by Piper Frost
“Yeah, but I don’t want someone closer to my age. And we’re not that far apart in age. I like little old you. And if you like old me. Who cares? You not into older guys? Too close to your dad’s age?” I nudge her playfully.
“God, you always gotta bring him up, don’t you?’ She groans and chuckles. “I think you have a crush on my dad.”
I laugh and put my hand on her knee, only sliding it upward slightly. “I don’t. I wouldn’t do that to you. Imagine the gossip. Paige Kenshaw’s boyfriend has a crush on her dad.”
She freezes and cocks her head. “Boyfriend, huh? That’s a mighty bold move there, Sterling.”
“You’ve had me strip off my shirt, then fondled me, all in front of your uncle and dad. And you just hash tagged fuckable on a picture of us your brother will see. You want me to be your boyfriend. And you owe me one ‘cause your dad wanted to kill me for that move at our first game.”
“I had to see what was under those pads,” she whispers then giggles. “So you’re for real? You want me to be your girlfriend?”
“Yeah, sure.” I shrug. “I don’t got much else going on.” When she shoves me, I laugh and pull her back toward me. “Kenshaw, will you be my girl?”
“I guess I could think of worse things.” She giggles when I tickle her side. Her hand goes back to my thigh and she sighs. “Holy shit, I have a hot as hell boyfriend.”
“I was thinking that, but girlfriend. And you are hot. I think I told you that already.”
On the drive to the school Fenton holds my hand the entire time and I can’t stop smiling. It’s like a constant feeling of being excited and giddy and I love it. When we park he tells me to stay put and rounds the front of the truck, opening the door for me.
‘Thank you,” I say, trying to scoot out of this truck without my dress riding up.
His hands grab my hips and he gently lifts me out, helping me smooth down my dress before everyone gets a show. I wait for him to kiss me or something. I’m his girlfriend and we haven’t even kissed yet.
“Ready?” he asks, no kiss.
“Yeah.” I hold on tight to his arm but all I really wanted was a kiss. “Gray texted a little while ago saying they were all here already.” I’m not sure why I’m suddenly nervous. Maybe it’s because of him not kissing me yet. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a real boyfriend so I don’t know what to do. Or maybe it’s because I really don’t want him to regret this. But my stomach is in knots.
“I see Kirby,” he points and leads the way. “You want punch or whatever that is?”
“I’m okay, thanks.” I don’t want him to walk away from me. And I’m sure whatever’s in that bowl is probably spiked with something I don’t want to be caught drinking on school grounds. I smile up at Fenton but before I can say anything else Kirby and Gray make it over to us.
“Hey, man. You as uncomfortable in that suit as this damn thing is?” Gray says, shrugging and trying to adjust the jacket he’s wearing.
Fenton chuckles. “Yeah, I’m not having a good time.” When I turn to him with furrowed brows his eyes go wide. “In the suit I mean.”
“Take the jacket off.” I start to pull at the lapel of his suit jacket and Kirby laughs.
“Listen to your mommy, Sterling.” His obnoxious laughter makes me grit my teeth.
“Shut up, man,” Fenton grumbles and lets me pull his suit coat off. “Thanks.” He gently smiles and takes the coat before looking around.
“Kirby, where’s your date?” I ask, looking around when I know he doesn’t have one. “Oh, that’s right. No one would go with you.”
“He asked like, twelve girls, too.” Gray laughs and Kirby slugs him in the arm. “Fuck, man!”
“At least I didn’t lose a bet and have to take your sister,” Kirby retorts and my stomach drops.
“A bet?” I snap, glaring at Gray then looking up at Fenton. “It was a bet?”
“What the fuck, Kirby,” Fenton growls and turns to me. “You weren’t a bet.” He scowls at Kirby again.
“I’m a dick, but I’m not that big of a dick,” Gray mumbles, shaking his head.
“Kirby, you're a dick. Fenton didn’t lose a bet. He wanted to ask me. And I wanted to go with him. Simple as that.” I glance up at Fenton, hoping that’s the truth, because if this was a bet, I’ll kill them all. “Plus, we’re boyfriend girlfriend so I have a hard time believing this is all because of a bet.” I look over at my brother and his eyebrows are raised but at least he’s not scowling.
“Nice.” Gray nods and Kirby just looks stunned. Good. “Alright. So our table’s over here. Set your shit down and let’s get this party started!” He heads off for the table and Kirby follows, leaving me and Fenton.
“Sorry,” I say. “I don’t know if you wanted people to know so soon, but they’re going to find out and I’d rather have my brother find out from me than gossip, you know?”
He chuckles and wraps his arm around me. “I don’t care who knows.” When he abruptly pauses and the smile on his face is gone I turn my head to get a better look at him. “You sure you don’t want something to drink?” He pulls at his tie.
“I’m okay. Are you?” In no time flat he goes from normal to weird but he won’t ever tell me what's wrong.
“I think I need a drink. Gray? Drink?” he calls to my brother as we approach the table.
“Hell yeah, I thought you’d never ask!” Gray pulls a flask out of his pocket and wiggles his eyebrows. “I brought the good stuff.”
“Your ass is grass if Grant sees you with that,” I snap, looking across the gym to our uncle who was forced to be one of the chaperones tonight.
“Dude.” Fenton grabs the flask and pushes it back into Gray’s pocket. “Don’t get in trouble. Save it for later. I’ll get some punch.” He walks away quickly without even a glance at me.
“What the hell are you thinking” I hiss at Gray who’s shaking his head with a stupid grin on his face.
“So y’all are officially an item now?”
“Yeah.” I shrug. “But I don’t know. He hasn’t even kissed me yet.”
Gray grimaces then sighs. “He’s a nice guy, Paige. You're just not used to nice guys from around here.” He chuckles when Kirby screams something obscene from the dance floor.
“I see your point,” I mumble, watching Fenton grab two glasses of punch. “I do really like him, though.”
“Good.” Gray swipes the flask out of his pocket and turns towards the wall to take a drink.
“Idiot,” I grumble, watching Fenton walk back up to the table just as the song changes to a slow one. “Thanks.”
He drinks his cup in a few gulps, and glances around, not saying much to me. Maybe I was a bet.
“Want to dance?” I ask timidly. I don’t do timid. I’m not this girl, but the way I like Fenton is so different than how I’ve ever felt before and it’s got me questioning every action I make.
Without a word, he takes my hand. Suddenly he’s a damn mute or something. He looks like he doesn’t want to be here, and especially not with me. His eyes keep flashing around at everyone like he’s worried they’ll notice we’re together. When he turns to me and puts his hands on my hips, a smile lights his face, and now we’re back to normal Fenton. Figuring him out is exhausting.
We sway to the music for a moment, slowly inching closer until his hands are wrapped around me. I look into his eyes and wish I knew what was going on in his head. It’s nice being this close to him, but I want to be closer.
“If you want to leave, we can.” My hands slide up his arms. “I never realized how lame school dances can be,” I say jokingly. I’ve loved every dance I’ve been to so far.
“I don’t want to leave.” He chuckles. “We just got here. You not having a good time?”
I huff and push my hands to the sides of his face. “You’re not. And it’s fine. I mean,” I furrow my brows and hate the words that are about to come out of my mouth. “I get it if you...you know.” Shrugging I drop my ha
nds back to his arms. I can’t say it. As much as I’m thinking it, I can’t say it’s okay if he really doesn’t like me. That it’s okay if I was a bet and he was found out. Because it’s not okay.
“What?” He chuckles and dips his head until I look him in the eyes again. “What do you get?” We’re still swaying but I feel like I’m dancing alone right now.
“If you don’t really like me like that,” I whisper, ashamed I even had to mutter the words. “Was what Kirby said true? I mean, I get it. You’re new to town, on the football team, popular guy and all that needs to prove a point. Get with the captain's little sister.” God, this sucks. “I won’t talk bad about you or anything if it is. I’m not that type of girl.” I’m also not the type of girl to be like this, either, but these emotions have taken a toll on my sanity.
He steps back, no longer touching me and his brows are knit together. “You think I’m here with you because I want Gray to like me?” His brows start to lift high.
“No,” I blurt, stepping towards him. “I mean...I didn’t.” Shit. “I’m sorry.” Just don’t walk away from me, please.
Reaching out, he takes my hand and pulls me against him. “Your brother’s cool, and I’m pretty confident he’d be my friend even if I didn’t want his sister.” One hand pulls at my lower back to press me against him. “But I’m here for you.” His other hand slides to the side of my head. “I like you. Not a good position in football.”
I smile and lick my lips, staring into his eyes. “So kiss me,” I whisper, butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“Fuck. Finally,” he breaths and it happens. It finally happens.
His lips press against mine and the first thing I hear is Kirby making a scene to point us out but Fenton doesn’t stop. His other hand raises and holds my head in place so I don’t pull away. And I don’t want to pull away. He feels perfect. Everything I’ve thought he’d feel like and then some. Warm with a hint of sweetness. Smooth but somehow just the perfect amount of rough. I could kiss him all day. But there’s a crowd of people watching us and, as hot as this kiss is, I know it has to end.
I pull back slightly, his hands still around my head, and he dips his head, resting his forehead on mine. “Definitely worth the wait,” I whisper so only he can hear me.
He chuckles and pushes his lips against my forehead then pulls me as close to him as I can get as the song ends. I’ve been kissed enough times to know that that wasn’t just a kiss. It was way more than a kiss. It was a claiming. Fenton Sterling just claimed me in front of the entire student body. And I’m so okay with that.
When the song ends he doesn’t let go. It’s not until the dance floor gets more crowded and the music speeds up that he breaks away, but only a few inches. His hands are on my hips, his eyes on me. There are a hundred or more people surrounding us, but we’re in our own world.
“I think I need some of that punch now,” I say panting after what feels like hours on my feet. “And I gotta toss the boots. Good thing we didn’t walk here, my feet would have been killing me before the dance even started.”
Fenton’s hand doesn’t leave mine as we weave through the crowd and back to our table. I fall to the chair and he goes to refill our cups. And I can’t wipe the smile off my face.
“You and Fenton looked awfully cozy out there on the dance floor.” A girl I don’t recognize says as she walks up to my table. She’s blonde. Skinny as hell. And has a look in her eyes like I shouldn’t trust her.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “Who are you?” I’d know her if she went to this school. She’s gotta be someone’s date.
“Abigail Koster,” she says, dramatically looking up and down my body. “I know who you are. Little miss Paige Kenshaw. The prized possession of Westwind.”
“Um,” I chuckle nervously and stand up, looking around for Fenton. Or my brother or cousin. Hell, I’d even take Kirby at this point. “Right. I gotta get back to the dance.”
“You do that.” She gives me a tight smile. “I just had to see if the rumors were true.” When she walks away it leaves me feeling cold.
“Who was that?” Gray asks, obviously checking out the girl’s ass in her skin-tight dress as she walks away.
“Abigail Koster?” I fall back to my seat. “Seemed like a bitch.”
“Where’d she come from?” Gray pulls his flask out and takes another swig, this time not bothering to hide it.
“No clue. But Grant’s going to catch you and kick your ass off the team.”
“He wouldn’t do that. He can’t make it to state without me.” A dumb smirk lifts his lips like he’s so confident and cocky. “I should’ve brought a date to this thing.”
“Yep. You should have.” Fenton’s walking back with our drinks and that stupid smile creeps back onto my lips.
“Hey, man, want some juice added?” Gray asks him as he sits at the table.
“No.” He chuckles with a head shake. “You shouldn’t either.” Glancing over his shoulder, he spots Grant. “At least try and hide it.”
“Yeah, yeah, pussies.” Gray laughs and stands, motioning towards the direction the girl just walked then curses. “Damn,” he says, chuckling. “Does this whole being an item thing mean I can’t point out hot as hell girls to you anymore? Cause there was just one and I swear she’s gotta be new here or something. I’d remember an ass like that.”
“I don’t particularly care about anyone else’s ass,” Fenton says, not even bothering to look in the direction Gray’s eyes are searching.
“No, I mean, this one was a good one. What was her name, Paige?’ He looks at me. “Kimberly? Jessica?”
“Abigail,” I mutter, rolling my eyes and doing the best valley girl stupid ass impersonation as I can. “Abigail Koster,” I say, taking a gulp of punch. “She seemed like a bitch. You could do way better than her, Gray.”
“Abigail?” Fenton looks around like he knows her. “Who? What girl?”
“There!” Gray snaps his fingers and grins. “The one in the tight red dress. God damn,” he mutters, biting his knuckle. “Wonder where she came from?”
I look at Fenton who’s zeroed in on this girl and stand up. “Why? She seemed like a real bitch.” I’m not jealous at all of my boyfriend staring at another girl in a sexy dress. Not one bit.
“She is,” Fenton mutters and pulls his eyes from her, drinking his punch, his eyes focused on the table.
“And you would know how, exactly?” I sit back down next to him and Gray snaps his attention to Fenton.
“Yeah, man, fill us in here. You know that chick? Set me up!”
“She goes to my old school. She-”
“Sterling!” Kirby shouts, running toward us and skidding to a stop. “Dude, Sterling!” he’s panting like he just ran the football field. “Your ex-girlfriend is here!” He’s so excited about it, I want to kick him. And when he looks at me, he’s grinning like he’s waiting for me to kick her ass on principal or something.
And then it all clicks. Her comment. The look on her face. The look on his face.
“Abigail’s your ex?” I ask, staring at the table feeling all sorts of jealous right now. “She’s so pretty.” And I’m...simple. And a virgin.
“Shit,” Gray curses. “That means I can't fuck her, doesn’t it?”
“Dude, I don’t give a shit what you do to that girl.” Fenton turns to me and takes my limp hand. “You want to dance?”
“Sure,” I say, mustering up a smile. It’s not his fault she’s here. And he doesn’t seem too affected by the fact. Two years is a long time to be with someone, but maybe he truly doesn’t care about her.
He holds my hand to the dance floor and wraps his arms around me immediately, making me melt into him. I rest my head on his chest, trying not to think about his ex-girlfriend watching us. Or what she said. Or the fact that there are rumors about me at other schools. What the hell kind of rumors was she even talking about?
Maybe it’s best I don’t know.
“You think your dad�
��s gonna be mad I asked you to be my girlfriend?” he asks, his grip tightening some.
“No. I think my dad likes you.” I smile. “My mom’s still up in the air.” I giggle when he groans.
“I keep forgetting about your mom.” He laughs and spins me. “Tomorrow you want to-”
“Hi, Fenton,” a scathing voice says and he looks up over my head. “Can I cut in?”
I glance over my shoulder at Abigail.
“No,” Fenton says and lets me back away but won't let go of my hand.
“We never even broke up,” she snickers and looks me over. “He just stopped calling one day, and I’m sure he’ll do the same to you.”
“He wouldn’t do that to me.” I look up at him then grin at her. “I’m not a bitch.”
“You’re worse. You’re a redneck.” She laughs and Fenton pulls me closer to him because he knows I might murder her for that comment.
“Go away, Abigail,” he mutters.
“What the fuck did you call me?” I yank my hand from his and step closer to her. I’ve got a couple inches on her and where she’s skin and bones, I’m muscle and strength. Working on a ranch has helped with that. And I’m going to snap her fucking neck.
“Paige.” Fenton grabs my hand but I don’t budge when he tries to pull me away. “She’s not worth getting suspended for. Come on.” He tugs. The way she’s staring at him makes me step closer.
“I will ruin you and that perfect manicure,” I growl. He might be right. She’s not worth it. But it’s not about her anymore. It’s about making sure she knows not to come back. “Get the hell out of my school.” My arms are tingling with adrenaline and I want to grab her by her hair and punch her until she can’t see for days with the look she’s giving me right now.
“Paige.” Fenton tugs again, but when he bumps into me, I look back and see a whole slew of kids I don’t know and they just keep coming through the doors. When they stand on her side of the gym, I realize these kids are from her school. Not ours. And they want a war.
How’d they even get in here?
When Grant and few other chaperones start approaching, it tells me they probably walked in without permission.