by Heather Long
“I’m going to come, Angel,” Ian warned me, and I glanced up, holding his eyes as I sucked harder and deeper. He pressed all the way to my throat, and I could barely get a breath as he came. The low, husky groan he let loose had me shuddering. Coop had slowed his movements as I swallowed. As soon as I lifted my head and Ian slipped free, Coop banded an arm around me and pulled me back flush to his chest and his thrusts grew stronger, every single one sending me higher and higher.
When he skated his fingers over my clit, I came all over again and clamped down on him until he let out a shout. The hot rush of release left me shuddering.
“Fuck. Me.” Jake’s voice hit me from the hall, and I laughed.
“Give me a minute, and I’d be happy to,” I promised. I was shaking, Coop was still inside me, and I could still taste Ian on my lips. This birthday was already the best ever.
“I’d take you up on that in a heartbeat,” Jake said. “But you need a shower.”
True…I did.
Rising on quaking legs, I shuddered as Coop slipped free. He groaned, and then I began the slow walk to the hall. Pressing a kiss to Jake’s cheek, I murmured, “Library later?”
His eyes flashed hot, and he grinned. “Anything you want.”
Excitement feathered through me, and I made it to the bathroom where Archie was showering. I found him with his hand wrapped around his dick, and when I leaned in, his whole expression lit up. “Birthday girl wants that,” I told him, and he pulled his hand away and I grinned wider. My jaw was going to be so sore this morning.
Worth it.
We were a little late to school. It just meant we didn’t hang out in the cafeteria. Worth it. I rode in on Ian’s bike, body humming still. The weather was gorgeous. Sunny skies and cool breezes. I had on my Torched shirt, my ripped jeans, and all the jewelry they kept loading me up with. More, I was freaking floating. When we got there, Rachel was waiting.
Her hug was intense, and then she snagged my coffee before she pressed a wrapped box in my hands. The thing was heavy, and I stared at her. “Before you open that,” she told me, “just remember, I adore you.”
“Why does that worry me?” Archie asked as he slung an arm over my shoulder and glanced down at the rectangular present I was holding.
“Because you happen to be a highly intelligent man who is gifted at reading people,” Rachel told him.
“Buttering me up or just calling it like you see it?” Just the barest amount of suspicion edged his words, and Rachel laughed.
“Why can’t it be both?”
“Fair enough.”
I snorted at both of them and moved over to Jake’s SUV so I could set the box on the hood before I started tearing the wrapping paper off. I tried to follow the seams where the tape was to preserve the paper. She’d actually wrapped it in this really pretty rose foil paper.
“Oh my god, I forgot how anal you are about paper.”
“It’s not anal, Rach,” Coop told her as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “She thinks the paper is gorgeous, or she wouldn’t try to save it.”
“Hmm,” was Rachel’s only response.
Jake closed in nearby, and they all watched as I got the paper free, then opened the box inside. It was a scrapbook. I glanced over at Rachel, and she just gave me a little smile.
When I cracked open the first page, I let out a little breath. It was us.
All of us.
Images from the first day of senior year.
There was even a shot of me glaring at Coop as he dragged me into the cafeteria. The guys by themselves. The looks on their faces as they saw me. Every page that followed was like another chapter in our story. She even got shots of them at the party, and there was one of me sitting in the garden that night. When the hell had she taken that?
Pressed roses appeared on some pages. Copies of the notes she sent me.
More shots of the guys. Different quotes and lines from them. Some I could pick out just because of the wording.
The earlier tears were back. The dance. The Halloween party. Oh my god, she had pictures of us the morning after, sitting at the police station waiting for the guy. Rachel had written, “True love doesn’t need a sentence or a charge, it just needs to be there.”
Christmas photos I’d sent her. Some of my boudoir shots. More snap shots from when Archie and I went dress shopping. There were a lot of pictures. Some she’d clearly hijacked off social media, but more she’d taken herself. She had to have. There were quiet moments, intimate moments captured when we weren’t paying attention.
Ian performing his song to ask me to Homecoming. Me hanging over Jake’s shoulder as we watched some video on his phone. Another where Archie had a lock of my hair twirled around his finger as he read something on his phone. There was another of me and Coop horsing around somewhere.
There were so many. She even caught the guys unawares. Jake and Archie discussing something intently with plans spread out between them. Another with Ian writing what looked like music. Shots of the guys on days when I hadn’t been at school. Including one she’d sent me about them being so forlorn.
It was magical.
I stared over at Rachel. “This is beautiful.”
“There’s a few open pages for graduation pics and for prom. I’ll make sure you have the pictures for them.” The sober expression on her face tugged at my heart. “I worried so much I blew this year for you when I told you about their rules.”
“I’m really glad you did,” I told her. “I mean it. If you hadn’t…if you hadn’t given me that push, we might not be here. All of us. This is where I want to be.”
The guys didn’t say anything, but Rachel glanced at all of them, then at me. “I’m not going to tell them I’m sorry. But I am sorry about the way I did it to you. I should have known you’d take it so hard. Your heart is way too open.”
“Yes it is,” Coop told her, but he gave her a squeeze and then kissed her temple, and Rachel froze. “Don’t get all excited, Manning, just letting you know we forgive you. We all got Frankie, and it’s her birthday, and what the birthday girl wants…”
Was for them to all be friends. Fuck. The tears started falling, and Rachel rescued me with a swift and fierce hug. “Love you, girl,” she said in a quiet undertone. “And not just ’cause you’re hot and taking me to a Torched concert.”
That did it. I laughed, and it helped with the tears.
By the time I got my coffee back and had the album safely stowed in Jake’s car, Archie snagged me with an arm around my waist. “Hold on to your hat, babe. This is just the beginning of your birthday weekend.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Gotta Make A Wish
The day flew past, probably because I was floating through most of my classes. Prom court was announced over lunch, and fuck me, my name had been called. They plied me with a mocha espresso chocolate mousse cake, and I had a mouthful of it when they said my name. Archie and Jake high-fived, and the guys laughed. Rachel’s name was also called for the court, and I grinned at her.
All four of them got called for the guys side, and they looked a little on the stunned side. Ha, teach them to sign me up for something like that. Rachel winked at me. I gave her a one-armed hug and a chocolatey kiss to her cheek that had her shoving me off with a laugh.
Still, prom would be interesting. Honestly, between the card, the morning sex, the fact Jake and I had a date in the library right after lunch, and the concert that night, nothing was going to get me down.
Absolutely nothing.
Not even one half of bad meatloaf waiting for us at the apartment when we got there after school. Rachel had to run back to her place, but she would be here soon. I slid out of Jake’s car with Archie, even as Coop and Jake spilled out. Bless Jake, he moved right in front of me and Archie both. Ian wasn’t far behind as he pulled his bike in.
“Edward, how very unpleasant to see you here,” Archie said by way of greeting. “Why don’t you fuck right the hell off and skip the s
poiling our day portion of the program.”
I cut a glance around the lot, looking for his car on the off chance he had Maddy with him.
“She’s not here,” Edward said, pulling my attention back to him. “She doesn’t even know I’m here.”
“You know what, babe,” Archie said over his shoulder. “Why don’t you and the guys go up and get ready. I’ll deal with this.”
That would be great, except I wasn’t leaving Archie to deal with his father. Interlacing my fingers with his, I leaned into him. “I’m good right here. We also have plans,” I told Edward. “So whatever this is, make it snappy.”
The corner of Archie’s mouth curved upward. Jake didn’t bother to hide his smile, he just folded his arms. “Yeah, Eddie. We’re listening,” he threw into the conversation. I didn’t have to look at Coop or Ian to know they were ready to back us up.
Instead of being put off by the show of solidarity, Edward merely loosened his tie as he narrowed the gap between us. I had no idea how long he’d been waiting outside of our apartment. I didn’t want to think about that.
“Happy birthday, Frankie,” he said to me, and I just shrugged. “I’m sorry to intrude today, but I had a gift for you drawn up from before, and while I’m aware that there was apparently some deception on Maddy’s part, it doesn’t change the fact I’d like to make amends with you.” Then he glanced at Archie. “And with you.”
“Wow, can you say too little too late, Edward?” Archie told him.
“Archie, you can be pissed at me. You have every right.”
“Thanks for your permission. Didn’t need it before. Don’t need it now.” Archie flexed his fingers around mine. The tension cording through him had me squeezing his hand and keeping a firm grip. I didn’t want him lunging forward and punching Eddie. Even if I kind of wanted to do that myself.
“Fine, I got your message with the takeover.”
Was he kidding with that shit right now?
“Maybe this will go a ways toward proving I would like to try and open a dialogue with you.” He pulled an envelope out of his jacket and held it out to me. It even had my name on it. I would sooner stick my hand in a beehive.
“Is that a bribe?” Archie asked.
“No, it’s a gift. It’s the same one you got on your eighteenth.”
“I’m not your daughter,” I interrupted. “Why are you doing this? I get that you wanted it to be true for whatever reason, but it’s not. And you’re doing this to Archie? Why?”
“Babe, it’s okay…”
“No, it really fucking isn’t.” I glared at Edward. “You’re not my father. You’re his father. You don’t act like it. You want to be his father, then start listening to him and don’t treat him like some goddamn afterthought. If you can’t do more than that, then get the fuck out of here and go away.”
Archie didn’t deserve this shit from anyone.
Edward glanced down at the envelope in his hands and then back to Archie. “I can see why she means so much to you.” With that, he set the envelope down on the stone wall nearest my apartment. “That’s for you. For your birthday. Give it to Archie if you want. He’ll know what to do with it.” He paused another beat, then said, “It won’t mean anything, to either of you, but Maddy lied and I have to accept that. I wanted to believe the lie because I made a lot of bad decisions, but you weren’t a bad decision Archie. I know my behavior doesn’t support that assertion, but you never were. Maybe in time, we can talk on neutral ground and you can let me try to get to know you.”
“Or maybe you can keep going,” Jake suggested when Archie said nothing.
“Yeah, ’cause you’re utterly fucking with the vibe,” Rachel added from behind us. “This is party time for the eighteen-year-olds. Everyone over thirty needs to jump off, and all douche canoe parents need to drown.”
A faint snort escaped Archie at Rachel’s proclamation, and I glanced at him to find him shaking his head, but smiling.
I bumped his hip, and he looked at me. The tension around his eyes softened, and his smile grew.
I mouthed ‘I love you,’ and he kissed me. Sweet, tender, and loving, and he didn’t let up until a car door slammed and Jake muttered, “And he’s out.”
Blowing out a breath, Archie rested his forehead against mine. “You’re a little vicious when provoked.”
“She’s a lot vicious,” Coop told him as he slapped his shoulder on the way past. “Just be glad she didn’t clock him.”
“Yeah,” Jake said. “’Cause she might have bruised her hand, and I would have had to kick his ass.”
Ian chuckled as the three of them flowed ahead toward the apartment and Rachel followed. “Is it bad that I would pay to see that?” They left Archie and me alone, but neither of us moved until his father’s car pulled away.
“You okay?” I asked him, and he ran his finger along the chain of the necklace he’d put on me that morning and tugged the pendant out. I’d hidden it under my shirt because as beautiful as it was, I didn’t want to risk something happening to it.
“I’m fine, I don’t want him spoiling your birthday.”
“He can’t spoil anything. We’re together. We won.”
He grinned wider and tugged me in for a hug. “Yeah, we won. I still want to punch him.”
“Me too,” I agreed, and he laughed. Side by side, we walked over to the letter on the wall, and I picked it up. “Trash it or open it?”
He studied me a moment. “You’d just throw it away without knowing what it is?”
“I don’t want anything from him. The most valuable thing he ever did is standing right in front of me, and I already have you.”
“Charmer,” he teased, but I didn’t miss the pleased smile he wore. “You realize that’s my job.”
“Birthday girl…” I reminded him, and he threw his head back and laughed.
“Open it, let’s get the insanity out of the way, and then back to your magical birthday weekend.”
“Magical is it?” I squinted at him as I slit the envelope open. “Hmm, you’re taking me to a Torched concert. Again. Not sure you can top this, Mr. Sexy Pants.”
He snickered. “Challenge accepted.”
Inside the envelope was some weird contract looking thing. Great, the bad billionaire dad gave me some kind of legal contract? Archie held out a hand, and I passed it over.
A snort escaped him. “Damn, Grandpa, that was cold.”
“What?”
“I get why Grandpa waited for the day he did. See the executable date here?” He pointed to the notarized date, which happened when we were on spring break.
“Okay, I don’t get it.”
“Grandpa pushed him out at Standish, and he didn’t have the support or the shares to hold Grandpa off, partially because he gave me ten percent on my birthday and he just handed you ten percent today.”
Ten percent?
“Of Standish?”
“Yep,” Archie said, folding it closed and sliding it into the envelope. “Guess you can now take care of me in the style to which I want to become accustomed. However, you cannot hire Jeremy away. I’ll keep paying for him.”
I gawked at him.
“He can’t just give me…”
“He did.”
“But it’s yours.”
“I don’t care.”
“Archie.”
“Babe,” he teased me by mocking my tone. “Stop worrying about him or this. It’s time to take the birthday girl to the concert. Especially since the quickies are now on hold since Rachel got here before we ditched him.”
I laughed. “Subtle.”
“Nothing subtle about it,” he teased. “Birthday sex? Definitely on the menu.”
“Good thing we already got a start on that,” I teased him as we headed up the short steps to the door.
“And that we have all weekend.”
A shiver went through me at the promise twining every syllable.
The next hour flew past as Rachel helped me
with my makeup as we got ready. Through unspoken agreement, no one brought up Archie’s dad, and we skipped on past to having fun.
“Live a little,” Rachel insisted when she pulled one of the black skirts out of my closet. “You always wear jeans. Drive the boys nuts. Let them wonder if you’re commando all night.”
“Rachel,” I scolded with a laugh.
“Trust me, it’s your birthday. Make them work for it. Plus, it’s going to get hot at the concert and the skirt will be easier than the jeans for cooling off.”
She did have a point.
“I will if you will,” I told her and she smirked.
Of course, she probably brought a skirt. “I intended to, we’ve got backstage passes and I have killer legs. Not as killer as yours, but since you have them all tied up in a game of Twister around those four, I’ll be able to steal the show.”
I went with one of the concert tank tops I’d gotten in Colorado and tied it so it bared a section of midriff, then paired it with a black skirt. Rachel dug into my closet and found a pair of boots I hadn’t worn since sophomore year. But they were calf length and had a slight heel to them.
Thrusting them at me, she said, “Wear these. Do you have fishnet stockings?”
“No,” I told her. “And I don’t want any.”
“True. Going commando would preclude any kind of stockings or tights.”
“I’m not going commando.”
“Live a little,” Rachel teased. “You’re eighteen and have four hot hunks ready to do you any where at any time. Can you imagine sexing it up during the concert? All that thumping music? Hot sweaty bodies moving? I bet you could sit right down on one of them and writhe your way to—”
I clapped a hand over her mouth. “Unless you plan on telling me about the dick you’ve been testing out, you’re going to leave their dicks out of it.”
She wrinkled her nose, then rolled her eyes and huffed. “Fine. Killjoy.”
Bumping her with my hip, I finished getting ready. I half-wanted to leave the necklace here. It would kill me if something happened to it, but I’d also done emerald eye shadow to pair with it and some dark smoky thing Rachel did with eyeliner to make my eyes pop even more. It kind of looked more like a cat’s eye, but that worked for me.