Loyal Love

by Henry, Max

  She falls over the edge, her knees clamping together and thighs pinning my head in place as my girl comes undone against my face.

  I’ve never been anywhere more perfect than where I am at this moment.

  I never want to be anywhere else.

  GREER

  I never realised how loud, or how inane, a ticking clock could be until everyone left the room. The simple analogue wall clock beats an even rhythm on the wall to my right, as though tolling doom that lurks around the corner.

  Lacey’s dad talks with Tuck’s outside. The fact they took their conversation out of earshot makes me nervous, but I’m thankful for a break from the pressure cooker.

  Being at your friends is super weird when their parent is on the warpath.

  Lacey’s squirrelled away with Tuck in her bedroom, doing God only knows what. Speaking of which… A tell-tale moan that most definitely does not happen when you’re only “talking” whispers down the hallway. I need noise. I need something to drown them out before her dad gets back in.

  Damn it. After hearing that, I need Colt.

  Rising from the armchair, I cross over to the television and switch it on. The first channel that comes up is some weekend morning show, the hosts both overly cheery and smiling although their eyes tell me they’d rather be at home.

  Me too, guys. Me too.

  All the same, it’s background noise—a distraction from the inappropriate hijinks going on up the hallway. My phone lights up where I left it on the arm of the chair, drawing me back to my spot in the corner. I lift it to find a name I’d rather not deal with today headlining the message notification: Libby.

  Ugh.

  L: Where are you? I’m at your house, and your mum is livid.

  What the hell is she doing at my house? If she needs to vent after what Colt’s done, wouldn’t she have scooted across to see her loyal second-in-command, Ingrid? At a stretch, she could have cried on Arthur’s shoulder.

  G: I’m visiting my best friend.

  Her end of the conversation goes tellingly quiet. To my absolute horror, the screen lights up, and my ringtone fills the room. My finger can’t get to the red button fast enough.

  L: Real mature, G. How is the little bitch? Get an anonymous message of her own?

  I figure a little bit of the truth can’t hurt.

  G: She’s as shocked as the rest of us.

  L: Who did it? Do you know?

  I stare at her simple question, a wave of relief coursing over me much the same as a refreshing cool breeze would. If she’s asking, then she doesn’t suspect Colt.

  L: Did you get one? This shit stinks of Colt.

  It seems I jumped to conclusions too soon. My body heat rackets up a degree or two again.

  G: Yeah. I got one. I think we all did. Why do you think it was Colt?

  L: Who else would threaten us with that rubbish on the conditions we stay out of Arcadia?

  Her dots dance and then stop, only to dance again. Whatever she has to say, she’s wording it carefully.

  L: Unless it was you? Why are you really out there, G?

  My heart sits in my throat, the bang of the front door as it opens sending me jolting to the front of the chair. I stash the phone away and compose myself for James and Kurt, counting my breaths to calm my racing heart.

  Does she think I would do that? Goes to show just how out of favour I am with her.

  “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

  My gaze darts up, relief surging through my veins when I connect with the concerned gaze of Colt.

  “Dad’s still in his conversation outside.” He thumbs over his shoulder. “Where’s Lacey?”

  “In her room with Tuck.” My words crack.

  His brow furrows further, the concern growing as he moves closer. “Greer? What’s happened?”

  “Libby messaged. She thinks I could have done it.”

  “Did what?”

  “The messages,” I hiss. “She went to my house this morning, and when she saw I wasn’t there, she asked where I was.”

  “How does that make you guilty?” He crouches before me to level our gazes.

  I run my eye across the broad expanse of his shoulders, down his bare arms to the strong hands that rest between his knees. He’s every part his father with the fierceness of his mother. He’s the most wicked mix of both.

  “She thinks I’m out here because I have something to do with it. She did suspect you first.”

  “Honestly?” His eyebrows lift. “I don’t care if they know it was me. I just don’t want them drawing correlations to Willow.”

  Her name sends a barb straight to my chest. “Why?”

  “She doesn’t want it affecting her performance at school, her grades and her behaviour report.” He rolls his eyes. “She’s fixed on going to the School of Dance, and if this blows back on her before the admission audition, she may as well kiss her chances goodbye.”

  “Oh.”

  He expels a breath, slightly smiling as he reaches for my hand. “It’ll be okay, Greer.”

  “You weren’t here last night,” I say with a bitter laugh. “It was freaking intense.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you even know what happened?”

  Colt gives me a tug as he stands, coaxing me up with him. “I haven’t heard anything, but Dad seemed pretty mad.” He frowns, cupping his hands to the sides of my face. “Is that Tuck’s father out there?”

  I nod in his hold.

  “Shit.” His brow lifts, thumbs stroking my cheeks. “How bad was it?”

  “You want the part where Beau broke his wrist or the bit where we were all grilled in Maggie’s living room?”

  “Honestly?” His eyes hood a little. “None of it yet.”

  I barely have time to catch a breath before he seals his lips over mine, the hold he has on my face intensifying. Pushing to my tiptoes, I try to ease the strain, yet his need for me seems born of a desperate desire for comfort.

  That, I can do.

  My hands find his firm waist, tracing their way underneath his T-shirt to delight in the ridges of his muscles. His kiss tastes of coffee and chocolate—a perfect mix for what is already a tiring morning.

  “Hey,” Colt breathes against my mouth. “Slow down, tiger.”

  It registers that his shirt is tangled over my forearms, his torso half-naked in his dad’s living room. “Oh.”

  “I mean, I’m all for what you have to give, baby,” he says with a cheeky grin while gently pulling my hands away. “But I’d like more privacy for where this is headed.”

  I laugh. What else is there to do? My weekend is madness; the week prior had been chaos. “God, I missed you.”

  “I was only gone one night.” He shoots me a wink before heading to the window to check on his dad.

  “It was the wrong night.” The one time I could have used the sanctuary a lover provides, and what did I get? Being the sounding board for my platonic friend.

  “How much does he know?” Colt’s brow pinches while he watches James converse with Kurt.

  I join him at the kitchen window, noting that Kurt now sits in his ute. They can’t be far off from coming inside. “He knows about the affidavit, I think. He also knows about the Patreon site.”

  “Who told him?” Colt turns to face me, clearly concerned.

  “Lacey did.” I run the side of my index finger dotingly under his chin. “She wants honesty, Colt. From you, as well.”

  His chin falls, eyes briefly closing as he drops a sigh. “Well, she’s about to get a whole truckload of it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He sets his steely gaze on me, his mouth tantalisingly close again. “I told our mother I’m done with her. I said I’d be back to get my things, and that’ll be the last she sees of me.”

  “Wow.” He’s literally done the one thing I thought he never would—severed the last, frail thread to his privilege.

  “I better go tell Lacey.” Colt turns his head toward
the hallway.

  I snatch his wrist in my hold before he can get away. “No.”

  “No?” He searches my panicked eyes.

  “I said she’s in there with Tuck, remember?” I lift my eyebrows, imploring him to get my drift with this.

  “So?” He frowns before his eyes go wide. “Oh. Ohh.” The realisation turns to anger. “Wait. No. Nope. Not happening.”

  “What’s not happening?” I set both hands on my hips.

  He jabs a finger toward her room. “That. He is not doing what I think he is to her. He is not having her fucking virginity.”

  I snort. “Excuse me? How do you know they haven’t already gone there? And why the hell not? He’s a great guy for her.”

  “He’s… He’s…” Colt screws up his face, fists in the air before him. “Argh.”

  “See?” I challenge. “You can’t say one bad thing about him, can you?”

  “Fuck.” He drops onto one of the dining chairs, defeated. “I wasn’t ready for this with her.”

  “You sound like her damn father, not her brother,” I note, joining him at the table.

  He lifts his gaze to mine, lips set in a flat line. “It’s my job to protect her, and if she starts into that kind of relationship… Well, it means I have to step back and let her go it alone.”

  “If she needs you, she’ll let you know.” I reach out and stroke my fingertips across the back of his hand.

  Colt watches the movement, rapt.

  “Besides,” I say a little lower. “Hopefully you’ll be too busy with me to worry much about it anyway.”

  “Hopefully?” He lifts one eyebrow. “Is there any doubt?”

  I swear to God my face is on fire. “Well, we’ve beaten around it so much, Colt, but we haven’t officially agreed yet.”

  “That you’re my girlfriend?” He asks, leaning closer. “My partner? Lover? Whatever the fuck you want to call it, Greer, as long as it tells any other interested guy that you’re mine, I’m fine with it.”

  Sweet, baby Jesus—I need to get this man alone, now. “I’m totally yours.”

  He moves closer, the heat of his breath mingling with mine. I close my eyes, ready to seal the deal … and stop.

  The door bangs as it shuts in the frame again. Damn it.

  “I’m not interrupting?” James eyes us warily as he walks behind Colt toward the living room. “Where’s your sister?”

  “I’ll get her.” Colt shoots from the seat, discreetly rearranging himself before he heads up the hall.

  I curl my shoulders forward to make the tank I borrowed from Lacey hang loose over my chest. The last thing I need is her father unwittingly discovering my erect nipples punching at the cotton.

  “Did you girls eat?” he asks, back to me.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Good.” His hand pats the doorframe. “I’ll take you home. Colt needs to stay here for family matters.”

  “Okay.” Damn it. I stand, using my periphery to check the end of the hallway. “I’ll go get my things.” Colt disappears inside Lacey’s room after she opens the door for him.

  “In a moment.” James lifts a hand, halting me in my tracks. “Wait until Colt is out of there, please.”

  Shoot. I’m so, so busted. “Mr Williams—”

  “Not the time, Greer.” He turns to meet my eye. “Not today, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  LACEY

  “You are to both stay here and wait for your mother. She’s leaving Riverbourne now,” Dad states, pointing to Colt and me. “Tuck. I’ll walk you out.”

  I don’t think my heart rate has slowed since Tuck made me see stars in my room, although, the reason for it to race has changed several times since then.

  Arousal at what I had with Tuck, to anger at being interrupted by Colt, panic at hearing Dad was back inside, and frustration when he said he’d take Greer home because Mum is on her damn way here.

  Alicia. My goddamn mother. Why?

  I mouth, “It’s okay,” to Tuck, urging him to go with Dad. Now is not the time to make a scene.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” Greer states loudly, hands on my shoulders. I let her pull me in for a hug. She whispers in my ear, “I’ll sneak out and drive back later this afternoon.”

  “Thanks, hon.” I give her a tight squeeze and then wait for her to head outdoors to join the others before I turn on Colt. “What the hell is Alicia doing coming out here?”

  “She knows about the messages, sis.” He moves to the window, watching as Dad guides my best friend into his work vehicle. “And I may have said something that gave her reason to be madder still.”

  “What did you say?” I ask slowly and carefully.

  Dad hesitates beside the driver’s door, appearing to check Tuck does, in fact, leave with Major and Sally before he goes too.

  “I said I was moving out here with you.”

  “Colt,” I cry, tugging him around to face me. “That’s awesome!”

  He accepts my crazy hug, wrapping me in his arms as he laughs. “I thought you might like that.”

  “I do.” Using the back of my hand, I rub the underside of my nose. “More than smelling Greer’s perfume on you.”

  He turns his head to sniff at his shoulder. “Huh. Nice.”

  “What do you think Mum’s going to do when she gets here?” I ask, taking my leave toward the sofa.

  Colt follows. “Rip into Dad,” he muses, “and then demand we’re both shipped off to a military academy.”

  “Funny,” I drone, falling onto the seat.

  “I’m being serious.” He smirks. “Honestly though, what can she do? She’s shown she can’t be bothered raising us when everything ticks over without trouble, so why should she have any say when there is some?”

  “You know it’s not that simple.” I finger the ends of my hair, wondering how long it might take to save for a decent treatment.

  “Perhaps. You want to know what I do know for sure, though?”

  I meet his mischievous grin with one of my own. “Entertain me, dear brother.”

  “I know it takes forty minutes to get from Riverbourne to here. I also know that first thing on a Saturday morning the traffic is terrible heading for the beach. So, I’d guess we have around an hour before the dragon lands in Arcadia.”

  “And what do you propose we do with that hour, Colt?”

  His eyes narrow. “You tell me. What’s the most trouble we can get up to in sixty minutes, sis?”

  “Seriously?” I drop my head on the back of the seat with a groan. “You want to cause more mayhem?”

  “Might as well have one last hoorah, right?”

  I drop my chin to my chest with a sigh. “I don’t know. Doing anything extra that Alicia can use against us isn’t wise.”

  “Come on,” he coaxes, screwing his face up. “After she gets here, we’ll both be on house arrest. How much worse can it get than that?”

  “I don’t know.” I meet his gaze, softening mine. “You’re no longer a juvenile, Colt. Whatever the parents decide about the party tonight, you’re still facing charges over Johnson’s truck and the fight at Christian’s.”

  “I thought Derek got Johnson’s dad not to take that further, remember?”

  “After this latest stunt of yours, he may change his mind.”

  “Why? It has nothing to do with Johnson.” He folds his arms high on his chest.

  “Perhaps, but it does affect Amber if she chooses to attend Riverbourne.”

  “It won’t,” he scoffs.

  I lean forward in my seat. “It will. You’ve threatened the Chosen with staying out of Arcadia, shamed them in front of their peers, and then in swans this crazy bitch from Arcadia to take her place amongst them.” I shake my head. “Who do you think the students will pick as their new queen?”

  “I meant it wouldn’t affect her, sis,” he says, “because she chose to attend Portside.”

  “Really?” I narrow my eyes. “What does Willow think about her
?”

  He levels me with a bored stare. “Jees, this shit is petty with you girls.”

  “You boys aren’t much different,” I sass. “Should we talk about Mandy again?”

  He scowls. “No. Point taken.”

  “Just stay here with me and help me try to work out how we can mitigate the damage from this, Colt. We won’t know until tonight if what you did helped or hindered anyway.”

  “Gee, thanks,” he deadpans.

  “I’m serious. The Chosen would have spread the word to get the other students behind them. You could have made tonight a lot worse for all we know.”

  “Guess we’ll have to be around to find out, huh?”

  “And what does that mean?”

  He smiles, sliding his hands to hook both thumbs in his pockets. “It means I have a car, Lacey. If you want to go to that party tonight, then you’ll go.”

  “Yeah. Sure.” I huff a laugh. “As though Dad will let that happen.”

  “Your bedroom window doesn’t have locks on it yet, does it?”

  I glower at him.

  “Didn’t think so.” Colt tugs his bottom lip between his teeth. “Tonight, sis, we get that revenge you’re so damn thirsty for.”

  “I’m not that hell-bent on it.”

  “Aren’t you?” His mouth curves into a cruel taunt. “Why then, when I mentioned it, did your pupils dilate?”

  “As if you could have seen that,” I bluff, turning my body away.

  “Perhaps I thought I saw something I didn’t,” he cedes. “But sis, unless you’re somehow thinking of Tuck’s dick while talking to me, those tell a different story.”

  I follow the line of his arm and pointed finger to discover that, yes, to my horror, my goddamn nipples are erect.

  Damn body. Damn visceral reactions to things that excite me.

  “Fine. Maybe I do still want to get those bitches back.”

  He chuckles. “Well, you can’t do that sitting in an armchair, can you?” Colt jerks his head toward my room. “Come. Show me what you’ve got so far.”

  “What makes you think I have anything at all?” I ask, eyes narrowed on him.

  He smirks. “Because I’ve been peeking in your diary since we were kids, Lacey, and I know that if anyone pisses you off, the first place you dissect them is in that sweet baby-pink book of yours.”