Wicked Games (Wicked Bay, #4)

by Cotton, L A

  “Sounds hella personal to me.”

  “Look, I like Lo. I like Lo a lot.”

  I narrowed my eyes, and he threw up his hands. “No, I mean... shit, this is coming out all wrong. I don’t like her, like her, but she’s nice. We hit it off. As friends... we’re friends.”

  “Were.” I corrected. “You were friends, before you shit all over her.”

  “I messed up, okay? But she threatened me. She said if I didn’t do it, she’d ruin me.”

  “What?” He wasn’t making any sense. Lo hadn’t threatened him. But then I ran over what he’d said and sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re not talking about Lo, are you?”

  “No, no!” He rubbed his face with frustration. “She doesn’t mess around, man. She had all these photos and I panicked. I didn’t want to hurt Lo, but this seemed like the safest way.”

  “Who threatened you, Liam?”

  I already knew, the truth heavy in my chest. But it didn’t stop my jaw clenching when he spewed out, “Caitlin Holloway.”

  “I KNEW THAT BITCH WAS up to something,” Kyle paced back and forth as we all sat gathered in the pool house. It was late. Too late to be shooting the shit. But Lo had insisted on waiting up, and Kyle wouldn’t let her wait alone.

  “What do you mean, you knew?” I gave him a pointed look and he blanched.

  “Chill, I was handling it. She left Lo alone at school. I swear, Rick, she hasn’t stepped out of line.”

  “But?” I slid an eye to Lo who sat motionless on the couch.

  “But she was too quiet. Too nicey-nice at practice. I should have ridden her harder. I should have—”

  “No, Kyle,” Lo sighed. “You did enough. One way or another Caitlin would have found a way to get to me. I just wish she hadn’t dragged Liam into it.”

  “You’re defending him now?” I stared at her in disbelief.

  After that cocksucker admitted everything, I’d wanted to beat some sense into him. Darnell had talked me down, and we’d come straight back to the pool house. But not before warning Liam Denver that if he didn’t set the record straight with Gus, the owner of Hitters, Caitlin Holloway wouldn’t be the only person he needed to worry about.

  “She blackmailed him, Maverick. She’s poison. I’m tired of it. She isn’t going to be satisfied until she ruins my life. Just like we ruined hers.”

  Kyle scoffed. “Cous, that is not true. Caitlin Holloway deserved everything that came her way.”

  “What do you want to do?” I asked Lo, leaving the other part of my question unsaid.

  Lo knew I’d set things straight with Caitlin. One way or another, I’d put an end to her games, but Lo had told me she didn’t want me to save her. That she didn’t want to keep using me as her crutch.

  “I’ll handle it.” My girl rolled her shoulders back, sitting a little straighter, and I smirked at the flash of determination in her eyes. My Lo—the girl I’d met over a year ago—was still there. Under all the games, the doubt, the distance; she was there, and it was time for her to stop running and start facing things head-on.

  “Whoa,” Kyle chimed in. “What do you mean you’ll handle it? Prince, what does she mean?” He looked to me, but I shook my head. This was Lo’s fight. Now she had the truth, now she knew it was Caitlin who had blackmailed Liam to ruin her job at Hitters, to ruin us, it was up to Lo to do something about it.

  “We really need to get back before someone realizes we’re missing,” Darnell said, cutting the tension crackling around the room. “We have early practice.”

  “Walk us out?” I said to Lo, and she got up and came to me, slipping her hand in mine.

  “Come on, Rick, you can’t just expect me to—”

  “Stone, Lo said she’ll handle it. So let her.”

  He flopped back down into the chair, grumbling to himself. I loved my stepbrother something fierce and we always had each other’s backs, but right now, my attention was focused solely on the girl beside me.

  “Come on.” I tugged her hand gently, leading her outside while Darnell lingered behind.

  When we were out front, I crowded Lo against my car and dipped my head to hers. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so.”

  “Caitlin can only hurt you if you give her power, Lo.” She was well connected, sure. But we were the Stone-Princes. She could continue playing her silly games—trying to hurt Lo and make things difficult for her—but she couldn’t hurt where it hurt most. Because if she did, shit would rain down so quickly, Caitlin Holloway would be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

  Lo stared at me and I couldn’t get a good read on where her head was at, so I whispered, “Just say the word and I’ll handle her. I’ll make her wish she never even—”

  “No,” Lo breathed. Her lips so close to mine I could almost taste her. “It’s time I fought my own battles. Caitlin. My past. Dad and Stella. Us. I need to stop running, Maverick.” Her hands curled into my t-shirt, yanking me closer as her lips crushed mine.

  Lo didn’t just kiss me, she devoured me. Stole the breath clean from my lungs. With every stroke of her tongue against mine, every soft sigh that left her mouth, Lo cleaved every shred of doubt that had wormed its way into my heart. For the first time since moving to SU, I knew we were going to be fine.

  Felt it all the way down to my bones.

  Would we have ups and downs, highs and lows? Sure we would. What couple didn’t? But at the end of the day, what Lo and me had was real.

  Messy. Raw. Breathtakingly real.

  “I love you,” she said between kisses. “I love you so much.”

  Burying my hands in her hair, I held her steady and said, “I know.” Because this time, Lo didn’t need to hear I loved her back. She just needed reassurance that I knew how she felt. That after weeks of doubt and uncertainty, I still knew she loved me.

  “I wish you didn’t have to leave.”

  “Me too,” I sighed touching my head to hers. “But it’s ten days until our first game. You’re coming, right?”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  “Sorry to interrupt, but we really need to hit the road. Coach will shit a brick if we don’t show in the morning.”

  “I’ll text you when we get back,” I whispered against Lo’s hair, feeling her shiver. “I love you,” I added. Because although she didn’t need to hear that tonight, I needed to say it.

  “Drive safely.” Lo folded her arms over her chest and stepped back, waiting until we were inside the car.

  I backed out of the drive on autopilot, my eyes never once breaking away from hers. Something had changed tonight. We both felt it. And as I did a one-eighty and turned out of the driveway, I felt lighter. Like I could take on the world and win.

  “What now, Prince?” Darnell gave me a sideways glanced and I smirked.

  “Now,” I said feeling adrenaline zip up my spine. “Now we take down Zac Lowell.”

  Chapter 32

  Lo

  “OH LOOK, IT’S THE THIEF.” Caitlin smirked as I glared down at her. “Have you to come to beg for penance?”

  “Are you really that jealous?”

  “Excuse me?” Her head whipped up, anger flashing in her eyes. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me. You know, it’s sad, really. That Maverick would stoop to my level when he could have someone like you. Rich. Spoiled. Determined to ruin anyone who crosses her path. Your parents must be so proud.”

  Caitlin rose from the bench playing it cool, but I saw her edges blur. She was one second away from losing it in front of half the entire class.

  I’d waited for this moment. For a big audience. Maybe that made me almost as bad as her, but with someone like Caitlin Holloway you had to fight fire with fire. She didn’t understand any other language. I should have realised that a long time ago.

  “How is Maverick finding SU? I heard he’s settling in very well,” her voice dripped sarcasm. But I wasn’t here to be pulled into her games.

  I was done bein
g a pawn in her game.

  “You know, I tried to ignore you, Caitlin. I tried to stay out of your way. But you just couldn’t let it go, could you?” She opened her mouth to reply, but I cut her off. I wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.

  “You know, I pity you. I mean look around you. No one likes you. Sure people follow you around, claiming to be your friend. But they only want a piece of the Caitlin Holloway pie.”

  Her victorious smile slipped as the girls gathered behind her started shifting uncomfortably on the bench. “Don’t say something you might regret,” she warned, but her threat rolled off me. Maverick was right, Caitlin could only hurt me if I gave her power.

  “I’m not scared of you Caitlin. You can’t hurt me anymore.”

  She stepped into my space, pure rage dancing in her eyes.

  “Is that right?” Her brow cocked. “Just because you’re one of them doesn’t mean anything. You can’t—”

  “I’ll tell him to pull the plug,” I said defiantly. “Say goodbye to cheer squad. To game day. Don’t forget all the parties you won’t be able to get into.”

  “You can’t do that,” her voice wavered, and I knew I had her.

  “Can’t I?” I inclined my head, looking her dead in the eye, unable to disguise the smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

  “Why do you think you still have a social life at Wicked Bay, Caitlin? It’s because I didn’t want a war. I didn’t want any more drama. But you couldn’t let it go. You couldn’t just accept that Maverick chose me, and not you.”

  “I—” she stuttered, color exploding along her cheeks, and I knew this was it. The moment Caitlin Holloway’s crown shattered around her.

  “If I give the word, your social life will be over before you can blink. Because like it or not, I’m one of them. I’m family.”

  The whole lawn was quiet. I hadn’t known what I was going to say to Caitlin before I walked up to her, but from her expression, it was enough.

  “You wouldn’t... you couldn’t.”

  “Yes, I could. I haven’t yet because unlike you, I’m not a complete bitch.” I inched closer, my next words meant only for her. “But I know it was you that blackmailed Liam. I know it was you that got me fired, but don’t worry, I won’t rat you out.”

  She tensed, her eyes darting everywhere. “W- what do you want?”

  “I want you to leave me alone. No more threats. No more elaborate pranks. I want you to forget I exist.”

  “But you stole everything from me,” she spat. The fire reigniting in her eyes.

  I let out a bitter laugh. “I didn’t steal anything, Caitlin. You lost it all by yourself.”

  Her lips quivered, but I didn’t give her time to speak. “Stay away from me, stay away from my family. Or you’re done.” I turned to walk away. Adrenaline humming through my veins. But Caitlin couldn’t let it go. She had to be the last one to get a word in.

  “You don’t get to—” Her hand curled around my arm and it just happened.

  I spun around bringing my fist up and drove it straight into her face. I wasn’t a fighter. But the second my knuckles connected with her nose, I felt vindicated, maybe even a little bit smug. She yelped, staggering back with her hand covering her face, blood gushing between her fingers.

  “What the fuck?”

  Kyle chose that moment to appear at my side, mouth hanging open, eyes flicking from me to a hysterical Caitlin and back again. I felt his heavy stare. The unspoken questions. The pride mixed with confusion. But this wasn’t his fight. It was just something I needed to do alone.

  For me.

  I ignored him as I looked Caitlin dead in the eye and said, “Consider that your final warning.” I walked away and didn’t look back. Caitlin Holloway was my past.

  I refused to let her be part of my future.

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU broke her nose,” Laurie said for the third time.

  “I can’t believe I missed it.” There was an undertone of disappointment in Kyle’s voice and I let out an exasperated breath.

  “Kyle, I hadn’t planned on doing that. I just... ugh. She is so infuriating.” I locked eyes with him. “I’m sorry you missed it.” My lips curved a fraction.

  “But it felt good, didn’t it? Come on, you can tell us.” He grinned, waggling his eyebrows, and I looked down at my tender knuckles. “Come on, Cous. Tell us.”

  “It felt amazing.” My smile grew. It didn’t feel so good now, but thanks to a bag of frozen peas, the swelling had reduced. The school nurse didn’t think I’d broken anything.

  “And Principal DeLauder didn’t say anything?”

  I shrugged. “Not so far.”

  “Everyone knows Caitlin had it coming. I’m surprised Principal DeLauder didn’t give you extra credit for your public service.”

  “Kyle, it wasn’t like that. I didn’t do it to win a popularity contest.” It had just happened. All the pent-up frustration. The constant looks and whispers and games. Everyone had their line and I guess mine had been crossed when Caitlin tried to come between me and Maverick and then got me fired from my job.

  “Well like it or not, Cous, you just earned celebrity status.”

  “Give it a week and everyone will have forgotten all about it,” I grumbled. But I knew better. I’d publicly gone up against Wicked Bay’s Queen Bee. It wasn’t just going to blow over, but hopefully Caitlin had received my message loud and clear.

  Kyle dropped down beside me and slung his arm around my neck. “Wait until Rick hears about this, he will—”

  “He already knows. I spoke to him earlier.”

  “And?”

  I shirked free and put some space between us. “He was impressed.”

  “Damn straight. It was epic. I keep picturing her face all bloody and—”

  “Kyle,” Laurie and I said in unison.

  “Let’s hope she finally got the message.”

  He gave me a pointed look. “Oh, I think she did. I heard she called Daddy and wanted him to press charges, but he refused to get involved. Said it was time she fought her own battles.”

  Well that was something.

  “I’m proud of you, Cous. Real proud. It’s like you’re back.”

  “Back?” I frowned.

  He blanched. “I, hmm, I just mean—”

  “What Kyle is trying to say is, we’re glad you’re okay. And he’s right, we’re proud of you, Lo.” Laurie’s expression softened.

  “Guys,” I said. “What is happening right now?”

  “I don’t know but I think it calls for one thing.” Kyle grinned. “Babe, get over here. Group hug.”

  Laurie leapt up and launched herself at the two of us and they wrapped me into a hug. Although it was awkward and uncomfortable and on any other day I would’ve shuddered at the over-the-top PDA, this time I let them have it.

  Because Maverick wasn’t the only person who had saved me last year.

  “LO, THERE’S SOMEONE here to see you,” Dad’s voice drifted down the hall and I pushed my textbook aside wondering who it could be. I’d left Kyle and Laurie earlier at Kyle's house, and Maverick had practice with the team.

  “Lo?” He called again just as I appeared.

  “Liam?”

  “Liam?” Dad said coolly, glancing from the guy standing in the doorway to me. “Liam-from-work, Liam?”

  “What do you want?” I said.

  “I, hmm, can I have a minute?” When I made no move to reply, he added, “Please.”

  “Quite some balls you have, young man,” Dad squared his shoulders.

  “Okay, Dad, I’ve got this.” I moved around him, sending him a reassuring look. After another couple of seconds glaring in Liam’s direction, he finally squeezed my shoulder in silent support and left.

  Gripping the door, I snapped, “Five minutes.”

  He didn’t deserve it. He deserved a slammed door in his face, but I had to remember he was pulled into Caitlin’s games... because of me. So while I wasn’t looking to forgive and forg
et anytime soon, the least I could do was hear him out.

  “Shit, Lo, I’m sorry, okay. I didn’t... I wasn’t...”

  “Save it, Liam.”

  “But I came to apologize. Caitlin made me do it. She and I... we...” He stared at me through regretful eyes. “We got together, right after you started working here. I didn’t realize, I didn’t know she was using me to get to you. I swear Lo, if I’d have known I would never have touched her. She said if I didn’t help her, she’d tell everyone I—”

  “Liam, stop.”

  “But—”

  “Caitlin is toxic. I know that firsthand. But Caitlin didn’t make you do anything. That’s all on you. You could’ve told me the truth. You could’ve asked for my help. But you didn’t. You sold me out.”

  “I... fuck, I really screwed up, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah, yeah you did.”

  “I set things straight with Gus. I told him everything.”

  “Yes, I know.” Gus had already called me to apologise and offer me my job back. But it was too late. I couldn’t work there anymore. He'd not trusted me, and that hurt.

  “So you’ll come back?” He looked so hopeful. “If you come back everything will be alright.”

  “No, Liam. Everything will not be alright. You told me my boyfriend—the one person who has been there for me through a pretty shitty year—was with another girl. You said that. You. Then to kick me when I was down, you told Gus I stole from him. You labelled me a thief.”

  The blood drained from his face as he hung his head. “I’m a fucking idiot.”

  “Yeah, you are.” I let out an exasperated breath. “Look, what’s done is done. But I can’t just forgive you because Maverick scared you into coming clean. I’m sorry, but you did a really shitty thing and I don’t need that kind of friend in my life. Goodbye, Liam.”

  I closed the door in his face and inhaled a deep breath.

  “I’m proud of you, Sweetheart.”

  “Dad?” I gawked at him as he poked his head around the hall. “You were listening?”