Games of Fire

by Airicka Phoenix

  “Deserter!” she shouted after him, ignoring the odd stares she received from other shoppers.

  “Where’s he going?” Jessie appeared at her side.

  “He’s making a run for it!” Sophie muttered, glaring venomously after him. “Coward.”

  Jessie giggled. “Come on. Lauren found a dress she says you’ll like.”

  Sophie allowed herself to be pulled deeper into the store.

  Lauren stood by the change room, a poppy red dress draped over her arm. She grinned at Sophie, clearly enjoying the power she seemed to wield.

  “You’ll like this one,” she told Sophie, thrusting the material into Sophie’s chest and shoving her behind the curtain.

  “You said that about the last thirty.”

  “Yes, well, I’m sure this time.”

  “You said that, too!”

  She hated to admit it, but once the dress was over her head and zipped up, she loved it. It fell high up on her thighs, much shorter than her mother would ever allow, but with a pair of tights, she could probably get away with it. The collar fell modestly over her collarbone and the sleeves were puffy little teacups. But it was the back that sold her. There wasn’t one. The back opened halfway down in a playful U before the skirt took over at her waist. A thin strap bridged across her shoulder blades, keeping the sleeves from slipping off her shoulders. The material was soft and the skirt flirty, sweeping around her thighs and ballooning out perfectly when she twirled. She loved it.

  “Are you alive in there?” Lauren called.

  “We found a keeper!” she called back, poking her head out from behind the curtain. “It’s perfect.”

  She stepped out for her friends to see, delighted when they ooh’d and ahh’d, agreeing with her. She hurriedly changed back into her regular clothes and took her dress to the front counter.

  The girl behind the counter had just finished ringing her up and stowing her dress into the bag when her hands stilled on the bag handle. Her glossy lips formed an O and her brown eyes stared across the store, wide and slightly unfocused. Sophie followed her gaze and smiled.

  “Hey!” she called, watching Spencer’s approach.

  He returned her smile with a light kiss to her lips. “Done?”

  Sophie nodded, taking her bag from the crestfallen girl. “Found the perfect dress. No! You can’t see.” She jerked the bag away when he tried to take a peek. “I want you to be surprised.” She looked down at his empty hands. “Where did you go, traitor?”

  He pushed a hand through his hair, smiling at her crookedly. “I want you to be surprised.”

  She poked him in the belly, making him grunt. “Meany.”

  They spent the next three hours wandering about looking for dresses for Lauren and Jessie. Then another hour finding matching accessories. They stopped at the food court for a quick bite before resuming their hunt. It was nearly midnight before Lauren finally pulled up Sophie’s driveway and dropped them off.

  “Still think shopping with us was a good idea?” Sophie turned to Spencer as the Coop’s back lights faded down the street.

  Spencer shrugged. “It wasn’t too bad, but I do feel a little gypped that I didn’t at least see you in a bathing suit. I thought I was very well behaved.”

  Sophie chuckled. “You’re such a pervert.”

  His arm hooked around her waist and she was drawn into him. “Yes, but you love that about me.”

  He kissed her, sending delicious little shivers all up and down her body. Her arms went around his neck as she pressed closer, missing the ability to be with him at any point in the day. It was the only downside to no longer living with his father. She really missed being surrounded by him at night.

  She drew back when something long and hard pressed into her thigh. She tilted her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

  He snorted, squeezing a hand between them to tap lightly on the bulge in his pocket with a finger. It made a soft hollow sound, like cardboard. “Who’s the pervert now?”

  She grinned, kissing him. “You’re rubbing off on me.”

  He growled something that sounded suspiciously like I wish and he kissed her back.

  Around them, the night shifted, whispering soft secrets of joy and lust and happiness. It floated in the cool breeze, winding around them with silky hands. Sophie would have happily stayed there, lost in Spencer’s embrace, lost mindlessly in his kisses, but their moment was shattered by the thunderous crack of something snapping beneath careless feet. They both stiffened, pulling back to survey the darkness concealing the eyes watching them.

  Sophie shuddered, chiding herself for being so paranoid. It might have been a cat or a raccoon. There was no one watching her. Yet the sensation of being watched had her pressing closer to Spencer.

  “It’s nothing,” he told her, but there was an edge to his tone as he surveyed the street around them. “Come on.” He took her hand and nudged her ahead of him towards her front door. He walked her all the way to the porch, keeping himself between her and whatever had caused the noise. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he promised, kissing her lightly.

  He waited until she was through the door before leaving, walking straight past a shadow that shifted and peeled away from the rest. Hard eyes watched his retreating back, hand closing around the blade at his side.

  Soon enough.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “You’re not going!” her father said the morning of the dance. “Did you think I would forget what happened at the hotel?”

  Desperate and trying so hard not to cry, Sophie chased after him as he hurried around the kitchen getting breakfast. “Dad, please! I promise I’ll stay home for the rest of the year if you just let me go tonight. Please! It’s Valentine’s Day!”

  “It could be Christmas for all I care,” he retorted, stuffing Pop-Tarts into the toaster. “You’re not going.”

  “What’s going on in here?” Her mother walked into the room, glancing from her to her father questioningly.

  “He won’t let me go to the Valentine’s Day party,” Sophie said, her tone pleading. “Please tell him I can go!”

  “Why can’t she go again?” her mother asked her father.

  Her father sputtered indigently. “Mary! The hotel!”

  Her mother winced. “Oh yes, I remember.”

  “I said I was sorry!” Sophie clapped her hands together in front of her, begging. “I promise I’ll take my punishment without an ounce of complaint if you just let me go tonight. It’s my first Valentine’s Day party ever and I finally have a boyfriend to go with. Please!”

  “A boyfriend you’re in trouble because of!” her father said, stirring cream into his coffee.

  “Oh come on! It’s been a really long month and Spencer has been there for me every single time. He was in this mess because of me. He saved me from those guys at the party—” She realized too late it was the wrong argument to make.

  “Yes, let’s talk about that party, the one you didn’t even tell us about, the one you snuck out of the house to go to, the one that started all of this.”

  Sophie winced. “Dad—”

  He shook his head. “No, no, don’t Dad me, Sophie. You betrayed our trust. You lied to us and you went behind our backs. I don’t think you deserve to get anything you want for a very long time.”

  The loud clunk of his mug striking the counter finalized his decision, even if he hadn’t marched out of the room. They heard the front door open and bang closed as he left without his breakfast. Sophie slumped into the counter, trying and failing to suppress the tears blinding her.

  “Oh honey.” Her mother pulled Sophie into her arms. “I’m sorry.”

  “Can’t you talk to him?” she pleaded. “I promise I won’t ask for anything ever again.”

  Her mother pursed her lips, her answer already written across the apologetic frown on her face. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “I can’t. Your father’s right. You made a whole lot of really bad decisions this time,
kiddo.”

  She was still fighting back the urge to cry when Spencer picked her up. He took one look at her and instantly went into defense.

  “What happened?”

  Sophie told him, not meeting his gaze. “I can’t blame them. I totally messed up.”

  He looked thoughtful for a moment as he stared just over her head. He remained that way for so long, she thought he’d gone to sleep with his eyes open. Then, he just smiled. “Come on. We’ll be late.”

  Jessie and Lauren took the news much better. They were both appalled and frustrated. They raged and ranted throughout their entire lunch period, which made Sophie feel a little better, until Jessie said, “Well, if you’re not going, then we’re not going.”

  Sophie shook her head. “You guys should go. No point all of us missing it. Besides,” she looked at Lauren with a raised eyebrow. “Roy’ll be there.”

  Lauren’s face closed up tighter than a clam with a secret. “What makes you think I want to see him?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” Sophie threw her hands up. “Lauren, you’ve been crazy about the guy for years! What gives?”

  Lauren frowned, looking down at her hands. “Nothing. I’m just not interested.”

  “Did he hurt you?” Sophie demanded. “Because I will—”

  “Of course not! I can take care of myself.”

  “What then?” Sophie leaned forward. “Come on, Lauren. What’s going on?”

  For several long minutes, it looked like she wasn’t going to say a word. She just sat and watched her fingers roll her fork over and over. Her gaze darted up once to glance up and down their empty table, as if making certain they were the only three there.

  “It wouldn’t have worked out,” she muttered at last. “I mean, he’s Roy Praxton and I’m … no one. He’d realize it sooner or later and … I’d just rather not go through that, okay?”

  “Lauren!” Jessie gasped.

  “Where in the world did that idea come from?”

  Lauren bristled. “Hey! Not all of us can have a gorgeous guy tripping all over himself trying to make us happy, okay? Some of us are more realistic about things like this.”

  Sophie frowned. “The guy is nuts about you!”

  “It’s lust. He doesn’t care about me.”

  “That’s bullshit, Laur!” Sophie countered. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I’ve seen him watching you. He’s totally hung up on you.”

  Lauren’s dark gaze darted over Sophie’s shoulder to where Roy sat, laughing at something Brian was saying. “Mmhmm, I see that. He’s really hurting.”

  “Oh he is, Lauren,” Jessie chimed in. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you walk by, like his world is incomplete.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s probably never had a sister dump his sexy behind before. And you.” She jabbed a finger at Jessie. “Lay off the romance novels! I almost choked on that bit of cheese you just tried to feed me.”

  Sophie leaned forward. “Lauren, what did you tell me when I was having Spencer issues?”

  Lauren groaned. “Man, I knew that would come around to bite me in the ass!”

  It took some effort, but Sophie bit back her grin. “Shut up and go over there!”

  “I’m not going over there! Why would I want to humiliate myself?”

  Sophie narrowed her eyes. “All right, if you won’t go to him … ” She turned in her seat.

  “What are you doing?”

  She ignored Lauren’s wary question. “Roy!”

  “What are you doing?” The question was said in a near panic this time. “Sophie!”

  But Roy was looking over now. His eyebrows shot up when Sophie waved him over. He said something to his friends and rose to his feet.

  Jessie was right. His gaze sought and fixed on Lauren, as if the very sight of her was a punch in the gut. The look of pain intensified the closer he drew until he stood at Sophie’s shoulder.

  “What’s up?” he said, eyes still glued on Lauren, who was pretending he didn’t exist by stabbing her meatloaf in a way that made Sophie wonder if the girl was imagining her face.

  “Lauren has something she wants to say to you.”

  Lauren’s head shot up, her eyes narrowed in warning. “No I don’t!”

  “Yes, you do!” Sophie prompted.

  “If you leave … let’s just say I know where you live!”

  But Sophie had already gathered her things and was getting ready to leave. Jessie picked up on Sophie’s plan and quickly followed suit.

  “Roy, don’t let her out of your sight until she talks!”

  “Sophie!” Lauren snarled.

  “Talk to him!” Sophie growled back. “Come on, Jess.”

  “Jessie!” Lauren turned pleading eyes on the softhearted one in their group.

  “I’m sorry!” Jessie whined, turning and literally running from the cafeteria.

  “Well, I’m leaving, too!” Lauren stood up.

  “I’ll just follow you,” Roy said quietly, circling around the table to stand blocking her way. “I want answers. I want to know why you left me without an explanation.”

  Lauren shifted, not meeting Roy’s gaze. “I told you—”

  “I’m getting really tired of this game, Laurie—”

  “Don’t call me that!”

  The corner of his mouth dipped upwards. “You didn’t mind it before.”

  “That was different.”

  “How? How is it different? What did I do wrong? Tell me, please?” The heartbreaking plea in his eyes broke Sophie’s heart. “Did I go too fast? Did I hurt you?”

  “No!” She was breaking. Sophie could see it in the slump of her shoulders. “It’s not you. You didn’t do anything. I just … ”

  He raised a hand and lightly touched the side of Lauren’s face. Lauren’s eyes fluttered. “What?” he murmured.

  “I’m not … them!” Lauren said, jerking her chin towards his friends. “I don’t ever want to be like them. I don’t want to be anyone but me and that won’t work.”

  Roy’s brows furrowed. “You lost me.”

  She sighed. “I don’t fit in your world and I’m not about to change so I can. I like being me.”

  “Baby girl, when did I ever ask you to be anyone else? Why would I? I love everything about you. I want you, the girl that threatened to beat me with my own arms if I didn’t give her all the keys to my bedroom.”

  Lauren’s cheeks darkened and her lips twitched. “I was giving you a fair warning.”

  He laughed. “That’s what I love about you.” His finger lightly touched her chin. “You’re fierce, like an Amazon. You’re loyal and smart and fun. The night at the cabin was probably the best night of my life until I woke up to a note telling me not to come after you.”

  “You didn’t listen,” she muttered.

  He shrugged, his grin teasing. “Yeah well, I wasn’t about to let you just walk away.”

  Sniffling back tears, Sophie edged away, knowing her friend was in good hands and probably wanted privacy. But she hadn’t gotten two steps before Lauren’s voice slammed into her back.

  “I’d sleep with one eye open, Valdez!” But there wasn’t a shred of heat behind the threat.

  Sophie snickered. “I’m not worried. You have enough to occupy your time.”

  Lauren tried to glower, but the smile refused to be restrained. It broke across her face, bright and beautiful. Her eyes danced with it as she peered up into Roy’s face.

  Feeling like she wanted to do a jig, Sophie spun around and slammed into someone. Familiar hands steadied her.

  “Where have you been?” she asked, looking up at Spencer.

  “I had a call to make,” he said simply. “What did I miss?”

  Sophie smirked, quite satisfied with her work. “Nothing, just bullying my friends around.”

  Spencer chuckled, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “That’s my girl.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I have a question for you.” He led her out of the cafeteria an
d away from the noise.

  She faced him. “What’s up?”

  “Why do you want to go to this party tonight?”

  Sophie frowned. “What do you mean?”

  He shrugged. “Well, is there a pressing reason?”

  “You mean besides the fact that it’s my first Valentine’s with a boyfriend?”

  “So you want to go because of me?”

  Now she was severely confused. “I don’t understand. Of course you’re the reason I want to go! I mean, not the only reason. I want to hang out with my friends and stuff, but yeah, I want to be with you.”

  He beamed. “Good! Be ready for eight.”

  Sophie blinked. “What?”

  But he was gone, disappearing down the hall.

  He ignored her questions after school. He ignored her threatening, bribing and attempt at seduction. The latter only complicated things when her father walked out of the house to find them pressed against the side of his car, in a very R-rated embrace. But before Spencer left her to stumble her way inside, he grinned and said, “Don’t forget. Eight.”

  Again, he was gone before she could press him.

  Inside, she eyed her parents, silently wondering if they had somehow changed their minds in the last six hours and had opted to let her go. Neither made any indication that this was the case, especially when she made hints that it was getting late and she should get ready for bed. Both her parents had stared at her oddly.

  “It’s only five,” her mother said. That was her first hint that they hadn’t changed their minds.

  All throughout supper, Sophie watched her parents, waiting for them to say something, but they idly chattered on about their day and the plans they were making for the weekend. Neither said a word about the party or Sophie’s punishment.

  “Your father and I are going out for a few hours,” her mother told her, already dressed in a beautiful taffeta dress in gun metal gray. Her hair was swept back and twisted into an elegant French bun at the back of her skull. She wore diamonds around her throat, dripping from her ears and glittering from around her wrist. She looked beautiful. The last time her mother had made this much of an attempt, it was because she was on her way to an old rival’s wedding.