by Ashley Jade
She distracts the fuck out of me.
“What the hell?” Jace yells through the phone.
“You and I both know you want her here,” she declares.
“The only thing I want is you gone.” I snap my fingers. “Give me the phone.”
Holding it behind her, she backs away. “Fine. But I should warn you if you do this, Sawyer will probably leave and meet up with the guy she’s been talking to.”
Say what now? “What guy?”
Her eyes dart around the patio, like she’s about to spill a big secret. “I don’t know all the details, but she’s been talking to some guy at her job.”
“At the chicken place?”
She nods emphatically. “From what she told me, they’ve only hung out a few times, but he really likes her. I think she’s starting to like him too.”
Well, shit.
Dread fills my stomach. If she’s getting serious with someone, it could potentially pose an issue with me winning the bet.
“What’s his name?”
“I have no idea. All I know is they work together and he’s older.”
That’s…strange. “Older?”
“Yup.”
“How old?”
“I don’t know—” Her face lights up. “Look, if I tell you, you have to promise you won’t say anything.”
I eye her suspiciously. I wasn’t aware she and Sawyer were so close they’re divulging secrets, but I suppose it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Girls are fucking weird. One day they’re besties, and the next they’re stabbing each other in the back over some guy.
“Fine.”
“It’s her boss.”
I don’t buy that for a second. “No fucking way.”
“Yes way,” she argues. “I think…” She looks down warily. “I think he’s giving her money.” Her eyes cut to mine. “You know she’s poor, Cole. Sometimes desperate people do desperate things.”
My chest tightens. Sawyer isn’t a sugar baby. She’s also not the kind of person to use someone for money.
Then again, I have no idea how bad her financial situation is.
How far would she go to save her family from economic ruin?
Shit.
“Christ. I can’t believe that son of a bitch is taking advantage of her.”
Hands on her hips again, she huffs, “I know, right? So gross.” Smiling, she waves a hand up and down. “Anyway, it’s just a costume, Cole. No different from what every other girl is wearing. For once, can you please just let me have some fun?”
This woe-is-me act of hers might fly with Jace, but I’m not falling for it. Even though I can’t stand her existence 99.9% of the time, she’s still my little sister.
“No.” I fetch my phone out of my back pocket to call her an Uber, but her next sentence stops me in my tracks.
“It’s Mom’s,” she whispers, her voice cracking like glass.
I have no idea what she’s talking about. “What?”
“My costume, you idiot. It was Mom’s.” She points to her skirt. “She wore it in one of her Bollywood movies. The one where she played a belly dancer.”
My breath freezes. “Oh.”
Just like that, a heavy feeling wraps around my heart and squeezes.
It’s not often I think about her…because it hurts too damn much.
She was the first woman I ever loved.
And she’ll be the last.
Lower lip trembling, she looks up at the night sky. “She was so beautiful, and I miss her so much. I just wanted—”
“Go back inside.”
I’m not gonna stand here and comfort her, because I don’t know the first thing about doing that.
I’m also not going to tell her how much she looks like our mother—especially right now with her big sad eyes and tear-stained cheeks, because I know first-hand how much hearing you resemble a dead person can suck.
The only thing I can do is let her stay and have fun.
Forget our fucked-up family for a little while.
God knows I live for those moments when I’m able to.
Surprise highlights her features. “You mean it?”
“Yeah.” I gesture to the glass door. “Go before I change my mind.”
She starts to walk inside but stops abruptly.
To my dismay, she spins around and plants a kiss on my cheek. “You’re an asshole, but I love you.”
I won’t say it back. I can’t.
I’m no longer capable of it.
“Stay by Sawyer, because if you hookup with any guys or get drunk, I swear to fuck I’ll never let you come to one of these again.” I glare at her. “You feel me?”
She nods as my phone rings.
Jace.
I bring it to my ear as she takes off. “Hey.”
“Don’t you hey me, motherfucker. What the hell is going on?”
“Nothing. It’s a Halloween party and Bianca had the nerve to come dressed as a Detroit Lion.”
It’s the best I can come up with on such short notice.
Jace’s mystification is almost palpable. “And?”
“It’s an embarrassment. Here I am, the best up-and-coming quarterback of our generation—and my own flesh and blood shows up to a party as a Lion? They’re the worst team in the NFL.”
“I…Jesus. I don’t have time for this shit, Cole. I thought something serious happened.”
“This is serious,” I exclaim, driving my fabricated point home so I can ruffle his feathers even more.
“Yeah, well, you go handle that. I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow.” He laughs to himself. “Besides, it could always be worse.”
“How?”
“She could have gone as a Patriot,” he says before he hangs up.
Prick.
Chapter 13
Sawyer
“Be easy, baby.” Oakley sucks in a breath. “I’m trying to talk to my tutor.”
Morgan—whose lips have been dancing between Oakley’s earlobe and neck—doesn’t seem to give a single fuck about how rude she’s being.
“Anyway, like I was saying, I feel like I got the hang of that biology shit you were talking about the other day.”
I can’t help but smile. He might have fallen asleep during our first tutoring session, but it’s good to know he retained some of the information.
“Really? That’s awesome.”
“Yeah.” He brings his joint to his lips and inhales. “It got me thinking. Maybe you don’t have to spend your time on that crap anymore, and—”
“Oakley,” I interject, not wanting to hear his excuses.
“Yeah?”
“Cut the shit. You need Biology, English, History, and all the other crap you don’t want to study in order to graduate.”
Defeat colors his expression. “Yeah, you’re right. I just…” He groans as Morgan scrapes her teeth along his throat. “Damn. Someone’s getting feisty.” That dopey grin is back. “Keep that shit up.”
I’m about to leave them to their little love fest, but Bianca sidles up beside me. “Everything okay?”
If looks could kill, the one she’s aiming at Morgan would put her in a body bag.
Not that Morgan would notice at this point. She’s too focused on Oakley.
So is Bianca.
“Just peachy.” Straightening her spine, she looks at him. “Can we ta—”
“Bunny,” someone behind us screeches.
Oak turns white as a sheet and I see why when Hayley—his ex-girlfriend—approaches our little circle.
Given she graduated with Dylan and Jace last year, I’m surprised to see her at one of Christian’s parties.
But not nearly as surprised to find she’s wearing the same costume as Bianca.
That said, the differences between them are striking.
Just like Morgan, Hayley is tall, pale, and blonde, while Bianca is brunette, naturally tan due to being half-Indian, and only two or three inches taller than I am, which puts her o
n the shorter side.
There’s also the unmistakable fact that Oakley hasn’t even so much as acknowledged Bianca’s existence since she’s been here, but his eyes have been glued to Hayley since the moment she sauntered over to him.
His blue orbs continue soaking her in from head to toe. “Wow…you look hot.”
Hayley giggles, pushing her breasts together. “You like?”
Oak nods so hard he resembles a bobblehead on a dashboard.
Placing her palms together, Hayley brings them over her ample chest like she’s about to pray. “I’m a genie.”
“Belly dancer, you dumb bitch,” Bianca grits under her breath, but I think I’m the only one who hears her.
Hayley bats her eyelashes at him. “Have any wishes you want me to grant?”
Morgan—appearing to finally be clueing in to the fact that her hookup is looking at his ex like she’s a tall glass of water in a desert—unhinges her teeth from his earlobe. “Yeah, how about you go away?”
Oh. Shit.
Hayley shoots her a dirty look. “Hey, Morgan. Since you’re hanging on to my ex-boyfriend like a tree in the middle of a hurricane, you must really like the taste of my pussy.”
Shots fired.
“Really?” Morgan’s nostrils flare. “Last I checked, he grew tired of your boring ass and dumped you right before prom last year.” She walks her fingers up his arm. “Don’t be salty because he upgraded. Who could blame him?”
Hurt flashes across Hayley’s face. “I didn’t realize you moved on so quickly, Oak.”
Bless her heart. Oakley moved on from their relationship long before it was over. I’m guessing it was around the time he started sticking his dick in his stepmom.
Frowning, Oakley opens his mouth to say something, but Bianca intervenes.
“He didn’t move on,” she tells Hayley. “His cock did.” She shoots Morgan a shit-eating grin. “Too bad Morgan here hasn’t caught on yet.”
Morgan’s visibly outraged. “You little bitch.” She takes a step toward Bianca. “Newsflash, jailbait. Casey’s been looking for a reason to kick your sorry ass off the squad now that she and Cole broke up. So I suggest you learn to mind your business and behave like a good little girl before I give her one.”
“Whoa—” Oakley starts to interject, but Bianca shoves Morgan.
“And I suggest you learn to keep your legs shut and stay the fuck away from men who don’t belong to you, or I’ll rip that loose, STD infested, flabby flap of skin you call a vagina off and feed it to you.”
Good Lord. She went straight for the jugular.
“Yeah,” Hayley sneers in agreement.
“Hey!” Oakley shouts. “How about we all chill the fuck out and smoke a blunt?”
Bless him. There’s only one thing these girls are interested in right now.
Winning.
I attempt to wedge myself between Bianca and Morgan before it turns into a bloodbath.
“Get your fat friend out of my face before she eats me,” Morgan whines.
My elbow accidentally makes contact with her nose as I break them apart.
“Oh, my God,” Morgan gasps. “I think I’m bleeding.”
“Whoops.” I feign innocence. “My bad.”
Bianca waggles her eyebrows at me. “Atta girl.”
Oak slings an arm around Morgan’s shoulders. “Let’s find you a bathroom.”
I’m not sure if he’s steering her away in order to separate them, or because he still wants to play doctor with her.
Knowing Oakley, probably both.
Hayley’s lower lip trembles as he walks off. She looks like a lost puppy who just got abandoned by her owner.
It’s utterly heart wrenching.
“Don’t chase after him,” Bianca says through clenched teeth. “You’re better than that. Leave him with his trash.”
Her advice works because Hayley beams like she just had an epiphany. “You know what? You’re right.” She tugs on Bianca’s hand. “Screw him. Let’s go have fun.”
“Wait,” I hiss to Bianca. “What are you doing?”
It’s not like Bianca to be nice or befriend someone. Not unless she has ulterior motives.
For the life of me, I can’t think of a single thing she’d want from Hayley of all people.
Leaning down, she whispers, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
Seeing as Bianca claims to not have any friends, her statement can only mean one thing.
She sized them up and concluded Hayley was the bigger threat standing in the way of what—or rather who—she wants.
I say a silent prayer for the poor girl as I watch them run to the dancefloor.
Bianca’s been dancing with Hayley, and Oakley’s been off doing God knows what with Morgan for the last hour...which means I’ve been wandering around aimlessly.
It’s eerie how you can be in a house full of people and feel so alone.
Like you don’t belong.
Wanting some fresh air, I slip out to the patio and dial Dylan’s number for the second time tonight. Just like the first time, it goes straight to voicemail.
In all fairness, she did tell me her midterms were this week and she’s picking up extra shifts at the bakery.
It just sucks when you’re sad and the one person in the world who really gets you is busy living her life.
If I was smart, I’d go home and start my admissions essay. The cut off is next week and if I’m not careful, I’m going to blow my chance.
Would that be such a bad thing?
For the last seventeen years, I’ve been dependable, reliable…and predictable.
Failing to submit my essay on time would certainly be a change of pace.
Not to mention…stupid.
I’ve wanted to go to Duke’s Heart for as long as I can remember. I’m not going to ruin my shot because I’m feeling sorry for myself.
That’s not who I am.
I need to pull on my big girl panties and tackle this.
I need to stop being scared of the unknown.
If they don’t accept me, it’s their loss.
Panic lodges in my throat. Oh, God. What if they don’t accept me?
Or worse? What if they do accept me, but don’t offer me a scholarship and free housing?
They accepted Dylan—and technically, her grades were worse than mine since she ended up with a B+ in social studies—but that was last year.
Things change.
Stop it, Sawyer.
There are people in the world who have no food, no place to live, and no family—in other words, real world problems—and I’m acting like my life will be over if I don’t get to go to my dream college on a free ride.
Like my father always tells me—entitlement is laziness wrapped up in selfishness. If you really want something, you have to work for it. Earn it.
And if you start losing faith…pray for it, because God will provide.
He may not give you exactly what you want, but he’ll always give you what you need.
Including the strength to weather the storm.
Even if that storm comes in the form of a six-foot-three, obnoxious, selfish asshole named Cole Covington.
Ripples of hurt laced with tiny bolts of rage tangle in my chest as I watch him in the hot tub.
His eyes are closed as he rests his head on the ledge, and for once he’s all alone.
To most people, he would look like the epitome of calm and peaceful.
However, I can’t help but notice the way his chest rises above the water every few seconds before sinking back down.
Like he’s running out of breath. Trying not to drown.
I guess we both have that in common.
No—I remind myself. We have nothing in common.
Unlike me, Cole intentionally hurts and uses people.
I turn, intending to head back inside so I can tell Bianca I want to go home.
“Get over here, Bible Thumper.”
I freeze
at the sound of his voice.
“Please,” he says after another minute passes.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I spin back around. “Why?”
Did you make another stupid bet with your friends?
“Oh, come on, sweetness. I don’t bite.” Angling his head toward me, he gives me a lopsided smirk. “Unless you want me to.”
No, no, no. He doesn’t get to flirt with me like the bet he made with Cortland never happened.
Like he didn’t call me fat in front of the entire school.
Like he didn’t make me cry because I can’t fix him.
I’m marching the fifteen feet it takes to tell him off to his face when it suddenly occurs to me that Cole doesn’t know I know about the bet.
Chapter 14
Cole
There’s an adorable scowl on her face as she makes her way over to me. She’s all of five feet tall, but her steps eat up the patio between us in no time.
As if she can’t wait to tell me off.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t thoroughly enjoy getting her all frustrated.
However, I can’t do that tonight, because something tells me Sawyer isn’t going to agree to be my girlfriend so easily.
Not after the way I hurt and embarrassed her.
Which means I have to pull out all the stops.
Flirt with and seduce her until she can’t say no.
Fortunately, I’m ahead of the game because I know she’s attracted to me.
My dick stirs to life as I take in her purple cardigan straining across her big tits and the matching headband in her long dark hair.
She’s so innocent. So wholesome. So pure…it would be downright criminal to take advantage of her.
A good guy wouldn’t bet on a girl’s virginity just because his reputation and pride are at stake.
A good guy would put an end to this and tell Cortland to go fuck himself.
But I’m not a good guy. Far from it.
The thought of popping Little Miss Bible Thumper’s cherry and making her come all over my cock—right before I rub Cortland’s face in it—is far too gratifying to ignore.
“What do you want, Covington?”
She’s tapping her foot like she’s impatient. Has better places to be.