She smiles, trying for seductive, but I don’t bite. She’s a cock tease—loves the attention but has zero follow-through. We almost fucked twice, the last time being the day before school started. That was one more time than I had the patience for. Whatever beer goggles I was plagued with before don’t seem to be here anymore because I don’t have a shred of interest.
Laura reaches up to touch my jacket, and the way she leans in pushes her tits together so that they’re on display behind the shirt that should be buttoned higher.
“You know, my parents are gone this weekend…”
Laura’s long pause has me glancing at Liam, who gives me a nod, knowing just what I’m thinking.
“Are you making me an offer, Laura?”
“What?” She giggles and looks around to see if anyone else is listening, “I’m just saying my parents are gone…”
Yeah, I get it. But I don’t want it. Laura lost her chance. More realistically, I dodged a fucking bullet.
Liam knocks his knuckles quietly on her desk to get her attention. “Red, he’s asking if you wanna fuck him. Or me? Maybe both…at the same time?”
Her eyes grow wide at his words, shocked by his crudeness. But it’s false. She knows exactly who and what we are. Everyone does.
I smile, running my thumb over my bottom lip. The girls in this school are nothing but entertainment because they choose to be. They’re so willing to set their value based on what’s between their legs. It’s pathetic, but who am I to complain about free pussy.
“Laura, answer Liam…make us an offer we can’t refuse. Because right now, I’d rather get a hand job from my fucking grandma.”
Liam throws his head back and laughs. “You’re a dick.”
I shrug and turn my back to her again, hearing her shrill voice behind me.
“You guys are fucking assholes.”
The bell rings, and we both stay seated, turning our heads to watch Laura walk by because we are, in fact, assholes.
“I hope your new little girl toy knows what freaking dicks you are. Or maybe she likes having two dicks.”
Liam stands, towering over her and wiping the shit-eating grin off her face as she clamps her mouth shut and puts her head down, before walking out of the room. He looks back at me, shaking his head.
“Man, these girls. They’re vicious. Are you gonna hit that?”
“No interest. Have at it.”
He grabs his notebook and pen off the desk. “Nah, I’m good. She gives me penicillin vibes.”
“More like blue balls…”
He grabs his dick, wincing, and I laugh just as Kai whistles from the door with Donovan tucked under his arm. He motions for us to join them, and I nod, grabbing my bag and smiling at my favorite blonde, who’s grinning back at me.
Hi, Cherry.
Laura passes them as they stand aside from the doorway, staring Donovan down before she storms away. Donovan watches her, amused, as her eyes shift back between Liam and me.
“What was that?”
Kai smirks as I remove his arm from Donovan and usher her forward down the hall.
“Everyone hates us because you’re such a catch, Cherry.”
Liam dips in next to her, planting a quick kiss to her cheek. “They’re jealous because we love you.”
“Little do they know…” she answers, giving Kai a sly smirk and wink.
I reach down and take her hand as we all walk the crowded hall. She can bullshit all she wants and pretend we aren’t happening, but I plan to make that mandate as hard as fucking possible to follow.
Kai laughs. “Oh come on, D. Keep explaining. What should everyone know exactly?”
Liam shoves Kai, and I pull Donovan back as they playfully push at each other a few steps in front of us.
“Don’t say a word, Van,” Liam laughs, ducking away from Kai.
“Easy,” I warn them, slowing her even more.
Kai huffs an empty breath when Liam lands a playful slap against his stomach. Donovan sucks in a breath, then laughs at their fighting, as she adjusts her hand in mine to intertwine our fingers, leaning forward toward the ruckus.
“Which word shouldn’t I say, Liam? The one you don’t get to do? Like that there’s no chance in hell you ever get to—”
Her words are cut off by the hand I put over her mouth as I shake my head. “Nobody needs to hear this.”
She quietly giggles as I stand behind her, still holding her other hand, as Liam and Kai clap their approval.
A wet, warm sensation moves against my palm, making me jerk my hand away. “You’re disgusting,” I laugh and wipe it down my pants.
She wags her brows at me, turning to face me. “I licked it. Do I get to keep it now?”
I reach out and grab her blazer as it falls open, tugging her against me quickly. She glances over her shoulder at the other guys as they keep walking and then back to me, eyes unsure. The mold of her body against me makes me want everything she says I can’t have.
Staring down into her eyes, I watch her irises dilate. My face slowly drops closer to hers. “Is that the rule?”
Donovan’s lips part, shiny and full, before she licks them. “That’s the version I know.”
My hand releases her jacket, slipping inside to splay against her firm waist, the heat from it bleeding through her shirt. I lean in, pulling her even closer, and let my lips brush her ear as I speak.
“Then, when I lick you…that makes you mine, Cherry.”
Her small inhale is all I hear as I lift my eyes to the hallway, feeling as if I’m drunk. I am. I’m swimming in her, and she might be the most intoxicating fucking concoction I’ve ever encountered. My palm drops from Donovan as I brush past leaving her standing in the hall, and walk outside to join the guys.
It takes her almost three minutes to make it outside, but when she does, her face sours as soon as she sees Caroline.
“Whitmore.”
“Kennedy.”
Caroline immediately looks away to her other friends, and Donovan glances down at her phone, before searching the cars lining up to pick up.
This truce is uneasy between them, that much is obvious. But as much as I’d like to tell Caroline to disappear, I’m responsible for her, despite the fact she hasn’t spoken a word to me since the cafeteria on Monday. Not that I mind. She’s pissed because I chose a “side.” What I can’t tell her is that there was never a choice. I’ve always been on whatever side Donovan is standing.
Liam bends his knees to put his head on Donovan’s shoulder. “Come watch us practice.”
He wants more time with her too.
She pats the side of his cheek. “No. I have to go home. I have a ton of homework. I slacked today in class, trying to figure out the phone numbers of these two idiots I know.”
“If you come, I’ll tell you which one I am.” He grins, nudging his head into the crook of her neck, making her giggle louder before she steps back.
“No, seriously. I have too much to do. Next time. Plus, I like the mystery.”
“Bullshit,” I accuse, smirking at her returned scowl. “I’ll give you a ride. Send your car home. And you know that Liam and I can’t be trusted. You’ll never know which of us is which.”
She doesn’t answer, choosing to give me her best Mona Lisa smile as we stare at each other, making her unreadable. And tempting. I step in toward her, forgetting everyone around us when I’m stopped by Kai tapping my shoulder. “We have to go.”
She blinks rapidly, and looks to the side, revealing a light dusting of blush that’s crept up her neck to her cheek.
Liam joins me and faces Kai. “We’ll cover for you. She likes you best. Make her come.”
Donovan smiles as Kai starts walking toward her, spouting whatever nonsense he needs to say to convince her.
My feet carry me backward, and I tip my chin up, adding loudly, “Drag her kicking and screaming if you have to,” before I turn and make my way to practice.
Donovan
I P
OCKET MY PHONE, HAVING left a text message for my driver to let him know I’d be late, and ignore two back-to-back calls from my mom as I make my way through the crowded commons. My feet bounce down the concrete steps onto the expansive grass. It wasn’t hard to convince me to watch their practice. Kai isn’t much of a bully, more like a savvy negotiator. He promised me froyo every lunch and to keep Caroline on a leash if I came today. The froyo was the only part of the sentence I found remotely plausible.
A quiet laugh stays in my chest as I walk, knowing I would have come with only a request from him. He’s growing on me. Our shared love for YouTube makeup tutorials and hot guys is carving out a forever friendship between us.
Enveloped by the bright sun, I step out from the shade tree I’ve been walking under, making my eyes squint. It’s so bright for this time of year. But I won’t complain about this Indian summer, even if it makes me miss Spain a bit. My shoulder dips as I rummage through my black satchel searching for my sunnies.
“Where are you hiding,” I mumble, diving down again, just as my fingers come into possession. “Aha.”
The grass under my boots is soft, and I sink a bit with each step as I head toward the part of the river that Kai said the crew met at for their practice. He said they try and practice outside as much as possible until the weather turns, and I’m happy they do because, with my glasses firmly in place, I spot them off in the distance, all jogging in a single-file line.
Shirts off.
Hello, crew.
A row of slender wood boats lines the bank of the river, all flipped upside down, showing off painted colored stripes on the light-colored frames. God, it brings back so many memories. Grey was so into this when we were young. So much so that every single birthday, I bought him a wooden boat that we would take to Central Park and sail until it eventually sunk.
Shrugging out of one side of my blazer, I plop my bag down under a big tree and pull my other arm out. My fingers find my tie while I stay trapped in the memory and tug it back and forth to make it even looser than it already was before lifting it over my head, taking my hair with it, and toss it on top of my bag.
The team makes their way to the dock where their boat bobs in the water gently, each wave causing tiny little stars on the water from the reflection of the sun.
I brush away a few leaves that have begun to fall and lay my jacket out, settling down on top of it. Stretching my legs out in front of me, I relax back onto my hands, appreciating the wicked picture. Guys grab water bottles and shake their sweaty heads, making the grin on my face grow.
It’s a glistening shirtless tableau.
Damn. It’s the wettest of dreams come true. The coach’s voice echoes against the nature surrounding us, his words too far away for me to hear but commanding the attention of the crew.
Except for Grey. He’s staring at me. I can see the intention behind his eyes, even from here. Same maniacally plotting Grey. Even when we were kids, he gave me butterflies when he put his sights on something. He was so intensely determined. The difference is now I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end.
Despite the flirtations, the last few days have been effortless; we’ve fallen right back into our friendship. With the exception of the Caroline issue, life is heading in the direction of pretty damn perfect.
I sweep my fingers back and forth over my bangs to free them from under my glasses, still staring at the boys. Grey’s still looking at me, piercing me with his stare, but this time, questions are forming. I can tell by the crease of his brow. It’s a matter of time until I’ll have to come clean, I know that, but I want more time before seeing the disappointment on their faces.
They won’t judge me, I’m sure of it, but they’ll feel sorry for me and that’s worse. Telling Grey and Liam about the shit I landed in over the last few years makes it that much more real. And I could use a break from that.
Changing my life is a priority for me, but the minute I got back, I stepped into a version of myself that I missed, that I desperately wanted back. I don’t want to give that up, and sometimes, it’s harder to be myself when I’m surrounded by my past. Once it catches up, I don’t get to be flirtatious Donovan or silly Donovan. Everything I do will carry more weight, more consequence. I’m not ready. So, I’m going to let them block that out for just a little bit longer.
Grey’s hand rubs down his neck and over the hard planes of his chest, as my bottom lip releases from between my teeth, surprising me, considering I didn’t know I was biting it. I give a tiny wave, but he doesn’t reciprocate. As if Liam can hear Grey’s thoughts, his head turns and locks on me as well.
They’re such a stark contrast of each other but perfectly paired. One dark and broody, the other light and charming. Both my favorite people. Even after all this time, I feel the same way—well, almost the same. I can’t help but be attracted to both of them, but their friendship means enough to me that I won’t cross that line, no matter how much I want to. And I’ll keep saying that to myself until I believe it.
Liam leans in toward Grey, saying something into his ear, and goose bumps spread over my legs before they both turn their attention away.
They’re talking about me. I’d give a hundred million pennies for that thought.
I sit and watch them, wondering what my life would have been like if I had stayed. A relationship with my father probably wouldn’t seem so far-fetched, that’s for sure. Maybe my mom and I wouldn’t be so torn up and damaged. And I’d be here, more firmly planted than I am, because I’d be right between Grey and Liam.
Would I have fallen in love-love with one of them, or both? Definitely both. I smile to myself.
Even as my lips tip up, there’s a tightness in my chest. I rub a small circle on my skin, trying to rid myself of it, but I can’t help but feel the grief for a life I’ll never know. All those memories we never got to make. All taken.
Grey and Liam stay focused for the remainder of the practice as I watch, but once they row out, I decide to sneak away to get home. Watching them had me thinking more and more dirty thoughts, so clarity in the form of escape was necessary.
My black satchel slides off my shoulder, so I lift it up and over my head to let it hang across my body, gripping the braided leather strap as I walk. I look up to search the distance, spotting my driver, when I hear a giggle to my left and turn casually to see who it is. My spine tingles as soon as I lay eyes on Caroline’s sardonic expression. I should keep walking to avoid another verbal throwdown, but to my surprise, it’s not her that speaks; it’s the sour little red tart from earlier when I was with Kai.
“So you’re the new crew ho? You found your tribe right away, new girl.”
Are you fucking kidding me? There’s so much I could say to this trite little bitch, but I’d rather go straight to the source, so I pause and shift to stare directly at Caroline. “Are you going to make your bitch heel, or should I?”
Laura steps in front of Caroline’s smug face, arms crossed over her ample chest.
“Scared to fight your own battles, Donovan? Now that you don’t have backup?”
My eyes cut to hers, and I smile. “Ask your self-appointed queen just how weak I am.”
A little of Caroline’s bravery drops behind Laura as her chin lifts in obstinance. I take a step closer, watching Laura’s confidence expose itself into the front it always was. And when Laura looks back to Caroline, I snap my fingers to call her attention back.
“I’m only new to this school. But my name—that’s on the deed to this damn city. Right next to McCallister and Brooks.” Laura swallows hard, not answering, so I switch my focus back to Caroline. “Don’t forget it again, bitch.”
Laura’s worried whispers are all I hear as I turn around, making my way back to the car, without so much as a glance over my shoulder.
“Quit it,” I whisper, pushing at Liam’s sizeable hand that’s covering my notebook, preventing me from making notes.
He’s been ridiculous our whole morning study pe
riod before school. If I didn’t have to actually study, I’d laugh at his antics, but I do, so I’m not.
“Psst. Van. Don’t ignore me. Tell me who your first kiss was…”
He swipes my notebook and tosses it onto the table behind him, making a loud thwack and creating a show for all the staring faces. His fingers interlace behind his head, smug as hell, as he leans back into his chair and shushes me as if I’m the one causing trouble.
My head swings, embarrassed, as a giggle finally releases.
“I will ignore you because I’m trying to study. You should too. This Lit exam is intense. Who knew at the end of week one, there’d be enough info to even test on? She really knows how to ruin a Friday.”
“I studied. I’m good. Stop being an overachiever and answer my question, Van.”
He stares at me with those hazel eyes and that damn toothpick wiggling between his teeth, and it makes me smile bigger. As much as he’s trying to bully me into an answer, it won’t work. Liam’s not the intimidating type. At least not to me. He’s more charming than scary, but I’m positive I’m the only person at this school with that opinion.
“You’re exhausting.”
“Answer the question, Van.”
My eyes narrow, and I cross my arms over my chest, pretending to be amused because I don’t want to tell him that my first kiss didn’t happen until I was fourteen, and it was with someone two years older than me. A year later, that same guy took my virginity up against a wall in my living room, after showing me how to smoke my first joint.
Not exactly an epic romance kind of moment, but I wasn’t looking for love. I was giving something away that my mother deemed special about me. She saw through me like a pane of glass when I was whole, so, at the time, it made sense that she might finally pay attention if I was broken. And a part of me wanted to hurt her by hurting myself.
I shake off the thought and deflect. “What question? And by study, do you mean that you fucked a girl to give you answers for the test?”
“I wouldn’t dare. You’re my first, last, and only. I’m the faithful type.”
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