My brows pinch together in confusion. “What do you mean? Didn’t I already tell you?”
“What are you planning to achieve? Do you want Brad to crawl back to you so you can be together again?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course not,” I scoff. “He broke my heart without a second thought. We are so done. There’s no coming back from that."
It’s getting clear that he’s been cheating on me with Daphne. I’d just been an idiot not to see it. And I’d be even more of an idiot if I take him back. This is just me getting back at what he did. I want to bruise his ego. Make him see that I’m not pining over him in some dark corner. Prove to him that he's not my loss.
My eyes narrow. “Although—”
“Why don’t I like the sound of that?” Allie cuts me off sarcastically.
“What I meant to say was,” I continue with a glare, “I wouldn’t mind if he’d come begging for me to take him back."
Brad realizing that letting me go was the biggest mistake of his life and proceeding to plead for another chance? Things can’t get any better than that.
Before she can interject, I add, "But it doesn't mean I'll give him another chance. I really won't. Maybe in the beginning, yeah, I probably would've jumped on it the second he asked. But, trust me, that ship has already sailed."
“I don’t know, Indie. You once said that he could be persuasive.”
Sighing, I grab her hand and squeeze it. “Listen, I know you don’t agree with this plan. But can you at least be supportive of it? Is it unreal and crazy? Totally. But this is what I want, and I really believe I can pull it off with the help of your brother. I need this, Allie.”
“Alright,” she exhales, conceding. “I won’t be a Negative Nancy anymore.” A small smirk forms on her lips. “But we can still egg his car, you know?”
I bark out a laugh. "Don't tempt me."
"I'm serious. We can ask for Gray and, um, Duane's help."
"I don't know. They might get in trouble."
It's not lost on me that she's the one persuading me to carry out some mischief when it's usually my M.O. It’s like our roles have switched. That or she read my mind when I thought she needed a little adventure.
"Only if we get caught.” She gives me a “duh” look. “Trust me, they'd be all over it. The two of them don’t like Brad, remember?"
I arch a brow. “Really? Even Duane?”
She shrugs. “He thinks Brad’s a douchebag, especially after he dumped you.”
“That’s kind of sweet.” I nibble my bottom lip. Then take a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do it.”
*******
"I can't believe we're doing this." A near-hysterical laughter bubbles out of Allison while we hide behind the bushes outside Brad's driveway.
It turned out she was right. Gray and Duane had been instantly on board with the egging plan. I didn't even have to convince them. They were already saying yes before I even finished talking.
So when school ended, the four of us rallied at Allie and Gray’s house and gathered all the eggs we needed. We managed to collect at least two dozen. They should be enough to do some damage. It wasn’t like we wanted to wreck his car, anyway.
We waited until it was dark to head over to the McNeelys’ so we wouldn’t get easily detected. Since, obviously, that was the last thing we wanted to happen.
So, here we are, currently hidden in the bushes.
Probably not the brightest idea, but there aren’t exactly other hiding places in Brad’s family property. Plus, we can quickly leave and make a run for it.
"This was your idea, remember?" I whisper to Allie.
When I thought that she could use a little adventure, this wasn't what I had in mind. Not that I’m complaining. Oh, not at all.
"I know! I can't believe I suggested it."
"Shush. Keep your voices down. We don't wanna get caught before we even start," Duane chides in a low voice.
"How about we don't want to get caught, period?" Grayson says dryly.
“We won’t,” Allie says. “We just have to make it fast.”
“Okay.” I draw in a deep breath. “Who’s going to throw first?”
Gray gives me a gentle nudge. “How about you do the honors, Red? It’s your payback, after all.”
Well, can’t argue with that.
“Here goes nothing.” Grabbing two eggs from the carton, I swing my arm back and throw them at Brad’s car as forcefully as I can. A victorious smile curves my lips at the satisfying sound of the eggs hitting the side window. “Who’s next?”
“Let’s try and hit the front side, shall we?” Duane snickers before swinging his arm and making a go for it.
We take turns throwing the eggs—laughing as quietly as possible among ourselves—until the cartons are empty. And when the porch light switches on, we run from the scene of the crime as fast as we can.
Gray parked his Jeep a couple of blocks away, so we're practically panting when we get there. Well, at least, Allie and I are. The two guys look like they just took a walk. Damn athletes.
"That was a fantastic idea, Beanie." Duane grins at Allie as he fishes a cigarette out of his back pocket and sticks it between his lips. "We should do it again."
'Beanie' is his nickname for her. That's because when we were kids, she loved to wear beanie hats. She took them everywhere. And I mean everywhere—in the bathroom, in her bed, wherever she went. Thankfully, she managed to outgrow it over the years, but the nickname has stuck.
"Stop calling me that," Allie snaps even though her tone suggests that she loves it when he calls her that.
Duane's smirk and the twinkle in his cerulean blue eyes tell me he knows it, too.
I narrow my eyes between the two of them. Is there something going on I don't know about?
"As much as I'd like to do that again, I don't think we'd be able to get away with it a second time," Gray says, oblivious to the weird banter between his sister and his best friend. With soft eyes, he turns to me. "How do you feel, Red?"
You know when people say that revenge makes you feel empty? That, in the end, it doesn't really provide happiness? Only hollow satisfaction?
Well, I beg to disagree.
"I feel so awesome!" I declare with a wide grin.
And I'm not even done yet. In fact, I'm just getting started.
CHAPTER 5
The mouth-watering aroma of bacon and eggs greet me when I walk into the kitchen. Mom and Dad are already seated at the table, and so is my brother, Sam, who’s tucked in his high chair and eating baby cereal.
He smiles wide when he sees me, his arms flapping about. “Eenie!”
So stinkin' adorable.
"Good morning, Sammy-bug." I place a kiss on his chubby cheek, inhaling his sweet baby scent.
"Morning, pumpkin."
"Morning, Dad, Mom," I chirp, pouring myself a steaming mug of coffee. Whistling under my breath, I pour myself a cup of coffee and pull up a chair across from Dad. Then fill my plate with toast and a helping of bacon and eggs.
By the time I’m done, my parents are practically gaping at me.
I blink at them. “What?”
"Why are you in a good mood?" Mom asks with a suspicious look on her face.
“Honey,” Dad chides.
“Oh, stop. You know she’s never been a morning person.” She points her coffee mug at me before taking a sip. “This is new.”
Well, it’s true. I’m not the best person to deal with in the morning. I wake up and get out of bed a grumpy, moody mess until I'm all filled up with caffeine.
But today is an exception.
Because I'm still riding the high of messing up Brad's car last night.
I grin at Mom, taking a sip of my coffee. "Just had a good dream is all."
"Well, I had a good dream, too," Dad tells me. "Didn't I tell you about it, honey?" He winks at Mom.
"Andrew," she admonishes, her cheeks red. “Not in front of the kids.”
"Oh, my God. Seriously
?" I gag. "I didn't have to hear that."
But that's my parents' marriage in a nutshell. They're one of those lovey-dovey couples that can be sickeningly sweet. I'm grateful that they're not the kind of couple who fight and act like they hate each other. I really am. But sometimes it's just too much.
"I saw Brad yesterday," Dad says all of a sudden. "He was with someone...a girl."
Aaaand my good mood vanishes.
I remain still, my eyes trained on the food on my plate, painfully aware of my parents' eyes on me.
When I don't react, Dad prods, "Did you two break up?"
I guess I have to tell him now. "Yes."
"Oh, pumpkin, I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's okay," I shrug, trying to sound casual. Not wanting to let on that I'd been unceremoniously dumped. "Our relationship has run its course."
"Well, I never really liked that boy in the first place."
My dad is awesome. He already knows whose fault it was without me saying it. Well, that or he's just being biased because I'm his daughter.
Probably the last one.
Either way, what he said was true. I once overheard him telling Mom that he thought Brad was a jerk. I didn't confront him about it though, and he didn't let it slip to me.
In retrospect, he probably didn't want me to think that he was meddling with my personal life. He trusted my own judgment and my ability to make decisions for myself. Just another reason why he's awesome.
"I like Grayson a lot better than him."
I almost choke on my food. Where did that come from? My eyes cut to Mom who's conveniently not meeting my gaze. Did she say something to Dad?
"Yes. Gray is a good kid like Allie. Well, it isn't surprising. Irene and Todd raised their kids well," Mom says, her tone deceptively casual.
Oh, she definitely said something. Which meant she didn't buy my alibi when Gray came in to see me.
Way to be sneaky, Mom.
Whatever. It's not like they're going to find out about my deal with Gray, anyway.
Finishing up my coffee and breakfast, I kiss Mom and Dad goodbye. "I'm going off to school."
Dad empties his own mug then hops up from his chair. "I'll drive you. I have to be at the bookstore early, anyway. I have a scheduled delivery at nine."
Great. I was about to ride the school bus, which I absolutely loathe.
"Give me five minutes then."
I run up the stairs, making quick work of brushing my teeth and applying makeup. Then once satisfied with the way I look, I grab my things and dash out to meet Dad in the driveway.
"Are you sure you're okay, pumpkin?" Dad presses once we're out on the road.
"The breakup still stings," I find myself blurting out. "But I'm dealing. One day at a time and all that."
"You know I'm just around if you need anyone to talk to."
Mom and I are pretty close. But I have a closer relationship with my dad. I guess it can be chalked up to us having similar interests—like our mutual love for books and our preference for fantasy adventure films like The Lord of the Rings franchise and the Harry Potter series. Mom often jokes that we're two peas in a pod.
But more than our shared interests, he's the first one I talk to whenever I'm going through something. I always seek his advice and wisdom. Mom doesn't mind though. She already has her hands full with Sam and her mommy vlog, as Dad and I jokingly call her channel.
"Do you want me to talk to his dad?"
I give him a horrified look. "You wouldn't dare!"
"It's just an offer, pumpkin." Only he sounds serious. Like he'll drive over at the McNeelys' right this minute if I so much as say the word.
But I don't want him to go there. Allie, Gray, Duane and I were just there last night. What if Arthur McNeely connects the dots and realizes I had something to do with his son's car? I'm sure he's discovered the carnage by now. He's probably pissed as hell about it.
Which means if my dad gets anywhere near their house today, we'll likely get busted. And that's the last thing I want to happen!
Thankfully, by the time he drops me off at school, I've already convinced him that a dad-to-dad confrontation is completely unnecessary.
Crisis averted.
*******
I'm outside the boys' locker room, waiting for Gray to come out so he can drive me home. His lacrosse team just finished a couple of hours of practice.
Which I had watched from the bleachers, shamelessly ogling the guys as they moved about. Who knew contact sports were pretty hot to watch? Why hadn't I noticed that before?
But what I did notice was the permanent pissed-off look on Brad's face whenever he glanced in my direction. Like he couldn't believe that I actually came to watch Gray practice when I'd never even gone for him when we were still together.
No matter how many times he’d convinced me to come, I wouldn’t budge. "It's just practice," I always reasoned, completely dismissing his request. Seeing me back at the bleachers had probably infuriated him like hell.
I'm so nailing this fake-girlfriend thing.
But then I remember his car—specifically what my friends and I did with it. What if he was in a bad mood because he somehow found out we were the ones who egged his car?
Crap. Why didn't I think of that sooner?
Well, Gray better come out of that locker room before Brad can even think to confront him. If he hasn't already.
Thankfully, as if listening in to my thoughts, Gray is the first one to step out. He looks like he just got out of the shower, his hair damp, dressed in a black hoodie and a pair of khaki shorts, his bag hiked over his shoulder.
He doesn't look pissed. Which means there hadn't been any confrontation.
A smirk curves his lips when he spots me. “If it isn’t my fake girlfriend.”
“Lower your voice down,” I whisper-yell, glancing around to check if anyone heard him.
“Relax, Red,” he chuckles. “No one else is around. It’s just us. What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were already gone.”
“I’m here so everyone will think I’m being a supportive girlfriend." I flash him a sweet smile. "Besides, you’re my ride home.”
“You mean you didn’t come to watch my awesomeness out on the field?”
I snort. “Doesn’t your neck hurt from carrying that big head?”
“Just stating facts, baby,” he winks.
Ugh. He’s so cocky sometimes.
It’s true though. He’s really great on the field. The way he moves and plays has been a sight to behold. My eyes kept tracking his movements out there. He definitely deserves the captain position. Despite what Brad had been saying, he earned it fair and square.
It just goes to show that Brad is being bitter about it. I don’t know why he is, though. It’s not like he was even in the running. It was just either Gray or Duane.
But I’m not about to tell Gray that. His ego is big enough as it is.
“So what's the plan, Red? Are we going to wait for McNeely to come out so he'll see us together?"
“Oh, my god! Can you say it a little louder so your teammates can hear you? Seriously, why are we even keeping it a secret at this point?” I throw my hands down in exasperation.
He laughs lightly. Then to my irritation, he reaches out to pinch my cheeks, hard. “You’re so cute when you’re mad.”
“Stop it.” I swat his hands away. Rubbing my cheeks, I glare at him. “Have you always been this obnoxious?”
“You mean, charming?” he winks.
"No." I roll my eyes. “Obnoxious. Just obnoxious.”
He’s about to retort to that when Brad suddenly walks out.
I don’t even think. I simply grab a fistful of Gray's shirt and pull him to me, slamming my lips against his.
Wrong. Freaking. Move.
Here's the thing. Gray is very popular with the girls of Maple Grove High—specifically, the ones he’d hooked up with. And if there's one thing that they agree on, it's that Gray is a phenomenal ki
sser. Like toe-curling, knees-going-weak kisser. And they swear it isn’t an exaggeration.
Well, let me tell you something—they're all telling the truth.
I was the one who initiated the kiss, but it didn’t take him long to take complete charge of it and basically drag me along for the ride. His lips move over mine in a sensual dance that has me moaning wantonly against them. Normally, I’d be embarrassed about it, but I just can’t bring myself to care right now.
Not when Gray is kissing me like he’s done it a thousand times—and then some. Not when he’s giving me the best kiss I’ve ever had. Holy hell, does he know how to use these magical lips of his.
When we finally pull away, my eyes are glassy, my lips throbbing. And my heart is going a mile a minute.
But I’m not the only one who looks affected. Gray’s eyes are hooded and full of heat, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if catching his breath.
We stare at each other for a long moment, stunned confusion mirrored in each other’s eyes, wondering what in the world just happened.
And I know, right now, we're thinking the same thing: did we just cross a line?
CHAPTER 6
"So, anyway, I told Nash I preferred to go to a fancy restaurant than hit the mall. Because, duh, we're not in middle school anymore. Then he took me to Alfredo's and, oh my God, their tenderloin steak was to die for! I swear, like you'd never believe." Kiera is talking my ear off in front of our lockers, oblivious to the fact that I'm not even paying attention.
My mind is preoccupied. I can't stop thinking about what happened between me and Grayson. How could a simple kiss affect me like this? But then, there wasn't anything simple about that kiss, was there?
It was a total breath-stealer, that’s what it was. I don't think I'd ever been kissed like that. Not the guys I’d kissed before. Not even Brad—oh, he was a good kisser, but he wasn't that skillful.
And wait, he saw us kiss, didn't he? He’s the reason why I panicked and practically mauled Gray, after all. It was supposed to be all for show.
But it didn’t work that way. Instead, I ended up getting lost in that mind-blowing kiss. I no longer cared if he was still standing there or not. And afterward, I didn't bother to check. Frankly, I forgot about his presence the moment Gray's lips touched mine.
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