by Rachel Jonas
“Ready for this?” Ricky asks with a grin, and I smile back.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We had two stops planned and we made both as quickly as possible before heading back to his place. First, we got gas at a gas station on the north side, where we’d most likely be seen by a Pandora follower. Next, we hit a fast-food spot and made sure to show a little too much PDA for two people who constantly insist they’re just friends. I leaned on his shoulder while waiting in line. Then, while I ordered food, his hand rested at the small of my back. With any luck, those pics would be in circulation before night’s end.
Now, we munch on our fries, veg out on his couch, and wait for the updates to start blowing up our phones.
“They put way too much salt on these,” Ricky complains, continuing to stuff his mouth.
Watching him, a laugh slips out. “And yet, you’re still eating them. Interesting.”
“I’d eat anything right now. I’m starving,” he admits. “With Aunt Carla gone, I’ve had to fend for myself, and I’m not gonna lie, it gets a little weird around here at dinner time. Last night, I ate hotdogs and spaghetti noodles.”
Imagining what that would look like on a plate, I frown a bit.
“Well, you could always stop by my house and eat my portion. Mike’s suddenly Chef Boyardee. He cooks most nights, which is strange. Pretty sure they gave him shock therapy in that place.”
Ricky eats yet another handful of fries and shrugs. “Maybe he’s really trying this time. Either way, if it’s an act, he can only keep that up for so long. Time will tell if he’s sincere.”
He’s right, but I choose to finish my food instead of continuing this conversation. If we keep going, I’ll likely lose my appetite.
My phone sounds off and I almost knock over my soda trying to get to it, thinking it’s the posts we’ve been waiting on. It isn’t Pandora, but I’m excited all the same.
West: Just saw you an hour ago and I’m already fucking horny again. How the hell is that even possible?
I smile and sit straight in my seat.
Blue: Such a poet. You should put that in a book.
West: Not even kidding. Staying away from you is driving me out of my mind.
West: Currently lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, hard as a brick.
If I could see my own face, I’m pretty sure it’d be bright red.
Blue: Well, do something about it. You’ve got a hand, don’t you?
West: Yeah, but I’d rather have my girl instead.
West: Fuck it. I’ll sneak over. Not sure how, but I’ll figure it out.
My heart sinks, hearing his plan. He must’ve forgotten the one we already came up with for tonight.
Blue: I’m with Ricky. Remember?
There’s a long bout of silence while waiting for his response, and when he finally does text back, I sense his mood through the words.
West: Right. It slipped my mind. We’ll talk later.
Blue: We can keep texting. We’re just eating and talking, killing time before he takes me back home.
West: It’s cool. I’ve got shit to do anyway.
Blue: Text or call if you get bored. I’ll be around.
West: For sure. Love you.
I set my phone aside and feel kind of sick, knowing he’s way across town and I’m sitting here with another guy. And not just any guy—my ex, with whom it hasn’t even been a full year since the last time we were intimate. I can only imagine how West must feel at home thinking about it.
It’ll be over and done with soon enough. Just hang tight.
“That the boyfriend?” Ricky asks.
I glance over at him and nod. “Yeah.”
He’s thoughtful for a moment, then drops his trash into the now-empty food bag. “You really are happy with him, aren’t you?”
Surprisingly, I don’t detect any sarcasm. Only genuine curiosity.
“I am.”
He studies me a bit, judging my sincerity in silence. “Then, that’s all I need to know. If you’re happy, I’ll figure out a way to tolerate his arrogant ass.”
I laugh and give him a look. “I don’t know. I can’t shake this feeling that you’ll end up actually liking him.”
Now, I’m the one getting a look, and it isn’t a pleasant one, but I’m laughing even harder.
“Pump the brakes,” he says with a chuckle.
“A girl can dream, can’t she?”
“Well, keep that one to yourself,” he shoots back, standing from the couch. “Come to the kitchen. I’ve got ice cream.”
I don’t hesitate to follow, making sure to grab my phone in case West calls.
“Are you sure we should be eating this? I mean, what if you need it for dinner tomorrow,” I tease.
“Real fucking funny. Just remember that joke when you leave for school in the morning and find your tires flat.”
I laugh, shoving him in the back, but stop dead in my tracks when I get not just any notification, but the notification.
Ricky spots me grinning and goes for his phone, too. The next second, our gazes lock and suddenly I’m feeling like West being lonely tonight wasn’t all for nothing.
Because… it worked.
@QweenPandora: “Just friends.”
Yeah, right.
Anyone else picturing KingMidas at home, sick as he looks at these pics? I almost feel guilty posting them.
Almost.
From day one, I said SeXyBeAsT was one to watch. We all knew he had eyes for NewGirl, but it was impossible to tell whether she was completely over him, or still pining for the past. However, these images that just rolled in suggest these two are far from over.
So, KingMidas, inquiring minds want to know.
What’s your next move?
Later, Peeps.
—P
Chapter 36
WEST
And there it is, the update we’ve all been waiting for.
Pandora’s gossip might be a pain in the ass most days, but she’s helping our plan along without even realizing.
Not gonna lie. Seeing pics of Southside hugged up with anyone would suck, but seeing her with Ricky in particular… it fucking guts me.
His comment the night of the first basketball game festers in my head like a gaping wound. The reminder that it hasn’t even been a year since he fucked her last makes me fantasize about torturing his ass to death, but then I refocus. What gets me through is knowing Southside’s not the kind of girl I have to worry about, and knowing what we’re doing is keeping Scar safe.
Lying in the dark isn’t helping my mood, but it’s late and the only other place I want to be is with her. Knowing that can’t happen right now, I accept that I’ve officially become that guy. You know, the one who can’t even imagine making a move without his girl?
Makes me want to punch my own damn self in the face, but this is what she’s done to me.
So, here I am, taking my lame ass to sleep.
At eleven o’clock.
On a fucking Friday night.
Beautiful.
I force my eyes closed, but they pop open at the sound of the elevator bell dinging. It’s entirely possible Dane and Sterling’s night is ending early, but it’s highly unlikely. Which means the odds of the steps I hear echoing against the marble tile being one of my brothers are slim to none.
There’s a stiff knock at my door before it swings open.
“You up?” Vin asks, already sounding annoyed by something.
I keep my eyes trained on the window and don’t answer.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” he barks out, half a second before flipping the light switch. “Are you seeing this shit Pandora’s posting?”
When he grabs the back of my t-shirt and yanks me to the edge of the bed, I turn quickly, balling both my fists.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” I roar, leveling a glare his way.
“This girl’s making a fool of you, publicly, and you’re asleep,” he gru
mbles. “Check your damn phone, West.”
I let out a breath and he’s likely reading my frustration toward him as frustration about the latest update.
“I wasn’t asleep, and I already saw the post,” I say flatly.
“You already saw it.” He says that mostly to himself. “Well, good thing you’re on top of things.”
I don’t miss the sarcasm.
“So, nowhere in that simple head of yours did it ever occur to you that now’s the perfect time to do some serious damage control? People are laughing at you, West. Your classmates, your teammates, everyone. All because you didn’t fucking listen to me. I warned you,” he seethes, coming closer as his whole damn face reddens. “I told you this girl was toxic, but you wouldn’t listen. Now, she’s out running around your town in the open, hanging all over some guy who isn’t you, while you get a nap in. Nice. Real fucking nice.”
Listen to this asshole. He’s so pissed at the idea of someone with the last name Golden being made a fool of, he’s damn-near frothing at the mouth. But what else I’m realizing is… he’s paying attention. Just like we knew he would be.
I stare, watching as a vein in the center of his forehead throbs, as he breaks into a sweat, and I can’t believe I’m about to go along with this shitfest. However, he’ll never buy that I’m being this passive. After all, he’s the one who knew I’d fight for Southside, which is why he told her to cut deep.
“Well, what the fuck do you want me to do at this point?” I snap. “Every time I’ve confronted her, she feeds me more B.S. about them being friends, about how they grew up together and have always been close.”
“Yeah, from the looks of those pics, they look real fucking close.”
I’m confused by his anger. Isn’t this what he wanted? For Southside to break me? Then, it sinks in. He hadn’t taken into account that said heartbreak might be a highly publicized event. One that makes the son of the almighty Vin Golden look weak. Son of a bitch probably wouldn’t have even made this deal if he’d thought it all the way through.
“You’ve gotta get out there and do something, West,” he says, leveling a stern glare my way. “How many girls have you turned down since getting involved with this bitch? A dozen or more? My suggestion is that you grab your damn phone, find one out of the bunch who’s available tonight, and fuck her somewhere just public enough for someone to catch you in the act. Show that piece of southside trash the Golden men are never to be crossed,” he fumes.
Tonight’s already pushed me to the edge of a dangerous rage, but hearing him talk about Southside like this tests my limits. Knowing this is how he sees her—as trash, a bitch—I’d love to take my frustration out on his sorry ass.
But… the plan.
“I can’t,” I groan.
“What the fuck do you mean you can’t?”
I glare at him before answering. “I have a scholarship to protect, remember? I’ve already jeopardized that once. I’d never get away with having a video like that getting passed around again.”
He blinks and it seems he’s thinking a bit more clearly now. “You’re right.”
When he begins to pace, it’s likely he’s trying to come up with another idea. Something that won’t do more harm to my image.
He peers up and sees me dialing, which halts his steps. “You’re calling someone?”
I nod. “Yep, Dane. He and Sterling are at a party. I’ll link up with them and see what happens from there.”
“Good, good. That’s a start,” he pants, finally calming down now that he thinks I’m taking action. In reality, my plan is to park my ass right back in bed the second he leaves.
“You’re doing the right thing, Son,” Vin insists. “But let this be a lesson to you. This is what happens when you let a woman get the upper hand, let them start thinking they’re in control. Sometimes they just need to be reminded that you’ve got options. Trust me, if you take my advice, she’ll see that tonight.”
Trying to stomach this dickhead’s twisted logic, I nod. “Understood.”
His stare lingers a moment, thinking he’s just talked some sense into me, then he turns to head back upstairs. The moment he’s gone, I go right back to what I was doing before he barged in—imagining the world without him in it.
Can’t fucking wait.
Chapter 37
BLUE
With the looks I’ve been getting today, you’d think I walked through the doors of Cypress Prep stark naked, wearing a sign around my neck that reads ‘Cum Dumpster’. If I thought these assholes were hard on me before, now that I’ve allegedly betrayed their king, my rep is shot to hell.
Again.
Which is super fun.
The only good thing about today is that I have Lexi. Well, kind of. She’s a bit standoffish with me because, apparently, not calling to check in on her even once during her two-week suspension didn’t go unnoticed. If she only knew all the shit I have on my plate, she’d give me a pass. However, not knowing if she’s Pandora, I’m not even thinking about sharing. As badly as I don’t want to hurt her, I have to stay focused on the goal in mind.
Keep Scar safe, bring down Vin.
“So, are we gonna talk about the pics or just pretend nothing’s changed?” she asks, poking around at her lunch.
“Not sure what you mean.”
She shoots me a look now, as if to remind me she’s not as mindless as the other robots at this school.
“You’re not sure what pics I’m talking about? Like, the ones of you and your ex Pandora posted last night?”
I sip my drink and meet her gaze. “We’re friends and we were hanging out. You know Pandora’s known for making something out of nothing. The whole situation’s just been blown way out of proportion.”
Lexi glances over to where the triplets and Joss are seated, then looks at me again.
“Sure about that? Because last time I saw you, you were so deep in love it was hard to stomach. And from what I hear, he’s not doing too good with all this,” she adds, nodding toward West, giving me an excuse to sneak another peek at him.
She isn’t lying. Although all of this is pretend, and mostly his idea, the pain I see on his face is real. And honestly, that kills me a little.
“He’s fine,” I lie.
“Which is why you’re sitting over here with me and he’s all the way over there. Right. Got it,” she adds with a sigh.
I finally tear my eyes away from West and remember the role I’m supposed to play. The word Joss kept throwing at me was ‘indifferent’.
Be… indifferent.
“I’ve just been thinking that, I don’t know… maybe we moved too fast and I wasn’t as ready to settle down with him as I thought.”
Lexi’s expression softens a bit more, now that I’m no longer treating her like a stranger.
“Well, have you told him that?”
I shrug. “How do you tell a guy you’re not sure you still want to be with him?”
Lexi glances over at their table again, then back at me. “Beats me. I don’t do relationships, but I’m pretty blunt about shit. So, I’d say just tell him and see what happens.”
She’s giving the best advice she knows how to give and, whether it’s good advice or not, I feel guilty that she’s trying to help. Seeing as how this whole thing is total B.S.
“Maybe,” I sigh. “Right now, I just want to get through the rest of this week without being tarred and feathered.”
She laughs. “Well, what did you expect? Don’t you know betraying the king is an act of treason?”
I smile at her. “Sure wish this relationship had come with a warning. If it had, I might not have even bothered.”
She’s about to respond, but her expression goes blank. I follow her gaze and it leads straight to West as he strolls this way. Even knowing exactly what his next move is about to be, I’m not quite sure I’m ready to play along.
Here goes, I guess.
He drops down into the seat across from me and meets my gaz
e with a chilled look in his eyes. I, on the other hand, have zero feeling on my face whatsoever.
“What?” I snap, pretending I’m talking to Mike. It helps when trying to come across as being genuinely unimpressed right now.
“Are we gonna talk? I texted and called all night, and every time I’ve gotten close to you today, you pretend you have somewhere more important to be.”
“I did have someplace important to be, West. It’s called class.”
His jaw tenses with frustration. “Here we go again. More of the same bitch-fest I’ve been getting for the past two weeks,” he groans. “Just fucking tell me if we’re done, so we can both move the fuck on.”
I feel Lexi’s stare as she wonders what I’ll say to that, wonders how West and I went from being so solid, to this.
“Just… I can’t do this. Not in front of everyone.”
I stand then, leaving West at the table with no more clarity than he walked over here with.
“So, I’m just supposed to fucking wait for you? That’s what you think?” he shouts as I storm away.
I don’t look back, don’t respond, just burst through the lunchroom doors and head toward my locker to wait for the bell to ring. My heart’s still racing after that last outburst, but it’s getting easier to pretend. Not once has anyone questioned whether we’re just putting on a show, because why would we? We’re painting a picture where West’s getting walked on like a cheap rug, and I look like a monster.
I make it about halfway to my locker before my phone sounds off. I pause to read West’s text, having to fight a smile as I scroll.
West: Pretty sure Lexi growled at me when you left.
Blue: Probably. I’ve been super skeptical of her lately, but I’m actually starting to think she’s on the level.
West: Maybe. Anyway, is it weird that all this fake fighting is turning me on?