Broken and Screwed 2 (The BS Series)

by Tijan

  Oh, snap.

  I wasn’t sure who was more surprised, Hannah or me. They weren’t scared of her anymore.

  “Let’s go. I’m ready.” I grabbed my stuff and tugged on her arm.

  “Yeah.” Hannah twisted around as I steered her out the door. “Reject, my ass. Jesse Hunt’s coming to pick her up tonight. That’s right. The only one who got rejected was you when you hit on him last weekend.” I pulled her the last of the way, but she hollered as the door swung shut, “Don’t think I don’t know about that. You’re the reject, not her.”

  We heard the snort inside.

  I had to laugh. It was too ridiculous. “What’s going on with you? I like that they think we’re not together anymore.”

  “You’re so weird.”

  I shrugged. “I’d rather deal with that attitude than when they’re being fake and trying to be friends with me.”

  “You’re right. Having friends is horrible.”

  “They are when they’re not real. Who wants to surround yourself with people like that?”

  “You do. You’re buddy-buddy with my sister now?” Hannah pushed open the door and Beth sat up on the couch. She put her book on the floor.

  I set my stuff in my closet and went to my desk. As I opened my email, I frowned to myself. I should’ve seen this coming. Since my mother’s departure and the revelations from that night, Tiffany had extended an olive branch to me. We had come to a cease fire after my parent’s first visit, but it was now bordering on a we’ll-not-ignore-each-other-and-maybe-say-hello-bu t-only-when-no-one-else-is-around sort of deal. Hannah hated it. I’d been waiting for this to happen and I said now, “We’re not buddy buddy.”

  “You had lunch with her yesterday.”

  “Because she eats with Jamie in that private cafeteria and I eat with Jesse. We walked together. That was it.”

  Beth rolled her eyes and laid back on the couch. Her book was opened again and I knew she tuned us out. Hannah scrunched her eyebrows together as she shook her head.

  I gestured to her closet. “Are you ready? The guys will be here in five minutes.”

  She groaned, stripping her shirt off in one smooth motion. It was lifted over her head and her jeans were unsnapped and flung across the room in the next second. With matching black bra and panties already on, she grabbed a dress and shimmied it over and down her body. The thong fell to the floor and she kicked it into her closet, before shutting it and sitting on the couch.

  “Hey!” Beth scrambled to keep from being sat on.

  Hannah ignored her as she leaned forward. Her hair was flipped over and she wound it together in a twisted up-do. Snapping it in place with a clip, she straightened. Her hair fell down, framing her face with curls that looked professionally done.

  Bitch.

  I sighed and turned back to my computer. “Things have thawed between your sister and me, but we’re not friends. You do not have to worry about that happening.”

  Hannah snorted as someone knocked on the door. “Whatever. If you come home with a friendship bracelet from her, I’m moving out. That’s all I’m going to say.” She went to the door and swung it open.

  Instead of the guys, Kara gave us a friendly wave. “Are you ready? The guys are downstairs.”

  As we traipsed through the hallway and the lobby, we had expected Derek and Jesse. They were there, along with Jamie, Tiffany, Cord, and a new date. He held hands with an exotic-looking girl this time, and like the others, she stood in the background. She was chewing her lips as she eyed Tiffany.

  Go figure.

  Hannah put the brakes on. “What the hell? You cannot come.”

  Tiffany tossed back her golden locks. “Like hell. You’re getting serious with this guy. I’m checking him out.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  The two squared off and Jamie eased away from them. He stepped sideways, around Derek and Kara, and saw me. “Looking good, Connors.”

  An arm came around my waist. I was pulled into Jesse’s side as he remarked, “Are you hitting on her now?”

  “No.” Horror flashed in Jamie’s eyes. “No way, man. No way at all. Just saying, she looks good. You’re a lucky man.” Leaning forward, he patted Jesse on the shoulder. It was the most awkward exchange I ever witnessed between the two.

  “Thanks.”

  “Oh helllll noo.”

  Beth and I snapped to attention. That was Hannah’s war cry. As we turned around, the two girls from the bathroom were there. They were dressed to go out in tight, short dresses. But when I expected them to leave, they didn’t. They stayed. That was when I clued in to what Hannah had realized right away. Even though they didn’t come over to the group, they lingered close enough to overhear the conversations.

  Hannah stepped up to them. Her arm twisted in the air and her hand found her hip. She stuck it out. Her elbow mirrored the motion as her eyes bulged at the girls. “You are not doing what I know you’re doing.”

  They both tried to look bored. Only one succeeded. The other’s chest was rising too quickly and she wouldn’t look away from Jesse. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped to a small o. I couldn’t blame her as I snuck a peek. His shirt clung to him, but it wasn’t too tight. It showed off his lean physique. Then Hannah purposely moved to block her view. I moved to the side and saw the girl looked ready to piss her pants, but the first yawned, “Can you get out of my breathing space? You’re sucking all the air in.”

  Tiffany stepped next to her sister. That was when I learned where Hannah had gotten some of her fighting ways. The two looked so similar, almost like twins, as they turned their noses up at the other two. Well, Tiffany tilted her head back so she was snubbing the two. Hannah had her head bent and her eyes were locked on her target. If she could’ve drilled holes into the girl, she would’ve. Tiffany and Hannah were a unified front.

  I was close to pissing my pants and their hatred wasn’t directed at me.

  Beth sighed as she locked elbows with both of her cousins. “Come on. This is stupid. If they find out where we’re going, they’re going to find out. Let’s go.”

  “No way.” Hannah dug her feet in.

  “Tiffany.”

  She swept a hand to the girls. “I’m supporting my sister. I’m trying a new leaf too. Join, not judge. I’m a supportive sister.”

  Beth’s eyebrows shot up. I frowned. Hannah’s mouth dropped. “You’re doing what?” But she didn’t wait. She rolled her eyes and grabbed her sister’s arm. “Let’s go. I’ll text everyone directions from the car. No way are these two riding coattails.”

  The one harrumphed. The second one’s teeth started chattering. She was still holding her breath.

  Everyone separated into cars. Beth and Hannah rode with Jesse and me. Cord, Cord’s date went with Jamie and Tiffany. Derek and Kara took their own vehicle. When we got into the vehicles, the two girls from my floor hurried into their own car.

  “I should slice their tires,” Hannah grumbled.

  “Don’t. You’ll get into more trouble.”

  She shot her cousin a glare and stuck her bottom lip out. “Whatever. Jesse, go fast. Those two pariahs are going to tell everyone where you’re at.”

  “No, they won’t,” Beth corrected her. “They want him to themselves. They won’t tell a soul.”

  After we got directions to The Jukebox, Jesse grinned when he pulled into the parking lot. There was a line outside of the single door to a small dive bar. Three giant-sized security guards were in front checking drivers’ licenses.

  “Nice one, Hannah,” Beth griped. “They’re checking IDs; no one in this car is twenty-one.”

  “Shut up. I’ll call Emerson. He’s in the band. I’m sure he can get us in.”

  “Wait.” Jesse twisted ar
ound. “You said Emerson?”

  She nodded, holding her breath at suddenly being Jesse’s sole focus. “Uh, yeah. He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Around five foot ten?”

  She nodded, still holding her breath.

  “Bald?”

  Another nod.

  “Scar across his face?”

  Once again.

  Jesse grinned. “Attitude up his ass?”

  “You know him.” She didn’t look happy about that.

  “Yeah. We’ll get in just fine.” Then he got out of the car and made a phone call. A minute later, a girl opened a back door. It’d been overlooked since it was hidden behind two large dumpsters. She waved at Jesse, who gestured back.

  As I got out of the car, I knew that girl. She was the same stunner from The Shack. Black hair, black eyes, and a body that I knew every guy wanted. I tugged on Jesse’s sleeve. “Isn’t that…what’s her name?”

  “Bri.” As the group walked over, he flashed her a grin. “Hey, Bri. The guys are playing tonight?”

  She rolled her eyes and swiped back some of her hair. Tiffany instantly lifted her top lip in a faint snarl. Hannah was all smiles, wiggling her fingers at the girl. Eyeing Hannah cautiously, recognition flared in her depths when she switched to me. “Hi. You’re…”

  “Alex. From the—”

  “Yeah,” she cut me off, skirting a nervous glance to the others. “I remember. Luke texted you, Jesse?”

  “Nope. Not this time.” He gestured to Hannah, who linked elbows with me. “She’s a friend of Alex’s. I believe she’s dating your cousin.”

  “Yeah.” No warmth traveled to her gaze as she lingered on our linked arms. “That’s too bad.”

  Beth started laughing. Hannah stiffened and Jamie snorted. “Even she knows you’re a whore, Hannah.”

  Before she could twist around and slap him, I tugged Hannah with me into the overcrowded bar. As we passed by Bri, who was holding the door for us, I murmured, “Thanks for letting us in like this.”

  She shrugged. “Luke really likes Jesse. It’s no problem.” After everyone was inside, she shoved through the crowd back to our side. “Just don’t get in trouble since you’re underage and don’t—”

  But whatever else she was going to say was cut off. A guy from the bar shouted her name, “Brielle! Help please!”

  She groaned. “I have to go. If you need drinks, come to the edge of the bar. Only you two.” She pointed to Jesse and me. “I only like you two. Gotta go.”

  And just like that, she was swallowed up by the crowd. Expecting her to emerge from behind the bar, I was surprised when she merely climbed on top of a barstool. A large muscular guy from behind the counter lifted her over the bar and sat her down beside him. He ruffled her hair, which she slapped away and then she started filling orders right away.

  Jamie sidled up next to Jesse. “Holy shit! That’s Braille on stage.”

  Tiffany stood next to him. She was captivated by something beside the stage. I followed her gaze and saw Hannah had already taken root there. Beth was next to her, biting her lip, and casting wary looks at the crowd behind them. More than a few scantily clad girls were pushing forward for a better spot.

  “Oh my god,” Tiffany groaned. “She’s dating a rockstar? Those guys are the worst guys to date.”

  Her boyfriend threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. He shrugged. “They’re a match made in heaven. Hannah doesn’t stick with the same guy two nights in a row and my guess he doesn’t keep the same girl long. I heard they’re all manwhores in the band.”

  “Something you have in common with them?” Cord joined the conversation. His date looked unable to form words, much less thoughts. Her eyes were bulging out at the band.

  “Not anymore.” Tiffany gave him the snarl instead. “That’s changed since I caught him with my sister.”

  Jamie had the decency to show a little shame. He pressed a kiss to his girlfriend’s forehead. “She’s the only one I want anyway.”

  Jesse had been quiet beside me, but Luke caught sight of him. Still singing, he lifted his head in an acknowledgement. Jesse gave one back. Everyone caught the shared greeting. Cord was the one who asked, “You know the band?”

  “Remember that night I almost got arrested because I helped a guy out in a fight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Luke was that guy.”

  “Holy shit!” Jamie exclaimed again and shook his head in irritation. “What? Do all you famous and rich people know each other? Who else do you know? I want to know them.”

  “I’ll make a list.”

  “Good. I want to be rich and famous someday.”

  “He was being sarcastic, asshole.” Cord shot him a dark look.

  Jamie frowned but kept quiet. His arm tightened around Tiffany and an awkward moment filtered among the group. Derek and Kara were the first ones to break it as he gestured to the back area. “We’re going to go look for a booth back there.”

  “I want to be closer to the stage.”

  Everyone knew Tiffany wanted to keep an eye on her sister.

  Derek said again, “We’ll look for a booth in the back.”

  She looked ready to argue, but Kara leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. After a few seconds, the elder Chatsworth’s shoulders loosened and dropped in defeat. She nodded and was tugged behind Kara. Their fingers were interlaced. Derek cast a shrewd glance over Cord to Jamie, but followed them. As they disappeared, Jamie frowned and asked, “What’s your problem, man?”

  “Nothing.” But Cord took his date and went after them.

  Jamie looked to us. “What’d I do?”

  Jesse shrugged and clapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Cord’s been off lately. Just give him space.”

  “I give everybody space. Am I that bad to be around?”

  The cockiness fell away and a flash of vulnerability replaced it. I was given an image of a five year old version of Jamie. It was as if he’d lost his favorite puppy as he waited for our answer. I held my breath, but Jesse spoke up, “You’re asking me that? You just got back into the house.”

  “Oh yeah.” The little boy was gone and he winked, full of his old self, all slimy again. “Never mind then. That’s awesome that you know Braille. Really awesome. Thank god too. I didn’t want to have to be nice to Hannah to get in an introduction. All right. I’m off for shots. You guys want some?”

  Jesse shook his head. “No, but take a bunch to those guys back there and stay away from Cord.”

  As Jamie left, I moved closer to him. “What’s wrong with Cord?”

  He shrugged and put both of his arms around my waist. He pressed a kiss to my forehead. His lips brushed against me as he answered, “He gets like this sometimes. These are the nights when he winds up in jail.”

  I frowned. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. We’ve never talked about it. Why?” He moved away so he could peer down at me. “Are you worried about Cord?”

  “No, but he’s helped me. And I know he’s the closest guy friend you have here.”

  “Oh.” His expression softened and he pulled me close again. He rested his cheek against my forehead. “He’s not family, Alex.”

  Warmth filled me. He meant Ethan and me. At that thought, the small grin slipped. I had tried blocking all thoughts of my brother over the last month, but they snuck in. This wasn’t a time to start dwelling so I pulled away. “I’m going to get some drinks.”

  Jesse frowned, but didn’t say anything. Instead, his hand held mine firm and he adjusted so he led us through the crowd. We went to the edge of the bar. It was where the other staff could go behind the bar, but Brielle saw us right away. We had our drinks almost as soon as we told them to her. She flashed two fingers in a
greeting to us before she was off, filling more orders. Jesse gave her a five for a tip before we went in search for the others.

  The band took a break an hour into their set, but I was drunk by then. After our entire group settled into a table closer to the stage, Hannah and Jamie declared themselves in charge of drinks. She kept putting shots in front of me. Jamie tried, but I slid those over to Jesse. When he reminded me that he was the sober driver, I pushed them to Hannah instead. She took half and made Beth take the other half. It wasn’t long before Beth disappeared. When I asked her cousin where she went, she leaned close and yelled into my ear, “She called her fuck buddy. He came to get her. He’s not working at Club T tonight.”

  I still wanted to know who he was, but I was starting to figure out that Beth would never tell me. Only Hannah knew, but she wasn’t told. She’d followed her cousin one night to find out.

  Thinking about that, I started giggling. I couldn’t stop. Even when Jesse pulled me onto his lap and nuzzled underneath my ear, I kept going. That was when the band descended on us, or Emerson swooped in on Hannah. She’d been dancing by our table and he merely lifted her in the air and carried her through the bar.

  Luke came over and extended his arm to Jesse. The two shook hands as the lead singer slipped into my abandoned seat. He folded his arms over the table and leaned forward. I didn’t know if he was hoping for incognito. It wasn’t working. Every set of eyes were on our table. Because of Braille’s presence and because he was only in a simple shirt and jeans, not many had recognized Jesse, but a few guys came over for autographs. More started over now, but both Jesse and Luke were being handed napkins to sign. A few bras were thrown on the table. After the first rush died down, Luke was able to signal for a drink. Then he turned to us, “Sorry about that. I wasn’t expecting to see you guys here tonight.”

  “Your guitarist is dating one of Alex’s friends.”

  Luke grimaced. “Sorry about that too.”

  “Bri had the same sentiment.”