accuse West of not keeping his word.

  Good or bad. Right or wrong. He’ll do whatever he says he’ll do.

  Back when he vowed to make my life a living hell, he made good on that promise. More recently, he gave his word that he wouldn’t give up until I was convinced he’s worth giving a chance, and somehow, he’s made good on that one, too.

  He was at my locker waiting this morning, just like he has been nearly every morning since our falling out. He showed up to escort me to every single class after that, but he mostly gives me space otherwise. He watches from afar during lunch and gym, but even when I’m not looking, I feel him.

  He’s gotten under my skin in ways I thought it was impossible for him to do, considering our history, but it’s true. I think about him all the time, do everything in my power to seek him out in a crowd.

  Like now, as I wait to board the bus that’ll take us to the game. He, his brothers, and Joss are all missing in action. I’m not the only one who’s taken notice. Every few seconds, their coach scans the line again, looking nervous. I’m guessing their absence is the reason we have yet to board, so here I stand, shivering from head to toe.

  The forecast said it’d be thirty degrees today, but it feels more like it’s in the negatives if you ask me. Especially seeing as how I had practice before this, then rushed from the locker room, freshly showered with my hair in a wet French braid.

  To keep my mind off the fact that I’m freezing, I text Scar, making sure she made it to the diner okay. Jules agreed to drive her after school, and if I know Scar, she complained the whole way. About having to sit there, about having to wait for Uncle Dusty to finish up for the day. But not only does it give her time to get homework done, it gives me peace of mind.

  I hit send and then glance up from my phone, sensing eyes on me. Parker’s staring boldly, not the least bit uncomfortable she’s been caught. I half expect that snotty little smirk of hers to curve her lips, but instead there’s only a wicked glare. One filled with all the bitterness she deserves. It has to burn to have gone out of her way to bring me down, only to see I’ve weathered this storm just like all the others. The cherry on top?

  I got the guy, too.

  I smile a bit when I avert my eyes from her, breathing into the chilled air, somehow fighting the urge to jump the line and beat this salty bitch’s ass.

  Keep focused, Blue. Parker’s a nonfactor. She took her shot and you’re still standing. That’s a win.

  At least, that’s what I keep repeating to myself, so I don’t do something stupid. It’s working for now, but if she makes one false move, I can’t be held accountable for what happens next.

  A car speeds into the lot and every head turns. There’s no denying how my heart thunders when I realize who’s responsible for the disruption.

  My eyes are glued to West’s Chevelle like I assume everyone else’s are. Eventually, all three Golden boys step out, with Joss in tow. Each of the boys grabs a backpack and duffle bag from the trunk, but then they double back to their seats to retrieve snacks and lidded coffees, before heading this way. Of course, my eyes are on West, and within seconds his are on me, too.

  I smile a little and he flashes one back. I expect him and his crew to just head to the back of the line, but instead, all
four are coming this way.

  West approaches first, balancing a tray with two lidded cups nestled into it. And in the other hand, a small paper bag.

  “Nice of you to join us, boys,” the Coach says, sounding every bit as surly and frustrated as he looks.

  “Sorry we cut it so close,” West answers. “Stopped for a few things.”

  When he holds up the bag, it earns him an exasperated eye roll, which has West smiling as he settles beside me.

  “For you,” he says next, holding out the tray for me to grab one of the two drinks resting there. “I was torn between coffee and hot chocolate, but I figured hot chocolate was a safer bet.”

  I peer up at him and, damn it, I’m smiling again.

  “Hot chocolate was a good choice. Thanks.”

  He responds with a nod. “We had to go to a few different bakeries to find one that practices safe prep for people with nut allergies, but I think we found something you’ll like,” he added.

  Guess I know why they were almost late getting here. Because he went out of his way for me.

  “I told him to go with Cinnamon Streusel,” Joss chimes in. “The other options all sounded like something my grandmother would choose.”

  I glance toward her, laughing a little. “Thank you.”

  “Just couldn’t let me have my moment, could you?” West grumbles under his breath with a grin.

  Joss, realizing she’s stolen his thunder, leans playfully into his shoulder. “Wait, no! The idea was all his, the effort to find the bakery was all his. I swear, the only part I played was muffin selection,” she promises.

  My gaze goes to West again. “Well, even if you had a little help, I appreciate it.”

  His stare is almost too intense to look into, but I don’t let myself shy away from it. It isn’t lost on me how easy this feels with him. How our pieces seem to fit together when we let them, when we’re not hellbent on hurting one another.

  “All right, load up,” Coach instructs.

  We ease up to the door as the bus slowly fills, and once inside, I’m feeling a little torn. I mean, sure it feels like West and crew want me to sit with them, but I don’t want to make any assumptions. You know, and make a complete ass of myself? So, instead of looking like a loser, I drop down into the first available seat.