CW Boys- The Complete Series Box Set

by C. Shell

  Cammy and I wanted to take two cars in case one us of wanted to leave early, but we were quickly outnumbered by three irritated males hell-bent on stopping us at every turn. I get their concern over drunkenness and fights getting in the way of their college scholorships, but they’re letting their fears get the best of them. If I can suck it up and force myself to push through and have a good time, they can too.

  The dirt road leading into the woods is bumpier than I remember it. Due to recent rains, potholes have gathered on the ground like fleas on a dog. With each thud and clamber, my grip on Dex’s leg increases. His truck is handling them better than any car could, but if we don’t get to the clearing soon he’s going to be black and blue from the waist down.

  “Do I need to go over the rules again or are you girls going to behave tonight?

  I twist in my seat, ready to tell Jimmie what he can do with his rules, but Cammy must be feeling as frustrated as I am because she’s already on it. “Jimmie Lewis if you so much as list one more rule for us to follow I am going to kiss the hell out of the first guy I see when we get out of this truck. Are we clear?”

  “What the fuck, babe?” he bellows. “I’m just trying to keep you and my sister safe. You should be falling at my feet for caring so much.”

  Cammy doesn’t look impressed. And neither am I. Instead of letting them fight it out, I speak up in an attempt to soothe the situation. “We appreciate your dedication to our safety, Jimmie. What you don’t realize is that Cammy and I have read up on what to do in certain situations. We know to never to accept a drink from someone other than those we trust and if one of us needs to go to the bathroom, then we do it in a group of two or more. We’ve even learned some self-defense moves.” Jimmie frowns. I don’t think he’s impressed with my new knowledge. “Don’t look at me like that,” I complain. “We’ve done our research and learned a lot since the beach party.”

  Dex hits a large pothole and I bounce clear off the seat. I shriek, my shoulder knocking against his as I fight to right myself. Everyone else has a door to use as support, but I’m stuck between him and Nate leaving me with nothing but them to hang onto. I glare at him, knowing full well that he did that on purpose. He didn’t like me mentioning the beach party, so he retaliated by pitching my ass in the air. So mature.

  “What?” he asks, his face a mask of indifference

  “Don’t even try to act as if that was an accident. We are in the middle of nowhere. There are no cars around us. You could have easily gone around that huge hole.”

  “Maybe,” he answers with a shrug. “Then again, maybe not.”

  “Enough you two,” Nate grunts, apparently not willing to give me a chance to tell Dex off. “We’re here. Let’s all just go and have a good time.”

  I stop glaring at Dex long enough to look out the front windshield and see that Nate is right. Up ahead is a large clearing with about two dozen vehicles parked haphazardly around and through the surrounding trees. Within the center of it all is the outline of a large bonfire, its gold and red tones glowing bright against the dark sky.

  Dex parks the truck beside a massive oak tree and we clamber out, glad to be on solid ground and not shaken around like a gin martini. We move toward the party, Dex on my right side and Nate on my left with Cammy and Jimmy taking up the rear. We move as one unit, ignoring the whispers and curious stares as we make our way over to a makeshift bar set up on a folding table.

  The music is so loud it makes my skin tingle, the heavy thump of the bass beating in time with my heartbeat. The night feels alive. I fidget in place, tapping my foot as I glance around, taking in the groups of people and categorizing those who might be a problem.

  Nate bumps his shoulder against mine, diverting my attention. “Want anything to drink?”

  I look over at the handful of colorful bottles and quickly decide that a mixed drink is out of the question. I don’t know enough people here to trust anything that comes from an open container. “I’ll take water or soda if they have it.”

  Nate moves around the table and squats down, rummaging through a cooler on the ground. He takes a bottled water and hands it to me, before claiming one for himself. Dex and Jimmie are the only ones drinking tonight. I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. I guess time will tell.

  “I didn’t think so many people would show up here.” Cammy eyes the crowd. I nod and take a sip of my water. “Are you going to be okay with this?” Her voice is so soft I have to strain to hear her over the loud music.

  “Oh, yeah.” I wave away her concern. “I’m all good.”

  She watches me closely before shaking her head. “What do you want to do first?” she asks.

  “We’re going to dance,” Jimmie interjects.

  The CW Boys move forward, passing our unfinished drinks to a guy sitting on a log behind them. Capturing our hands, we are pulled along before we can object.

  I go with it, rolling my eyes and laughing at their macho act. Maybe tonight won’t be as bad as I thought. It isn’t until we are surrounded by moving bodies that worry sets in.

  Which guy am I supposed to dance with?

  There needs to be a manual on how to handle a relationship like ours. I’m going into this blind and it’s scary. I feel like I am walking through a minefield. So far, I’ve been lucky, but one of these days, I’m going to step wrong and lose a limb. Or my heart.

  My apprehension must be obvious, or maybe Nate and Dex just know me better than I realized, because they step in and save me, turning our dance into a group thing and keeping the atmosphere light.

  We bump and grind, my body sandwiched tightly between theirs as the music guides our movements. My position allows me to feel every hard inch of them. And I do mean hard. A craving unfurls deep in my belly. Dex’s knee slips between my legs, rubbing me right where I need it as Nate leans down and whispers in my ear, his breath teasing my neck, “I think we should go back to my house after the party.”

  I swallow hard. The idea of being alone with them is beyond tempting. If Cammy wasn’t so set on seeing this party through, I would suggest we leave right now. “That could be fun,” I choke out.

  With that admission, Nate pulls me closer. His erection digs into my backside, dragging a moan from my lips. His hands grasp my hips as another song starts up, this one slower and more sensual than the others before it. I close my eyes and enjoy the feel of their hands on me. My arms loop around Dex’s neck as my hands tangle in his hair.

  “You’re playing with fire, Jelly Bean,” he warns. Leaning down, he kisses me.

  “Umm…guys?” Cam’s voice snaps me out of my haze. “You need to chill out. People are really staring.”

  “Oh,” I say with a nervous laugh. Dropping my hands, I step out of their embrace and move over closer to Jimmie and Cammy. It isn’t until I’m safely away from the guys that I let my eyes wander around. I take in our surroundings and the numerous sets of eyes shifting in our direction. Shit! So much for playing it cool.

  “Do you want to leave?” Dex asks, his voice a rolling rumble of anger.

  I shake my head. “No. It would only make us look guilty.” I smile despite the dread warring inside of me. When my eyes land on a poker game going on under a large elm, I set off in a quick stride towards it. In a click, everyone is following my lead, curiosity on their faces.

  “Babe, what are you up to?” Dex asks. He glances at the table of card players and cocks a brow. “Do you even know how to play?”

  I bite down on my lip. “A little. Enough to play a hand.” I keep the part about how I’ve never once won a game to myself. He doesn’t need all the details.

  Jimmie taps the shoulder of one of the kids seated at the table. “I don’t see any money out. What are you playing for?”

  The red-haired boy turns and gives him a wide grin. I squint trying to remember his name, but his features aren’t ringing any bells for me. “Favors. So far I’ve won two from Jimmie Stacks and one from Molly Brinswick.”

 
I stiffen, my eyes opening wide. “I’ve never played for favors. What kind of favors are we talking about?”

  “Anything as long as it won’t land you in jail. They expire at the end of the year, so use them wisely.”

  “I don’t like the sound of this,” Dex says, unease punctuating every word. “Let’s find something else to do.”

  I can’t disagree that a favor is a steep price for losing—especially to someone who plays as badly as I do—but all the other games at the party are centered around drinking, and that’s no better. I’ll take my chances with poker before trying my hand at beer pong again. “Is there room for us to play?” I ask the boy.

  He smiles at me before darting a worried glance at Dex and Nate. “Our table is full, but we have several others who wanted to play. We can start up another game if you’re interested.”

  I nudge Cammy, ignoring the boys completely. “What do you think?”

  “Why not?” she says lazily. “It beats having to go home early.”

  “Addy Bear…” Nate begins.

  “Perfect.” I cut across him before he can start listing all the reasons why playing a simple game of poker is a bad idea. I seriously don’t understand their hesitation. I’m great at playing solitaire and goldfish. Better than Nate and Dex combined. Seriously, how hard can a game of poker be?

  “Deal me in.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “What do you mean you won?” I glance down at my cards on the table and frown. I tap on my three five’s and demand to know why they aren’t good enough. No one else has three of the same numbered cards. That has to count for something.

  “My flush beats your three of a kind,” answers Derrick, a guy from my English class.

  “Says who?” I question.

  Jimmie makes a choking sound that I choose to ignore. Rubbing my head, I look at Derrick’s cards, attempting to solve my own riddle on what makes them a winning hand.

  “Says anyone who actually knows how to play poker,” Derrick laughs. “Stop procrastinating, Princess, and admit defeat. You owe me a favor,” he sings in glee.

  “This isn’t going so well,” I murmur keeping my voice only loud enough for Nate and Dex to hear. “I keep forgetting the hand rankings.”

  “When was the last time you played?” Dex asks.

  “And who taught you?” Nate adds. “Because I know it sure as hell wasn’t us.”

  I shake my head, looking everywhere but at my guys. My words are quiet. “I learned by playing Double Down.”

  “That app on my phone?” Jimmie asks, his voice higher than normal.

  “Yep,” I answer, popping the P for good measure. “I play it whenever you’re busy. Like when you take those long-ass showers that use up all the hot water. I can get two or three games in when you do that.”

  Jimmie shoots me a withering stare. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he growls. “I’ve been trying for weeks to figure out how my account kept losing money. I had no idea it was because my bratty sister was a thief.” He gestures at the hand of cards in front of me. “Looks like your time could have been better spent doing something you’re actually good at.”

  “Enough already,” Derrick shouts, interrupting our private argument. “We’ve got a game to play. Stop being a pansy. You’re ruining the game with all your bullshit chit-chat.”

  “Fine.” I stretch out my muscles before slapping a hand on the table. “Let’s double down on the next hand. I feel my luck coming back.”

  Covert looks are exchanged between Nate and Dex. Before another hand can be dealt, I’m lifted out of my chair and carried bridal style away from the table.

  I blink in surprise, staring up at Nate as he sets out a fast pace past the bonfire. “What are—” I start to ask, but my words are cut off by the sound of angry yelling behind us. I try and see behind us, but Nate is jostling me around too much to get a clear view.

  “They’re taking advantage of you,” Nate grits out through clenched teeth. “You’re not owing those bastards anything. They’re fucking cheats.”

  I notice people staring and instead of turning away and hiding, I own up to my mistake and face the crowd head-on. I screwed up. Again. With the determination of a stubborn bull, I twist in his arms, trying to free myself from Nate’s iron grip. I don’t want them fighting all my battles for me. If I can handle being around Nicholas for over a month, I can manage to set a few pimple infested boys straight.

  “Would you please fucking stop?” he asks with a bitter growl. “You’re going to cause me to drop you.”

  “Or you could just put me down.”

  My suggestion lands on deaf ears. I spot the tree line up ahead where the truck is parked and know that if I’m going to get away, it’s now or never. The sound of a pained cry behind me spurs my movements and I kick out, knocking Nate off balance seconds before my backside lands in a heap on the ground.

  Pain lances up my spine but ignore it and push myself forward. I hear Nate yell my name from close behind me, but I keep sprinting back to where the rest of my family is. Whether they know it or not, they need me. At least, that is what I keep telling myself.

  There is a blockade of people surrounding the table we previously sat at. I duck and weave my way through them, using an elbow nudge here and there when someone refuses to move. I’m tired and out of breath when I make it to the front, but that doesn’t stop the loud gasp from me when I find what holds everyone’s attention.

  Dex has Derrick on the ground, the two exchanging blows while Jimmie and the other redheaded boy dance around, taking each other’s measure. Nate must have caught up to me because when I start to move forward to intervene and put a stop to this ridiculousness, his heavy hand lands on my shoulder and yanks me back in place.

  “Stay out of it, Addison,” he warns.

  “This can’t happen,” I argue. “Make them stop, Nate,” I plead. Hot tears streak down my cheeks as I watch a trickle of blood dribble down Dex’s chin from where he got punched seconds before. “Please, make them stop.”

  I flinch at every contact, feeling as if it’s me taking the hits and not just my friends. My gaze lifts to find Cammy leaning against the table, her eyes wide and stuck on Jimmie. “I don’t understand how things escalated so quickly,” I whisper under my breath. What caused Jimmie and Dex to react so violently?

  “Stay here,” Nate commands, pointing at me. “I’ll help but you have to promise me that you won’t get in the middle.”

  I nod, ready to promise the world if it means Dex and Jimmie are safe. They’ve got each of their opponents outnumbered by strength and experience, so losing isn’t an option. What I’m scared of, is them getting into trouble. Any bad press or jail time would ruin their chances at a scholarship.

  Within minutes, Nate—along with the help of a few other guys from the soccer team—have the fight broken up and everyone separated into opposite areas. With the threat contained, I rush over to where my friends are huddled together.

  “What the hell happened?” I hiss, directing my question to Jimmie and Dex. Neither looks me in the eye. Dex uses the bottom of his t-shirt to wipe off his face, clearing it of sweat and specks of dried blood. He’s got one gash on his bottom lip, but besides that, he looks okay. Jimmie doesn’t have a scratch on him, not that I’m surprised. Since summer camp, his muscles have increased to the size of small melons.

  No one is answering. Not even Cammy will look my way which should be my first clue that something bad happened. Ever persistent, I ask again, louder this time. “Why were you fighting? What happened?”

  “Your boyfriend got pissed when I asked if I could have a turn with you too. Guess, he’s only into sharing with Nate.” Derrick’s admission makes my heart hurt. This is because of me. I did this.

  I cover my mouth, refusing to let the scream caught in my throat out. The sound of a scuffle has me glancing over to find Nate holding back a pissed off Dex. Jimmie’s already gone, his steps slow as he consoles a crying Cammy, her shoulders s
haking with each quiet sob. What a shit storm this night has turned out to be.

  Swallowing down my hurt and anger, I ignore everyone around us- including the asshat Derrick, who continues to leer at me, and urge the guys to leave the party. “He’s not worth it,” I tell Dex, slipping my hand through his and giving it a hard yank. “Let’s go home.”

  Nate releases a harsh sigh behind me, his frustration with the situation and the accusations being thrown at us evident in the way he keeps balling his hands into fists. “He needs his teeth knocked out,” he grinds out.

  “Maybe,” I concede. My eyes sweep over the crowd noticing a few phones out recording our encounter while others type away, posting and spreading their filth to anyone who will listen “Derrick isn’t worth it. Ignore him. He’s nothing but a stupid mouthpiece.”

  Dex’s eyes show understanding. Lifting our hands, he drops a kiss on my knuckles before guiding us back to the truck. Everyone around us parts like the red sea, giving us a wide berth as we hurry to catch up with my brother and Cammy.

  “Why can’t we attend one stupid party without it ending in someone getting hurt?” Nate asks, incredulously.

  “Because we’re the CW Boys and we don’t ever do anything half-assed,” Dex answers, sounding like it should be common knowledge. “We fight hard, we love harder, and we don’t dare let anyone fuck with those we care about.”

  I glance up at Dex and smile, liking his answer. “So, what do we do now?” I ask on a sigh, “People are going talk. Thanks to Derrick opening his big mouth and planting a seed in their head, they’re going to think we’re all together. Denying it won’t work and telling them that I love you both won’t stop them from throwing the word slut in my face every chance they get.”

  “We do exactly what Dex said,” Nate answers, his voice brooking no arguments. “We stand as one and we attack anyone who fucks with us. We don’t owe anyone an explanation and we sure as fuck won’t be giving in to their narrow-minded ways.”