She gasps at the raw sincerity in my voice. I’ve always been careful about what I say and how I say it. Those words were too honest, too revealing of my true feelings about her. But right now, I don’t care. She needs to hear it. It’s taking everything in me not to say more, not to confess how completely crazy in love with her I am.
Gwen has hearts in her eyes as she opens her mouth to speak, and I jump off the bed.
I don’t trust myself right now. There needs to be some distance between us for a few minutes.
“Where are you going?” she calls out as I head for the door, her voice frantic.
“I’m going downstairs to change and get us some snacks,” I answer, keeping my back to her. “I’m sleeping in here with you tonight.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Present
COLE
Shane’s Tesla weaves through the traffic with no regard for the other people on the road. The prick even drives like an asshole. He hasn’t made it easy to tail him all day. I’ve been following him, waiting and watching for the perfect opportunity to strike. This motherfucker never should’ve come after Gwen. Big fucking mistake.
Entitled lowlifes like him are the reason I started all the Westbrook Three shit with Arwen and Thatcher. We were tired of watching them use their wealth, status, and power to hurt other people. Including us.
Thatcher received the worst of their tormenting and bullying. He’ll always be scarred from the sick things they did to him. It’s not likely he’s the only one suffering from that trauma.
We knocked all of them off their thrones, one by one, using the same tactics they used on others. No one saw it coming. The three of us were an unstoppable force.
Some were simple. All it took was a little seduction. It’s amazing what you can find out about a person when they let you get close enough. Especially if they don’t view you as a threat. Others required a heavier hand.
Thatcher becomes a bit of a beast when he unleashes all that fury penned up inside of him.
When neither of those strategies worked, that’s where my hacker skills came into play. It’s so easy to get dirt on filthy people. They all have something out there that could ruin them. This is where we’d broker a deal. As long as they didn’t cause trouble for anyone, we’d let them keep their skeletons locked away.
I’ve never once felt guilty for the things we’ve done. Each and every one of them deserved what they got and more. But it makes me sick to my stomach thinking Shane could be using this same approach with Gwen. Whatever he’s holding against her must involve me in some way. Why else would he send her pictures of us together?
Shane whips into a parking garage. Grinning, I follow in behind him, careful not to get close enough for him to notice me.
When he picks a spot on the third level, I slowly drive up behind his car and park. There’s no way for him to flee.
It’s time we have a chat, fucker.
There’s a scowl on his face when he gets out of his vehicle, curses flying from his mouth as he approaches my car. He freezes the moment he realizes it’s me, his bushy eyebrows jumping on his forehead.
I take my time getting out, smirking while doing so. Seeing the worms squirm once you’ve got them on the hook is my favorite part.
I lean against the hood of my car, crossing my arms.
“What do you want, Masterson?” His attempt to sound unthreatened is cute, the squeak in his voice only adding to my amusement.
“Oh, you know, I thought it might be time for the two of us to catch up. Maybe reminisce about old times.”
His eyes slit. “You mean when your thug friend beat the shit out of me so bad that I pissed myself? Or maybe you want to talk about how you recorded the entire thing and threatened to send it to everyone in Westbrook?”
“You sound so angry, Shane.” I tsk my tongue, a mocking disappointment in my tone. “And here I was hoping we could let bygones be bygones.”
“Yeah. Fuck you, you low-class piece of trash,” he spits, his nostrils flaring. “You think because your rich friends help you buy nice things, we’ve all forgotten you’re nothing more than the help’s son?”
My laughter echoes through the parking garage, my balled fists a slight reprieve from the rage growing within me. “And you’re the son of a gold-digging whore. But let’s not throw stones.”
His entire face goes red, smoke practically billowing from his ears.
Talking about his mother is a low blow, but it makes my point. The entire town loves to gossip about how Mrs. Donavan was nothing more than a stripper before she met his dad. He doesn’t have any right to be judging my mother.
He steps closer, pointing his finger in my face. “Better watch your mouth, asshole. Things might not go so well for you without Thatcher here to protect you.”
I stand straight, my six-two stature towering over him. “You want to take a swing at me and find out?”
Thatcher may’ve become the muscle of our little threesome, but I was getting into fights long before we ever met. Before I gained thirty pounds of muscle. Back when I still looked like a piece of taffy that’d been pulled too thin.
The coward shakes his head and moves back. “Just fucking tell me what you want so I can get on with my day.”
“The thing is, Shane,” I begin, my voice dripping with condescension, “I thought we had an understanding. But clearly, there are some things you need to be reminded of.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stutters. Shane doesn’t have much of a poker face; he knows exactly why I’m here.
“See, I think you do.” His eyes grow wider as I crack my knuckles. “In fact, I’m betting you aren’t all that surprised to see me today.”
“I don’t have time for your fucking riddles.”
“Playing dumb is only going to piss me off,” I warn. “But all right, we’ll do it your way. Let me be clear. If you fuck with Gwen anymore, I will end you.”
“What did that fucking cunt—”
I lunge and grab him by the throat, slamming him into the trunk of his car before he even knows what hit him. “Be very careful with your choice of words.”
My grip tightens as he struggles to free himself, his fingertips clawing at me.
“Get off me,” he wheezes. “I didn’t do anything to her.”
I lift him enough to slam him back down with a punishing force. “This could all go a lot quicker and a lot less painful for you if you stop lying. I saw the pictures you sent her this morning.”
His mask slips for only a second, his features appearing even more sinister once it’s back in place. “So? That doesn’t mean shit. Did you ask her about it?”
I let him go, and he straightens his stance. The way his lips curl as he dusts himself off causes my fists to ball at my sides again.
“No, you didn’t,” he arrogantly answers for me. “If you did, we’d be having a different conversation right now.”
A heaviness builds in my chest. Shane knows I’m not going to like whatever it is he’s holding over Gwen’s head. He’s counting on her being too afraid to come clean.
“And what discussion would that be?” I quip.
He smirks, loving that I took the bait. “You’ll have to ask her that question. Though I wouldn’t expect her to tell you. At least not the truth.”
My fist swings, the punch landing right below his ribcage and knocking the wind out of him. He cries out and bends over as he tries to find his breath again.
I lean in, speaking through gritted teeth as I say, “We’re starting to stray from my point, and I need you focused. Are you listening?”
He takes a step back, his arm still draped protectively across his stomach as he glares at me. “You know, they say people who use physical violence typically have lower intelligence. We know that’s not the case with you, so maybe it runs in your DNA. You’re a chip off the old block. Just like your dear old dad.”
This son of a bitch is seriously asking for it now. He doe
sn’t get to disrespect my father. Nicolas Masterson was kind and gentle. There wasn’t a single ounce of malice in his entire body. It’s something that haunts me, worrying what he’d think of me today.
“Maybe that’s what Gwen likes about you,” he drones on. “Does she like a little pain with her pleasure?”
My stomach sours as he crows.
This time I get him in the jaw before delivering another blow to his abdomen. He goes down to the ground with a heavy thud, his arms raised to protect him from another hit.
“It’s going to eat away at you,” he rasps. “Knowing she’s hiding shit. That might be even sweeter for me than if you found out the truth.”
He’s so fucking pathetic. Even when he’s already lost, he refuses to admit defeat.
Snickering, I kick him in his side and spit on him. “I don’t give a fuck why you’re sending her cryptic messages or what you think you have over her. It ends now. Don’t contact her again.”
Shane groans, curling into a ball as I get back into my car.
This isn’t how I planned for things to go today. My persuasion methods are usually a lot less brute, but he’s got to know I’m not fucking around.
I need to be sure Gwen is safe.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Present
GWEN
My body is practically trembling with anxious energy, the disturbance of it making me queasy. No one seems to notice, though. If there’s one thing I’ve perfected over the years, it’s my ability to pretend. To everyone here, I appear carefree. A smile on my face and pep in my step.
“You could’ve warned me,” Mia hisses as she enters the kitchen. “Cory asked me if everything was okay after my emergency yesterday.”
I grimace. “Oh shit! Sorry. What did you say?”
“Lucky for you, your best friend is a phenomenal liar and thinks quick on her feet,” she boasts, winking at me. “I told him my car had a blowout and you had to come pick me up off the side of the road because I didn’t want to ride with the scary tow truck driver.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s perfect.”
She shrugs, a lopsided grin on her face. “If he brings it up, you stayed with me while they repaired it. And I was so distraught from my horrible day that you took me to get food afterward.”
“I’m an amazing friend,” I snicker. “Thanks for covering for me.”
She waves off my appreciation. “Where is Mr. Territorial anyway?”
After Cole dumped me here yesterday afternoon and left me stranded, he was MIA for the rest of the day. When he came into my room late last night, I was still too pissed to speak to him, so I pretended to be asleep. Someone must’ve come to pick him up this morning because my car has been here all day. Although the bastard kept my keys.
“That’s a good fucking question,” I quip, heading back out to the patio with some snacks.
Honestly, I’ve been too preoccupied panicking over the alarming messages Shane sent me to concern myself with Cole’s whereabouts. Someone witnessed the little show Cole and I put on yesterday. Exactly as I feared. The asshole even took some photos, which ended up in Shane’s hands. There’s no denying my involvement with Cole when there’s photographic proof. In the one where he’s kissing me, we look like a normal couple in love. Not heartbroken and miserable the way he wants.
Shane never said anything after he sent the pictures. Not even after I gave into the pressure of it and sent a text asking what he wanted. Who knows what he’s planning or the demands he’ll make. I think that’s more terrifying than anything—waiting for the unknown, fearing the worst.
Cory’s gaze lands on me as soon as we step outside, his lips curling into a coy smile.
“It’s kind of sad,” Mia muses. “He’s like a sweet little puppy just begging for you to pet him.”
My nose scrunches as I place the bowls on the table. “Gross. That was a disturbing image. I will not be petting him no matter how much he begs.”
She sighs dramatically. “I don’t know why you’re so harsh. He’s cute. And sweet.”
Mia’s thoughtful tone gives me pause, and I look over to find her staring at Cory all dreamy-eyed. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her look at a guy that way. Mia isn’t one to crush on a guy, hoping they’ll notice her. When she’s into someone, she’s usually a little predatorial. But there certainly seems to be interest in her stare.
“Why don’t you date him, then?”
Her head tilts, her lips perching as she ponders the idea. “No…I can’t. My ego would never be able to handle knowing he had the hots for my best friend.”
I huff out a laugh and shake my head. “You’re a nut.”
“Uh oh, here he comes. Good luck.” She smirks and walks away, leaving me to deal with the mess she created.
“Dang, girl.” Cory whistles. “You look fucking incredible.”
A tight smile is plastered on my face as he wraps his arms around me. I’m regretting my decision to let Mia choose my outfit for the party. The white cropped halter and flowy bright yellow skirt do look amazing on me, but there’s only one guy I’m trying to impress.
I pull out of his hold, my eyes darting around the room in search of Cole before settling on Cory again. “Thank you.”
“I was thinking, if you don’t have plans tomorrow, maybe we can get a do-over for our date?”
“Oh. I, uh…”
Before I can think of a lie, someone wraps an arm around my shoulders. Aidan gives me one of his bright toothy smiles as my gaze finds him. Relief floods me, and I sag into his embrace.
Aidan Shaw is Westbrook’s golden boy. His father owns and runs half the town, and his son is one of their star football players. It doesn’t hurt that Aidan is easy on the eyes, and a really sweet guy. Girls are always throwing themselves at him. If I hadn’t always been so in love with Cole, I might’ve been standing in that line with them.
Aidan greets his teammate with one of those handshake deals guys do. The two of them chat for a minute about practice and how badly the coach kicked their asses today. Then he makes up some excuse to drag me away from Cory.
“It looked like you needed to be rescued,” Aidan teases.
“Thank you,” I breathe. “Mia put the idea in his head that I wanted him to ask me out, and—”
“You don’t want to date him. That’s pretty obvious,” Aidan chuckles. “But…Cory doesn’t pick up on subtle hints. You have to tell him flat out you’re not interested.”
I groan. “Great.”
“Where’s your house guest? I heard he invited Arwen and Violet, too.”
Aidan’s had a thing for Arwen since she breezed into town the summer before eighth grade. He was her first and only friend here for a while. Until she met Cole and Thatcher. The three of them became inseparable, and Arwen cut Aidan out of her life.
They avoided each other for years, but things changed after they spent some time together in South Carolina. Aidan insists there’s nothing going on with them, but I’m not stupid.
According to Cole, Arwen and I are a lot alike. He thinks that’s why we’ve clashed from the beginning. Which I can’t say I agree with. Either way, it’s no secret she’s not my favorite person. I’ll admit it started off as jealousy over her friendship with the boy I loved. But my opinion about her was solidified after she crushed poor Aidan—the first time.
Still, I get the feeling Aidan is lying to me at Arwen’s request.
I don’t trust her. Especially when it comes to Aidan’s heart.
“Cole is here somewhere,” I start. “But…”
As if on cue, Cole comes strolling outside with Violet under his arm and Arwen by his side. My skin heats as his glare settles on me. Those emerald eyes take a leisurely stroll over my body, one corner of his mouth curving with appreciation.
“I’m going to say hi to Violet,” Aidan says.
I acknowledge Aidan with a quick nod of my head, chewing on my bottom lip once he walks away and Cole heads in my direction.
He’s wearing an Arcade Fire shirt with a pair of ripped black jeans and purple Converse. His hair is perfectly disheveled, the grin on his face seductive as he stops in front of me. “That’s a very nice outfit, Princess. It’ll look even better later tonight when it’s lying on my floor.”
My face flushes, my center clenching as he leans in closer.
“I bet Cory can’t keep his eyes off you. He’s probably thinking of all the ways he can get you alone. Maybe I should put the poor bastard out of his misery and show him you’re already spoken for.”
“You wouldn’t,” I whisper.
Chuckling, he brushes the hair away from my shoulder and places a quick kiss there. “You want to test that theory?” He stands tall again, his eyebrow arrogantly cocked.
My lips press, but I give him a curt shake of my head. The last thing I want is a repeat of yesterday.
Mia and Cory chat away, barely including me in their conversation. But I don’t mind it. It’s cute, the way Mia keeps nervously laughing at all of Cory’s lame jokes. He looks so flattered each time. Like he’s used to people laughing at him more than they do with him.
The chime on my phone alerts me of a message on Instagram. The notification bar on my screen shows it’s from Cole to Phantom Girl, and my heart stutters.
As inconspicuously as possible, I allow my gaze to float around the yard in search of Cole. He’s on the other side of the pool, engaged in conversation with Violet and her friend Samantha.
My brow knits as I unlock my screen and open the message.
11:00 PM
You look sexy AF in yellow.
My mouth drops open, my wide eyes flickering back to him. This time his glare is fixated on me. That wickedly sexy grin adorns his lips, inciting both fear and lust in my belly.
The Princess and The Jester: A High School Bully Romance (Westbrook Three Book 3) Page 13