by L A Cotton
“Who are you right now?”
Liam flashed me a smug grin. “Just call me Cupid.”
My eyes found Macey again, willing her to look at me. To give me any sign that there was something between us still.
She didn’t.
“Fine,” I said forcing myself to look away. “I’ll do it. But nothing fancy.”
“That’s the spirit.” Liam clapped me on the back. Maybe he was right. Maybe I needed to kick the habit of a lifetime and go out with a girl so far removed from Wicked Bay drama that the only Prince she knew was Prince Harry.
Maybe.
“MR. LIONS, TAKE A SEAT.” Miss Tamson motioned to the chair, and I sat down. “Thanks for coming. I just wanted to touch base. It says here you won’t be applying for college. I’d hoped you might change your mind. Your SAT is strong, and Mr. Julians says you have a gift for music.”
“A gift doesn’t pay the bills.”
“No. No, it doesn’t, Devon. But he thinks you’d have a good shot at a full scholarship, so if financial aid is an issue—”
“It isn’t.”
It was. But I didn’t want, or need, her pity.
“I see.” She folded her arms on the desk and looked at me in a way that made me shift uncomfortably. “Can I ask, how are things at home?”
“Things are fine.”
“Your father, he’s—”
“Fine.”
“Devon.” She let out a long sigh. “I’m not here to judge or pry. Believe it or not, I’m here to help. Separations can be hard. Your moth—”
“I appreciate the concern, Miss Tamson, but I’m fine. Applying to college was never part of my plan. I’ll graduate and start working with my dad at the company.”
“And that’s commendable, truly. But you could enroll in community college? Get some qualifications that complement your father’s business—construction, was it?”
Working for Lions Construction was one thing but studying for a job I didn’t want in the first place, was another entirely.
“I think I’m all set, Miss Tamson.” I leaned down to grab my backpack, but she just didn’t know when to quit.
“Devon, this is college. Your future. You’re a bright kid. I just want you to be absolutely sure you’re making the right decision for you, no one else.”
Nodding over the lump in my throat, I grabbed my backpack and hauled ass out of there. I didn’t want to hear about how much potential I had or how far I could go. My future was already set. Like it or not, I’d be digging foundations and laying bricks for the next ten years, not playing my music to raucous crowds.
The door clicked shut behind me and I gave myself a second before heading for last period. Who was I kidding? I wasn’t going to make last period. Not after Miss Tamson’s little pep talk. I ducked into the hall and checked for hall monitors. Seeing none, I hurried past the locker banks and right out of the door.
“Devon?”
I almost ploughed straight into Macey. My hands shot out to steady her, but seeing she was okay, I quickly thrust my hands into my pockets.
“Sorry.” It came out clipped.
“Is everything okay?” Her eyes searched mine, lingering on my face. Stroking something inside me. I’d waited all week to feel her looking at me, giving me something—anything.
“Devon?” My name falling from her lips snapped me out of my reverie. Who the fuck was I kidding? If I hadn’t almost knocked her flat on her ass, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
Macey wasn’t asking me if I was okay because she cared, she was asking because if she didn’t, she only proved me right—that she was spiteful heartless bitch.
Bitter laughter rumbled in my chest and spilled out. “Really? You’re asking me if I’m okay? So, what?” I ground out the words. “I can’t ask you, but you can ask me? Is that how this works? You can keep taking whatever the fuck you want, and I just have to stand by?
“Devon, I—”
“We’re done, remember?” I moved around her, kept my head down, and didn’t look back.
Liam was right. I couldn’t keep letting these entitled princesses play with me. I deserved more.
I deserved someone who cared for me the way I cared for them. Someone who wasn’t ashamed to be seen with me. Someone who put me first above all the other crap in their lives.
I deserved someone the total opposite to Macey Prince.
Chapter 11
MACEY
“Headed somewhere?” Kyle was leaning up against the door when I slipped out of my room and downstairs.
“What’s it to you?”
“Tell me you’re not going with Caitlin to that party down at Long Beach that I heard her telling everyone about?”
“Kyle.” I gave him a pointed look. “It’s none of your damn business.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “You can hate me. Hell, you can hate all of us, but get one thing straight; like it or not, I am your family, and with Rick gone, someone’s got to step in and stop you from screwing things up. I have watched you come in at all hours for weeks now. Drinking your liver into oblivion, getting into fuck only knows what trouble. And I know something happened at the party the other week. I know you ran out of there.”
“Spying on me?” I sneered. “How original.”
“Macey, for the love of—” he stopped himself, letting out an exasperated breath and running a hand over his face. “This shit has got to end. I am not the enemy.”
“I have to go.” I barged past him and made for the door. I didn’t want to hear anymore. All I wanted to do was keep my squad members—aka Caitlin—happy, and survive the night. Because right now, cheerleading was all I had. If that meant playing nice with Caitlin and Trina then so be it.
“Will you just stop already?” The boom of his voice stalled me, and I turned slowly meeting his hard expression. “This family is screwed up. I get it, more than you know. But we’re so much more than that. Rick is gone, I get that. I get you two shared a deep bond. But I’m your brother too. And I’m here, I’ve been here trying to be someone for you. You’ve got to meet me halfway though. Give me something, anything.”
“What makes you think I need you?”
“Because we all need someone, Mace. You, me, Rick. Hell, even Summer and she’s the least screwed up of us all.” His chest heaved with a sigh. “I don’t know who hurt you, but you have to deal with that shit before it’s too late.”
I felt my walls crumbling. He knew. He knew me better than I gave him credit for.
“W- what did you say?”
“Come on. I might be a joker, but I’m no fool. This isn’t only about your mom and dad, and Rick. This goes deeper.”
“Stop, okay, just stop.” I clutched the pendant around my neck, trying to avoid his eyes. But it was impossible. He saw me.
Kyle saw me.
He wasn’t supposed to see me.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I rushed out.
His brow rose. “Don’t I?”
“I have to go.” I needed to get away from him, from his sympathetic smile and knowing stare.
Kyle knew. Maybe he didn’t have it all figured out, but Kyle was like a dog with a bone, and I knew he wouldn’t let this drop. One way or another Kyle would want to uncover the truth.
“I’m not going to follow you, not tonight,” he said. “You go to that party and you’re flying solo.”
I paused, letting his words sink in. It wasn’t the first time I’d gone out alone. But in Wicked Bay there was usually someone who knew Kyle or Maverick. Someone who wouldn’t hesitate to call them if anything happened. Long Beach was different. It was unchartered territory. It didn’t matter though. I was a big girl, I could look after myself.
Besides, being alone was fast becoming my specialty.
“WHERE IS THIS PLACE again?” I asked Caitlin as she drove us out of town and onto the highway. I was kind of surprised when she asked me and Kara along, but Shaun wanted to see Kara, and sh
e didn’t want to go without me.
So here I was.
“It’s at a friend of Travis’. Don’t worry about it, he’s good people.” I caught the sideways glance she gave Trina who was sitting upfront, preening herself in the mirror. “He was at the party the other week.”
Trina snickered, but I didn’t have time to analyze it because Kara caught my attention when she said, “Thanks for coming, Mace. I really appreciate it.”
After fleeing from Guy at the last party, Kara had gotten a cab with me back to the hotel, telling everyone I felt sick. And I had, kind of. But not for the reasons people assumed.
We hadn’t talked about it since but not for her lack of trying.
“Yeah, whatever.” I forced a smile. “Shaun seems like a good guy, I’m happy for you.”
“He’s sweet,” she lowered her voice, checking on Caitlin and Trina, but they were busy gossiping about the Long Beach High girls. “But he’s on the football team and...” Her eyes darted away from me.
“And what?”
“He’s a jock, Macey.” Her uncertain gaze settled on mine again. “I don’t want to be some conquest.”
“Not all jocks are the same, K.”
“Yeah, I know but—”
“Stop worrying. He likes you and he invited you to the party. If you get bad vibes from him we’ll bail, okay?”
“Okay.” Her shoulders relaxed, some of the uncertainty gone from her eyes. “Maybe you’ll meet someone too. He has a couple of hot friends.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” was all I said, turning my head to watch the scenery roll by.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to a gated neighborhood. “You’ve got to be shitting me,” Trina whistled.
“This is it,” Caitlin announced. Even she sounded awed, and that was saying something. “I knew he was filthy rich, but this is...”
“Yeah,” we all said in unison.
Caitlin texted Travis and the gate slowly opened granting us access. A winding road cut through perfectly tended lawns edged with symmetrical privet. “It’s the last on the left at the edge of the marina.”
“Marina?” Trina squeaked. “Holy fucking cow, this is... You have got to hook me up with one of his friends.”
Me and Kara shared a bemused look as the car followed the road, eventually coming to a stop outside what could only be described as a mansion. And leaning up against the alabaster pillar was Guy.
“This is Guy’s house?” I croaked, my stomach knotting.
“We didn’t tell you?” I heard the smirk in Caitlin’s voice. Now it all made sense. The shared looks earlier, the way Trina had snickered when I asked whose house the party was at.
It was a set up.
“Did you know?” I asked Kara.
“I swear, I had no idea. We can leave.”
But we couldn’t. No way Caitlin would drive us back to Wicked Bay. It was a twenty-mile walk and calling Kyle was not an option. Not after our parting words earlier.
“It’s fine.” I locked down my emotions. “I’m sure he’s forgotten all about me.”
Caitlin lowered the window to ask where she should park. “Ladies.” He moved down the step. “Park up over there and get your cute asses inside.”
Caitlin and Trina giggled like children while I wanted to puke all over the leather. By the time we’d parked and gotten out of the car, Shaun and Travis had joined Guy.
“Ladies.” Travis smirked, and Caitlin wasted no time draping herself over him. Shaun and Kara were talking in hushed voices, the slight flush of their cheeks so cute even I swooned.
“Macey Prince, we meet again.” Guy came up beside me.
“Hey.” I kept it simple, hoping he would take the hint I was here under duress.
He tilted his head, running his eyes down the length of my body causing me to shudder, and not in the good way. “I’m glad you came.”
The knot in my stomach tightened, but despite the dread flooding me, I managed to press my lips together and offer him a tight smile.
So much for him forgetting all about me.
I COULDN’T RELAX.
All night, I watched Caitlin and Trina suck up the attention of Travis and his friends, oblivious to the jealous stares of the other girls at the party. Even Kara was having fun, her smile growing wider with every passing minute. But I wasn’t feeling it. Kyle’s earlier words played heavy on my mind. At least Guy left me alone. After making sure we all had drinks and knew where the bathroom was, he left us to it.
“I think I’m going to get some air,” I said to Kara, needing to get away from the overdose of PDA’s.
“Are you sure?” she asked, giggling as Shaun hooked his arm around her, refusing to let her go. “I can come?”
“No, stay. I’m just going to go out back for a few minutes. It’s really hot in here.” I slipped away from them and found my way to the back door. Guy’s house was beautiful, with an amazing yard that led down to a private dock on the lake surrounding the community. But when the fresh air hit my face, everything spun out of focus.
“Whoa,” I slammed my hand against the wall, steadying myself. My skin felt hot to the touch. It couldn’t be the three drinks and one Jell-O shot I’d had. Maybe I was coming down with something.
Once the world stopping spinning, I cut through the crowds of people to find somewhere quieter. Maybe if I sat down and caught my breath, I’d feel better. But I didn’t make it very far before another wave of dizziness hit me.
“Macey?” a voice said. “Are you—”
The world spun again, and I swayed, almost losing my footing. “Come on.” A hand snaked around my waist pulling me close. I tried to fight it, but my body was like lead.
“N-no. I should—”
“Air, babe. You need some fresh air. Come on, I got you.”
I stumbled alongside him. He was bigger than me, his strength overpowering.
“You should lie down. It’ll make the world stop spinning.” The world began to fall away and then my back hit something hard. I yelped. “I... friends. I need to get back to my friends.”
“Your friends are a little preoccupied right now, if you know what I’m saying.” I heard the laughter in his voice, but everything was blurred, like looking up at his face from under water. “Relax. No one’s out here. It’s just you and me, and a chance to finish what we started last time.”
Last time?
Guy?
It was Guy?
No, my mind yelled but his lips came down on mine, hard and clumsy. It was all teeth and tongue as he invaded my mouth. “W- Wait,” I gasped trying to push him off me, but my arms were like jelly coming up against a brick wall.
“I’m going to make you feel so good.” His bitter breath invaded my senses, and I retched, panic building in my chest as his fingers scraped and clawed at my jeans. It was like an out-of-body experience. Watching it happen from above, unable to do anything but silently scream.
“Guy, stop,” I pleaded. “S- stop, please.”
“You’re a cock tease, you know that, Princess?”
Princess.
Something flickered in the recess of my mind. Something about that word...
“Jesus, I’m so hot for you.” The sound of a belt buckle being undone rattled around us. “And to think I’ll get to tell everyone I fucked Macey Prince good.”
Princess.
Princess.
Something snapped, and I bucked off the lounger.
“What the—” Guy toppled off me, losing his footing.
“Get off me. Get off me,” I yelled, pushing myself into a seated position. Everything spun again, the world tipped on its axis, and I rubbed my head trying to get a grip on reality.
“Come on, babe.” Guy loomed down over me now. “You don’t mean that; we can have some fun.”
“I said no,” my voice was clearer now as the edges of my conscience came back into focus.
“You think no is going to stop me taking what I’m owed?” He re
ached for me, but I kicked out hard, his cries filling the air. “You fucking bitch.”
I ran. Digging deep, I mustered every ounce of energy I had left and stumbled down the lawn as fast as I could. Away from the houses, from the lake and the expensive boats. I didn’t stop until my muscles ached, and my lungs burned. Coming to a breathless stop, I slid down a tree and landed in a pile of tears, blood pounding between my ears.
Everything was hazy. Memories of the night swirling together into one jumbled mess. But I knew without doubt that Guy had just tried to... My body lurched to the side as I puked into the grass, violent shudders wracking through me. I had to get out of here. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I dug around in my purse, which was thankfully still slung over my body. My fingers trembled as I pulled out my phone, and I managed to focus enough to find his number with only one thought running through my mind.
Please pick up.
Chapter 12
DEVON
“The band are great,” Kim yelled over the music.
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad we came.” She smiled before focusing her attention back on the stage.
When Liam had given me her number, I’d almost thrown it in the trash can. But then I remembered Macey’s parting words and realized no matter how much I wanted her to wake up and see me, Macey Prince had issues.
The kind I didn’t know how to fight.
My cell phone vibrated in my jean pocket, but I ignored it. It was probably Liam wanting an update, or Dad letting me know he was going to be late. Again.
Kim was a sweetheart, just as Liam described her, and to my surprise, conversation had flowed easily between us. We liked a lot of the same things: movies, music, even video games. She was someone I could see myself hanging out with, but I wasn’t sure there was anything more there.
Or whether I wanted there to be.
She bounced up and down to the bass, glancing back at me now and then with a smile. Shit, I wanted to like her. I wanted to feel that instant connection you were supposed to feel with someone. But no matter how hard I looked, it just wasn’t there.