by M. A. Foster
As if he can feel the heat of my stare, Zach turns his head in our direction and jerks to a stop. He mumbles something to Chelsea and she immediately slides off his back, dropping to the ground, before they both make their way over to us.
Well, this is gonna be awkward.
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Jay,” Mom says at the same time Cole leans into my ear and reassures me that “They’re just friends.”
“I thought you were dating Zach?” Liam asks, confused. “Did something happen between the two of you, or is this as bad as it looks?”
Always so protective.
“Ohmigod, will you guys relax. It’s fine.” There’s something about Zach and Chelsea’s friendship that makes me uncomfortable, but I can’t pinpoint it. Maybe it’s because they had sex. Zach swears they’re just friends and I believe him. Zach isn’t the cheating type. But there’s something else that just doesn’t feel right.
I push my jealousy aside because technically Zach isn’t doing anything wrong. It could easily have been Lucas and me doing the same thing.
“Liam, be nice,” Mom warns. “Zach’s very good to her.”
Zach reaches for me, careful of my cast, and pulls me to his chest. “Hey, babe.” He kisses me on the forehead.
“Hey, man.” Liam jerks his chin to Chelsea. “You steppin’ out on my niece?”
Zach frowns.
“Liam,” Mom chastises. “What did I just say?”
“You told me to be nice. I’m just asking a question.”
“This is my friend Chelsea.” He gestures to her. “Chelsea, this is Jay, her mom, Emerson, and her Uncle Liam. You know Cole, and this is Harper.”
Chelsea nods at everyone before her eyes come back to me. An expression quickly crosses her face before I can read it, but it wasn’t a friendly one. She hates me. A fake smile spreads across her face like a Cheshire cat as she says, “It’s nice to finally meet you, Jay. I’ve heard so much about you.” Her last words are more of a warning than a compliment.
But she doesn’t scare me. “Good to meet you, Chelsea,” I sneer, not bothering with my perfected fake smile.
Cam walks up with his arm around my dance instructor, Juliette. Cam and Juliette? Random. “Hey, man,” Cam says, reaching out to give Liam the one-arm pat on the back. As if he hadn’t just seen him earlier today. “You remember Juliette?”
“Of course, I do.” Liam smiles and leans over to hug her.
“She’s also my dance instructor,” I add, waving to Juliette.
“Ah.” Liam smirks. “So, you’re the one responsible for all that ‘twerking’ my mother shamelessly demonstrated for the family today.”
We all laugh.
Liam pulls out his phone and types out a text before he shoves it back in his front pocket and says, “Well, if we’re not gonna see a movie, then I’ve got somewhere to be.”
Mom waves him off. “Go. I’m too tired to sit through a movie.” She reaches inside her purse, digging for her keys, and I wonder how long it’ll take before she realizes that we rode together in my car.
“We’re gonna take off,” Cam says. “Zach, you coming?”
“Nah. I’m staying with Jay.”
Liam leans over and drops a kiss on Mom’s head and then mine. “I’m gonna catch a ride with Cam. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“I better get back to my parents. It was nice meeting you, Jay. I’ll see you around,” Chelsea says, but what she means is “I hate your fucking guts, Jay, so watch your back.”
“Looking forward to it,” I reply, but what I mean is “Bring it on, bitch.”
“Baby, you’re so freaking cute when you’re jealous,” Zach singsongs and my mom laughs. “You know you have nothing to worry about, right?”
“I trust you, Z. It’s her I don’t trust. You guys looked like you were on a date, all of you coupled up.”
He chuckles. “I came with Cam and Juliette. We ran into Chelsea, her parents and mine on the way out. I called you earlier to see if you wanted to come with us, but your phone kept going straight to voicemail. I thought about stopping by, but I didn’t want to interrupt your time with your family.”
“Sorry.” I pull out my phone. “Willow was playing with my phone earlier.”
“So, you’ve changed your mind about seeing a movie, then? Bad Santa was pretty funny.”
“Nah. I’ll pass. Besides, Cole won’t share his popcorn with me.”
Harper laughs and Cole rolls his eyes.
“I didn’t know Cam was dating Juliette,” I say to Zach.
“He’s not.”
“I’m ready to go home, throw on some comfy pants, and read a book,” Mom says as we head back in the direction of the parking garage. She’s still searching for her keys.
“Em.” Harper laughs. “You can stop looking for your keys now. We came in Jay’s car.”
“GOOD AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN,” two young sales assistants, dressed in all black, greet us at the front of the store. “What brings you in today?”
“I’m looking for the workout stuff,” I speak up first. I’d already bought Jay a Fitbit, but she could always use more yoga pants. And the sports bras are just an added bonus for me.
“Our sportswear is in the far left corner. If you need anything, my name is Cassandra.” She smiles and turns to Cole, Evan, and Brad. “Now what can I help you gentlemen with?”
“I’m going with him,” Evan says, following me. “I think Lexi would prefer yoga pants over a sexy nightie.”
“Really?”
“I said Lexi, not me.”
I chuckle as a female voice says from behind us, “Can I help you guys find something?” I look over my shoulder to decline her offer and see her checking out my ass. I clear my throat and her eyes slowly move up to my face as she bites down on her bottom lip. The fuck? I look over at Evan and, by the expression on his face, he noticed.
“I think we’re okay,” I reply.
“You’re Zach, right? From Heritage Bay Academy. You know my friend Lindsay Miller.”
Lindsay has a lot of friends. “Oh, yeah. Tell her I said hi.” I lift a pair of yoga pants from the rack and hold them out to inspect them.
“Those look too big for her,” Evan says. “They look too big for Lexi and she’s got an ass.”
“Shut up.” I laugh. “Jay’s ass is perfect.”
“For you.” He chuckles.
“Those run bigger,” she states, reaching around me to grab another pair that are almost identical. “These are true to size.” She lifts her shirt and turns to show us her ass. “I’m a small and these are a small.” She turns back around to face Evan and me with a knowing smile. “What size do you need?”
“Extra-extra small,” Evan quips, and I jab him in the arm.
“Are you shopping for your little sister?” She does that flirty pose, twirling her hair around her finger.
“Girlfriend,” a familiar voice says and I turn to see Eva and Alex. “And since she’s my best friend, I’ll help him pick something. Thanks.”
The poor girl just stands there in a mixture of shock and awe, unsure of whether she should ask for an autograph or walk away. She chooses the latter. And I agree; it’s a wise choice. Eva is, without a doubt, a bitch. Luckily, she likes me.
Alex stands back holding a shopping bag in one hand, the other hand shoved in his front pocket, laughing under his breath and shaking his head. “Babe, you didn’t have to be so rude. She was just doing her job.”
“She was showing them her ass.” She gestures to Evan and me. “Who does that?”
“No, she wasn’t,” I argue. She was showing off her ass, but I prefer to play ignorant because there is only one ass I’m interested in.
“She was flirting with you,” Evan admits.
“I know, right?” Eva exclaims. “I was watching her.”
“Why aren’t you at the salon with the girls getting ready for the Winter Ball?” I ask, changing the subject.
Eva points to the bags i
n Alex’s hand. “We had some shopping to do.”
“Well, since you’re here, can you help me pick out some stuff for Jay?”
“Me, too,” Evan adds. He’s as clueless as I am in the gift department. All I’ve ever seen Evan buy for Lexi in the past few years is a Kindle and Amazon gift cards. Sure, he buys her the things she likes, but sometimes our girls like it when we get creative.
“Alex, go over there and pick out something lacy and skimpy for later.” She winks.
See?
Alex grins and jerks his eyebrows up and down before heading to the lingerie section, calling over his shoulder, “You don’t have to threaten me with a good time.”
“It’s not a threat, baby. It’s a promise,” she calls out to his retreating back.
It’s a good thing Eva is here because there is entirely too much stuff to choose from. I don’t even know Jay’s bra size—unless “more than enough” is considered a size. Evan follows my lead, only Lexi is about two inches shorter and a little curvier in the hips. And as far as her rack goes, I’m not touching that. I settle on two pairs of yoga pants, two pairs of running shorts, two T-shirts, and three sports bras.
“Thanks for helping, Eva.” I pull her in for a side hug.
“ALEX SAID THE sales girl was hitting on you,” Cole says from the driver’s seat.
“No, she wasn’t,” I deny.
“She was checking out his ass,” Evan adds from the backseat.
“She was a friend of Lindsay’s.”
“What’d she look like?” Brad asks.
“Short with reddish-blonde hair.”
“Heidi.” Cole nods knowingly.
We all stare at him.
“And, no, I never tapped that,” he says, keeping his eyes on the road. “I recognized her in the store. She is a flirt, and believe me, Eva will tell Jay.”
Right on cue my cell starts ringing, Jay’s beautiful face gracing my screen. I hold up my phone to show the guys. “She knows. Be quiet and I’ll put it on speaker.” I set the phone in my lap as I answer on speakerphone. “Hey, babe.”
“Zach, did some girl really show you her ass to try to sell you yoga pants, or is Weenie fucking with me?”
Brad snickers and brings his fist to his mouth. I put my finger to my lips, gesturing them to be quiet.
I chuckle. “Babe, she was just showing us how they fit.”
“I’m calling bullshit. Weenie said she was checking out your ass and flirting with you. That bitch is lucky I just got my nails done or I would go in there and kick her ass. Who the hell does that? That’s what the fucking mannequins are for.”
“Chill out, babe. You just got your cast off. No more fighting.”
“I hope you didn’t buy anything from her.”
“Nope. I didn’t buy anything from her.”
Lowering her voice, she growls into the phone. “That ass is mine, Z.” Cole makes a gagging noise and Jay laughs. “Hi, Cole.”
“I’ll see you later. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Bye.”
“She took it better than I expected,” Cole says.
Evan’s phone buzzes next and Cole glances in his rearview mirror. “You know you’re not getting off as easy as he did, right?”
Evan rolls his eyes. “Thanks a lot, Zach.”
THE HERITAGE ANNUAL Winter Wonderland Ball is at the Oceanside Aquarium. It’s black tie and my guy looks hot in a tux. My dress is another design by Anna Sizemore. A light blue satin gown with a beaded bodice and a slit up the side, allowing me to move freely.
Harper is wearing an emerald-green silk gown to match her eyes, an early Christmas gift from me. And, of course, Cole, as always, looks amazing in his tux.
However, Zach and Cole are all about the food. If they have to dress up in a monkey suit, there better be food—Cole’s words.
Soon after we sit down, the rest of our friends arrive and we spend the next thirty minutes talking over each other until our food arrives.
After dinner, we move to the next room for the festivities. The entire room is set up with carnival games. Every toy won and every ticket earned gets donated to Toys for Tots.
The ceiling is draped in red and white fabric, giving us the illusion that we’re under a circus tent. Booths line three of the four walls, with every game from throwing the dart into the balloon to a dunk tank, and a merry-go-round sits in the middle of the room. Zach and I stop and watch as Cam attempts to knock down the stacked milk bottles. You’d think it’d be easy, what with him being a pitcher and all. It’s not.
Bass goes for the “Bell Ringer” with the big sledgehammer and Cole goes straight for the dunk tank.
I’ve discovered I’m much better at skee ball than I am at bowling. “Let’s go over to the fortune teller, Z.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Why? It’ll be fun.”
“Because they give me the creeps.” He laughs.
“Oh, come on.” I drag him over to the old lady in the booth and slide a twenty-dollar bill across the counter. She pulls out her tarot cards and flips them over face up.
“You recently lost someone, yes?”
I nod. “My father.”
She flips over another card and flinches.
“Okay, babe.” Zach takes my hand and gives it a gentle tug. “You’ve had your fun. Let’s go ride the merry-go-round.”
I tug back and turn to the fortune teller with a frown. “What do you see? Is it death, again?”
She shakes her head. “No.” Then gestures to her cards. “It’s not… death.”
Zach clears his throat and she immediately flips over another card. “You’re going to travel. I see love, maybe marriage.” Zach snorts. “I see children. Lots of children.” That makes me laugh as I pull out another twenty and slide it over to her.
“Thank you.” Once we’re out of her sight, Zach and I burst into laughter. “I’m gonna go to the restroom,” I tell him.
“I’ll wait out here.”
Just as I reach the door, I hear yelling coming from inside the bathroom.
Pushing the door open, I catch sight of Harper backed up against the vanity in the far side of the bathroom. Ashton and Hannah are screaming in her face while Chelsea leans against the sink looking bored. Chelsea and I haven’t seen each other since our silent showdown on Thanksgiving.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I move forward, taking in Harper’s disheveled dress.
Hannah looks down at my hand. “Looks like your hand healed up nicely,” she sneers.
“I wish I could say the same about your face.” I notice a small tear in Harper’s dress and I see red. “Did you tear my dress?” I realize my mistake and wince. I meant to say hers because it is hers. It’s my design and I had it custom-made just for her.
“Your dress?” Ashton laughs and turns to face Harper. “Figures this piece of trash can’t even afford to buy her own dress.”
“Oh, and you can?” I ask, incredulous. “Or does your mommy buy you dresses with the money your dad sends so he doesn’t have to deal with you.”
“Fuck you!” Ashton shouts. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“And you don’t know shit about Harper except that Cole wants her and not you.” I turn my attention to Chelsea. “What’s up, Chelsea? The college girls won’t put up with your shit so you come here and pick on high school girls?” I shake my head. “Pathetic.”
Chelsea laughs, pushing off the sink, standing up straight and crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s pathetic is you think this thing with you and Zach is real.” She pauses, blinking, and I can tell by her expression, she’s wondering if she’s gone too far. But then she goes on. “He’s using you. Don’t get too attached. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll toss you aside.”
“And what is it that he wants?” It’s my turn to laugh. “Sex? Because he gets plenty of it. You sound like a bitter ex-girlfriend who got used and tossed aside.”
“I did.”
<
br /> I scoff. “No, you didn’t. You’re supposed to be his friend but what you are is a shitty person, Chelsea, and an even shittier friend. Honestly, I don’t know why Zach is still friends with you. You do realize in making me your enemy, you’re pushing him away. If you really care about Zach, you’d get your head out of your jealous ass and be a true friend. Not that it matters one way or the other once he realizes his bestie is a fake and a liar.”
She sneers down at me, says, “Let’s go,” and moves to step around me. At the last second she attempts to shoulder-check me, but I’m ready for it. I dig my heels into the marble floor, causing her to stumble to the side. Chelsea bumps her hip against the vanity before she loses her balance and clips the corner of the metal paper towel holder. Ouch!
That’s definitely gonna leave a mark.
“Ow! You bitch,” she cries out, grabbing hold of her arm.
“I didn’t even touch you.” I laugh. “It’s not my fault you don’t know how to walk in heels.”
She huffs, turning and storming out of the bathroom with Ashton and Hannah on her heels.
Once the bathroom door closes, I let out the breath and turn to Harper. We burst out laughing. “What was that all about?”
“Cole,” she replies, shaking her head. “Ashton wanted me to know he still calls her and that he’s only with me because she’s not ready for sex.” Harper shrugs. “Her loss.”
“Ewww!” I laugh and head for the door. “Come on, girl. Let’s go round up the guys and head home.”
I step out of the bathroom to see Zach leaning against the wall looking pissed. “I heard what she said.”
I wave him off. “Who cares?”
Cole walks out of the bathroom and stops in his tracks.
“Are you guys ready to go?” I ask.
“Yeeees! Thank you,” Cole says, wrapping his arm around Harper’s waist and leading the way to the exit.
Zach leans in close to my ear. “Did you hit her or something? I heard her yell ‘ow’ and ‘bitch’.”
“Hell, no, I didn’t hit her. Do you think I’m an idiot? She tried to shove past me with her shoulder and her plan failed.” I snort a laugh. “Clumsy bitch.” I laugh a little louder. “Just let it go, Z. She’s a shit friend who acts like a broken-hearted ex-girlfriend.”