by L A Cotton
“I already told you, Mom, I don’t want to go to the Hamptons.”
“Bryan, be reasonable, Son.” Dad pinned me with a heavy look. “We know you’re disappointed we can’t make graduation, but there’s really no way I can move things around. This is an opportunity—”
“Too good to miss. Yeah, I got the memo, Dad.”
I always got the fucking memo.
“You’re a young man now. You need to accept disappointment and—”
“Seriously?” I balked, irritation zipping up my spine. “You’re going to try and school me on disappointment?”
“Mitchell, maybe we should leave this for another time?” Mom patted Dad’s hand, giving him her ‘please don’t make a scene look.’
“No, Jenny, I think I’d quite like to know what our son thinks about our choices. Choices that have given him a life where he wants for nothing.”
“Nice, Dad,” I muttered. “Real nice.”
“Please, both of you, this isn’t why I wanted to go out. We know you’re upset, sweetheart, but there’s really nothing we can do.” The sympathy in Mom’s eyes tipped me over the edge. I slid out of the booth and stood.
“Maybe, just maybe, for once in your lives, you could have actually picked your son. You know, the child that somewhere along the lines you forgot you had.”
“Bryan!” Mom gasped, color flooding her cheeks.
“You’re making a scene, Son. I suggest you sit down and—”
“Actually, I have somewhere else to be,” I spat the words. “Enjoy your meal.”
Without a backward glance, I stormed out of there and headed straight for the party.
Chapter Three
Carrie-Anne
“This is… not what I expected,” I said to Peyton as we sat around Aaron and Sofia’s pool, sipping sugary sweet cocktails and watching the guys goof around in the water.
“I told you it’d be fun.” She beamed at me.
“It’s okay, I guess.”
“Oh, come on.” She swatted my leg. “This is the life.”
“I thought being shacked up with your much older boyfriend, working a nine-to-five job was the life.”
“Don’t make me uninvite you.” Peyton poked her tongue out at me. “Because I will, you know.” Her laughter made me smile. Ever since I’d gingerly entered the Bennet’s yard an hour ago, she’d made it so easy for me. Even Lily and Ashleigh had welcomed me with warm smiles and easy conversation. It was weird to be here, in their domain.
Weird and a little intimidating if I was being honest.
“It’ll get wilder later,” she said, relaxing back on the sun lounger. “Aaron invited half the school.”
“He did?” Dread snaked through me.
“Yeah, but don’t worry, no one will bother you.”
It wasn’t supposed to hurt, but it did. Of course no one would bother me. I was invisible.
“Anyway, you still haven’t told me what happened with Bryan and the legacy project? Kaiden told Lily—”
“You do know you’re all awful gossips, right?” My brows knitted.
Peyton shrugged. “Welcome to my world. I still can’t go to the store without half the town staring at me.”
“Sorry, that was an insensitive thing to say.”
She shoved her sunglasses up her face and looked me in the eye. “You know what I think, fuck them. I’m happy, Carrie-Anne. For the first time in my life, I’m really, really happy. I’m not going to let the narrow-minded views of people I don’t even know ruin that.”
God, I envied her. Even after everything she’d been through, Peyton was still so strong. So confident and self-assured. She was everything I wasn’t. Beautiful. Funny. Fearless.
It was hardly any wonder Bryan wanted her.
“So back to you and Bryan…”
“Peyton, how many times do I have to say, there is no me and Bryan.”
“But you guys could be so good together. I know he can be a bit of a goofball, but he’s a good guy, babe.”
To her maybe.
With me he was different. Always taunting me and pushing my buttons. It was like he liked getting a reaction out of me. I’d thought for a second that maybe we could be friends, but I’d seen his true colors the other day at lunch.
Because I felt sorry for her.
God, how embarrassing.
“I think I need another drink,” I said, draining the last of my cocktail.
“Ooh, yes. That’s more like it. You should let your hair down more.” Peyton stood up and offered me her hand. “Before you know it, I’ll have you dancing too.”
I grimaced. “Oh, I don’t dance.”
“Yet.” She chuckled. “You don’t dance yet. But tonight is about living life, Carrie-Anne, not hiding away in the shadows.”
She made it sound so easy, and I wanted that. I did. For once, I wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted to fit in and have fun and be a careless teenager.
For once, I wanted to stand in the spotlight and shine.
I was drunk. So freaking drunk. But surprisingly, I liked it. I liked not being all up in my head, analyzing every little thing. And drunk Carrie-Anne… well, she was kind of fun. She danced carelessly, rolling her hips and weaving her hands in the air, and she talked to people. She had actual conversations with people. And more amazingly, they talked back.
It was weird.
I almost felt like… like a different person. But that was the point, wasn’t it? To not be myself?
But then a short while later I decided maybe having so many of those yummy drinks Aaron and his friends kept making hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
I staggered across the yard, pressing a hand against the wall to steady myself.
“Whoa, there, pretty girl.” My eyes squinted against the darkness to locate the owner of the gruff voice. I vaguely recognized him from school, the football team to be precise. “You’re Carrie-Anne, right?”
“I… yeah.” I tried to focus on him, but his edges were all blurred, shimmering in and out of my vision.
“You need some water, Carrie?”
“No, I’m okay, thanks.” I just needed some fresh air and for the world to stop spinning. “I think I’m going to sit down.” Grabbing his arm, I went to move but my body went at a different time to my legs, and I collapsed into his arms.
“Easy there.” He chuckled. “How many drinks did you have?”
“Only a few. I… I’m not used to drinking.”
“That explains a lot.” He smiled, easing some of the nervous energy bouncing around in my stomach. “I can’t believe I’ve never noticed you around school.” He pushed the hair out of my face. “You’re kinda cute.”
“Y-you think I’m cute?”
He grinned. “Cute and drunk.”
I grinned back. “I feel a bit better now.” With his strong arms holding me up, everything began to stop spinning. My heart was a different story though, fluttering wildly in my chest as he smiled at me again.
“You’re Pacey Trevors, right?”
“How do you know—”
“Want to know a little secret?” I leaned up, brushing my lips to his ear. He gripped my waist tighter, his fingers digging into my skin. I’d never been held like this, so tightly. So possessively.
I liked it.
I liked being the center of his attention.
“Sure, cute Carrie.”
“I’m a huge Raiders fan.”
“Isn’t everyone?” He chuckled, but I didn’t laugh.
I guess he would say that because the whole town was Raiders obsessed. But people didn’t expect it from a girl like me—a girl who openly objected to the level of adoration and fan worship the team received.
“I bet you’ve dreamed of bagging yourself a football player, haven’t you?” He leaned in close, his lips ghosting over my cheek. A tingle spread through me, making my tummy clench.
“I…”
“Ssh, it’s okay.” His voice was nice, reassu
ring. “Yeah, I bet you’ve thought all about what it’s like to kiss—”
“What the fuck?” someone bellowed and Pacey was ripped away from me.
“Hughes?” he balked. “What the hell is your problem, dude?”
“My problem? She’s wasted and you’re all over her.”
“Relax, man. We were just talking; isn’t that right, cute Carrie?” Pacey smirked at me and suddenly he didn’t seem like the nice, kind boy who had helped me. His gaze was a little darker and his smirk was a little wolfish.
“I… I should go.” I spun around and started stumbling away from them. Their voices were drowned out by the roar of blood in my ears. What was I thinking? I was drunk and alone with a guy.
God, this was a bad idea.
“Carrie-Anne, wait…” Bryan called after me, but I staggered down the Bennet’s ridiculously big yard. “For fuck’s sake, Kitty Cat.” A big hand cupped my elbow and guided me around until I was face to face with Bryan.
I gulped, paralyzed by the intensity in his eyes.
“You came,” he said flatly.
He might as well have plunged a knife into my heart.
“Peyton said you wouldn’t be here. I thought—” Another gulp. I couldn’t breathe, not with him looking at me like that. Not with him touching me.
In an attempt to put some distance between us, I yanked my arm away, only to slip and stumble backward. I cried out, clutching at thin air, but two strong arms caught me. Bryan steadied me and then led me toward a bench around the side of Aaron’s ‘man cave,’ as everyone liked to call it.
“Sit,” he barked.
“Don’t tell me what to do.” I shrugged out of his hold again, hissing at him.
“Cute, Kitty Cat. Real damn cute.”
“Why are you even here?” I sat down. Not because he’d told me to, but because everything was spinning again.
“Seriously? Trevors was all over you like a bad rash. What the fuck were you thinking getting this drunk?”
“Oh, because of course it’s so ridiculous that I might want to, I don’t know… be normal for once. That maybe, just maybe, I want to fit in and have fun. I mean, God, is it that hard to imagine that straitlaced Carrie-Anne Trombley might want to pretend for one goddamn night?”
My chest heaved with the weight of my words. But Bryan just stood there, gawking at me. “What?” I snapped. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” He blinked as if snapping out of a trance.
“Like I’m all kinds of weird.” I spat his words back at him, but they didn’t register. Of course they didn’t. Because Bryan was completely unaware that I’d overheard him. But even if he knew, I doubted he would care. I was nothing more than a charity case, someone he took pity on.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Ugh,” I threw my hands up and stood again, giving myself a second to adjust to the sudden movement. “Forget it. Forget everything. I was a fool to ever think you were different. Boys like you and girls like me don’t mix. We don’t work… We don’t mesh. You’re nothing more than an arrogant, cocky football player. I’m too good for you anyway.”
I barged past him, making a beeline for the house.
And of course, he didn’t come after me.
Bryan
You’re nothing more than an arrogant, cocky football player.
Carrie-Anne’s words rattled around my skull. She was drunk, that much was obvious when I found Pacey fucking Trevors all over her. If I hadn’t gotten to them in time, who knew what the hell would have happened. He was a good player, skilled on the football field, but the guy seriously lacked boundaries.
And she was pissed, like a little rabid Pitbull snapping its teeth and growling at a perceived threat. But something didn’t add up. Sure, I liked to mess with her in class, but the way she’d just gone off on me… that was more than a drunken outburst.
I glanced back at the house, searching her out, but she must have disappeared inside. Aaron and Sofia had urged people to keep the party out of the house, but it didn’t look like anyone had paid much attention.
“Bryan,” Peyton called me over as I made my way toward a chair by the firepit.
“Hey,” I said.
“Did I just see you and Carrie-Anne disappear around the side of Aaron’s man cave?” She waggled her brows. Obviously, she hadn’t seen Caz storm away from me.
“It’s not what you think,” I said, scrubbing my jaw.
“God, the two of you are incredibly frustrating.”
“Huh?”
“Why do you think I tried to set you up all those months ago?”
“Because you wanted to ease your guilt about choosing Coach Chase over me?”
“Not funny, asshole.” She punched my arm. “For your information, it was because I saw something between you.”
“Not this again, Pey.” I let out an exasperated breath. “We’ve been over this. I don’t like her like that. She’s… weird and annoying and we have absolutely nothing in common.”
She liked books and studying and kissing the teacher’s ass. I liked football and goofing around and blowing off homework.
“It’s like third grade,” Peyton went on. “When the boys tease and taunt the girls they like. It’s love language.” She grinned.
“Love language?” Strangled laughter rumbled in my chest. “Does Xander know you’re here and drunk out of your mind?” Because that was the only explanation for the crap coming out of her mouth. “Carrie-Anne doesn’t like me, Pey. She hates me.” And the feeling was entirely mutual.
Most of the time.
“So, why did you offer to help her, huh? Answer me that.”
“I don’t know… because she looked desperate, and my conscience was handing out free passes that day.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” She gave a dismissive snort. “You forget I sat by you in math for weeks, and I know what I saw. You just couldn’t see what was right in front of you because…” Peyton trailed off and I was relieved.
She had someone—someone who wasn’t me.
And I’d moved on.
Except, you haven’t. Not really.
“Fuck,” I breathed. “I need to get laid. Did you see Melissa here?”
“Melissa? Please tell me you’re not seriously considering going with Melissa Henson?” I pinned her with an irritated look, and she held her hands up. “Fine, shutting up. But I think it’s a big mistake.”
“Why don’t you worry less about my life and more about the fact that you let Carrie-Anne get ass over elbow drunk at a party where she doesn’t know anyone.”
“She knows people, Bryan.”
“Yeah, like who?” My brow lifted.
“Shit, you’re right. I just wanted her to have fun and cut loose for once.” Guilt flashed in her eyes. “It’s almost graduation and she’s barely lived. It’s kinda sad. She’d probably kill me for telling you this… but she’s never even kissed a guy.”
The fuck?
I didn’t need to know that. Didn’t want to know it.
What was I supposed to do with that information?
“I need a drink,” I said. Something strong. Something that would rid my mind of all thoughts of Carrie-Anne fucking Trombley. “I’ll see you later.”
Peyton waved me off, but called after me before I was out of earshot. “Bryan?”
“Yeah?” I glanced back.
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
With a small shake of my head, I walked away, wondering what the fuck she was talking about.
I couldn’t find Melissa anywhere. Maybe she was already hooking up with someone in one of the Bennet’s many bedrooms. It wouldn’t surprise me. I’d heard the stories about her.
I did, however, find Gav in the kitchen, drinking beer and shooting the shit with Aaron and some of the other guys from the team.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” he said, holding his fist out to me. “How was dinner with the parentals?�
��
“Don’t ask,” I mumbled, returning his fist bump before helping myself to a beer.
“You see Melissa yet?”
“Nope. But you have my blessing to hit that.” I offered him an easy smile.
“What happened to you jumping on that train?”
Something caught my eye down the hall, and I cussed under my breath.
“What’s up?” Aaron asked, noticing.
“Nothing. I’ll be back in a minute.” Draining my beer, I slammed it on the counter and padded into the hall.
Motherfucker.
Pacey had Carrie-Anne cornered again. Someone needed to take the girl home before she made a mistake, or worse.
“Take a walk, asshole,” I growled at Pacey.
“Fuck you, Hughes. We’re just having some—”
I grabbed him by the collar and shoved him away. “I said, take a fucking walk.”
Whatever he saw in my eyes made him step back. “Yeah, man. Whatever, she’s all yours. Geek Girl wouldn’t know what to do with a guy like me anyway.” He chuckled darkly, taking off down the hall.
Carrie-Anne gasped behind me, but I waited until Pacey was gone, trying to resist the urge to go after him.
Sleazy motherfucker.
“I…” She started but I whirled around, then I was on her.
“Come with me,” I said, yanking her down the hall and into the empty bathroom.
“What the hell, Bryan?” she shrieked, trying to wrestle out of my hold. “You can’t just—”
“What are you doing, Carrie-Anne?” I glared at her, anger zipping up and down my spine.
“What… what do you mean?”
“You want to kiss a random guy? Let him touch you? Fuck you in Mr. and Mrs. Bennet’s bed? Is that why you came tonight?”
“I… no.” Her breath caught again, but then her eyes narrowed with contempt. “You can’t say that to me.”
“No? Because someone needs to. You’re drunk and alone and that makes you an easy target.”
“Why do you care?”
Fuck. This girl.
She got under my skin like no other.
She wasn’t supposed to get under my skin.
“I don’t care, not really. But you don’t deserve what will happen if you keep giving the likes of Pacey Trevors the time of day.”