Noble Savages: A Dark Bully High School Romance Multi-Author Box Set

by Kent, Rina

  Letting out a sigh, I turned the key in the ignition. I kept going over my conversation with Sebastian on the way home, analyzing if I’d been too moody, defensive, or if maybe I was reading into something that wasn’t there. Maybe he wasn’t even mad or upset. We’d just gotten out of a rehearsal that had both our fingers damn near bleeding. Maybe he was just tired. I sure was.

  All thoughts ceased when I turned onto my street and took in the black Jeep sitting in the driveway. I squinted and nearly hit the mailbox as I was pulling up because I couldn’t take my eyes off the vehicle.

  It wasn’t him. No freaking way.

  I parked next to it and got out of my car, never tearing my gaze away from its too-tinted windows. I couldn’t tell if anyone was inside, so when I stepped up to it, I cupped my hands around my eyes and pressed my forehead to the glass. It was empty, but I did notice one thing. My pepper spray, the one Camden had tossed in his backseat, was sitting in the cup holder.

  Shit.

  My head snapped toward the house, as if I could see Camden through the brick. I groaned as I grabbed my cello from my backseat, along with my bag, and shuffled into the house to whatever fresh hell awaited me. Maybe he’d tied my family up and held a knife to one of their throats, waiting to ‘make another deal’ with me as soon as I stepped through the door. My family’s lives for my virginity.

  I cackled at my own depraved joke and simultaneously hoped there wasn’t anything too malicious waiting for me.

  Who was I kidding, this was Camden Knight.

  “Mom?” I called, setting my cello case down and flinging my bag off my shoulders when I made it inside. It echoed loudly on the wood floor, and a moment later, Roman appeared in the hallway that led to the kitchen.

  “Sup, kiddo?”

  “Where’s Mom?”

  My eyes darted around frantically, searching for any sign of Camden. My mom couldn’t have known he was here. If she had, she would’ve asked him to leave. So where was he?

  Roman pointed his thumb behind him. “Everyone’s out back. Come join us.”

  “Everyone?” I asked, taking a tentative step toward him.

  Roman smiled as he reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t worry.” He urged me into the kitchen and toward the back door. “I already talked to Mom, and she’s fine with your friend being here as long as you guys aren’t doing anything you aren’t supposed to. She’s having a hard time admitting it, but I think she likes him. He’s quite the charmer.”

  “What’s he doing here?” I asked, stopping and turning to face Roman.

  His eyebrow arched and his head tilted. “Did you not know he was coming? We assumed you’d asked him to apologize—”

  “Apologize?”

  “Yeah,” Roman dragged out the word. “For last week. He said he felt like he owed us an apology for breaking our rules and assured us it wouldn’t happen again. You didn’t tell him to do that?”

  “No,” I said, letting out a gust of air. “I didn’t.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes and tossed a look over my shoulder at the screen door. Voices sifted through. Mom’s. Jordan’s. His.

  “Sounds like you’ve picked yourself a good one, Eden. Don’t stress so much, okay?”

  I turned back to Roman, forcing a tight smile and a nod. He reached out and squeezed my shoulder again before gesturing toward the door. “Come on. We’re all having a good time out there.”

  I took a deep breath and trudged out the door, imagining the nightmare motives Camden had for this. I was right, he really wouldn’t stop until he had all of me. Until everything I loved was torn apart, including my family.

  Bastard.

  He met my stare when I stepped onto the patio, and my breath caught. I tried to maintain my glare, but when I took in the sight, my entire demeanor melted like ice cream on a hot summer day.

  Camden’s arm was arched back with a football in his hand. His aim was pointed toward Jordan, who was standing twenty feet away with his hands on his knees. Camden’s lips were pulled into a smile that mirrored my little brother’s. Happy. Genuinely happy.

  I must’ve stalled him because Jordan shouted, “I’m ready!”

  Camden looked forward and tossed the ball into the air, a couple feet from where Jordan stood and laughed as my little brother dove for it. He gripped the ball and hugged it to his chest as tight as his ten-year-old arms would allow before falling to the ground.

  Roman and Mom’s clapping and whistling caught my attention, and I turned my head toward them. They were both seated on our patio bench, Roman’s arm slung around the back of it. Mom had a smile that I rarely saw from her, and her blonde wavy hair framed her face in a way that, coupled with the smile, made her glow.

  “Hey, baby,” Mom said, flicking her gaze toward me. She leaned over and patted one of the chairs. “Come sit with us.”

  I glanced between her and Camden, who was catching a wobbly pass from Jordan, before I took the seat beside her.

  Roman kissed my mom on the cheek and whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. She turned to me. “Apparently, your brother is a football star.”

  I trained my gaze on Jordan, elbows on his knees and hands splayed like Camden was instructing him. “Apparently.”

  I’d yet to smile. My expression might not have been angry, but skepticism still sat heavily underneath. The house wasn’t on fire, and no one was being murdered, but I had a hard time believing Camden was here because he wanted to play catch with my brother.

  He kept looking my way, catching my eyes for brief moments before going back to tossing the ball to Jordan. His form was just like his smile—smooth and confident. He must’ve had quite the muscle memory to look like that. My thoughts drifted to the photo he’d sent, and I pictured what his muscles looked like underneath his shirt as his arm crooked back and slingshotted the ball. Some of his muscles were visible, like his bicep. It flexed, tightening his shirt, as he brought the ball back and—

  “How was school?”

  I gave my head a shake and turned to Mom. Roman was smirking as if he’d read my thoughts, but I ignored him.

  “Umm, it was okay.”

  “Trig still going well? Camden mentioned you might need help today.”

  I bet he did.

  “I’m still keeping up. Mrs. Morris said she’d give me extra credit if I needed it.”

  “She can see how hard you’re trying,” Roman said, joining the conversation.

  He was right. I’d gotten a C- on Monday’s test, and Mrs. Morris had emailed me with about a hundred exclamation marks after the number that night—71. She’d been floored and told me repeatedly how proud she was of me. So had my parents. It felt good, but there was an underlying bitterness to it all. I’d gotten that grade because I’d had Camden’s help. Without it, I wasn’t sure what would’ve happened. Even worse, how well could I have done with that extra day of studying help that I’d declined?

  My grade was now a 65, which still made me ineligible. I had to make a 98 on that test to bring my grade up to a C. But I’d do the extra credit, and I’d have the satisfaction of knowing I did it on my own.

  I didn’t need his help.

  “Well, that’s wonderful,” Mom said, leaning into Roman more. “We’re both very proud of you… and we’re happy you’re getting the help you need.” Her gaze wandered to Camden as she said that last part, and I followed it.

  Sweat broke out over my forehead, despite the chilly October air, and my lungs burned. She was trying to like him… for me. Because she thought I liked him. I never should’ve kept this from her. I should’ve gone to her and told her about the bullying, the football field, the rat, even the rape. Instead, I’d hidden it all, pretending everything was okay and convincing myself I was making things easier that way, but that wasn’t true. I was being a coward. If I told them what was going on at school, then it would make it exist at home. This was my sanctuary.

  And now it wasn’t.

  “I’m gonna go inside,” I an
nounced, standing and brushing imaginary dust from my jeans. “It’s kind of cold.”

  Roman frowned, and my mother studied me, her lawyer face in full effect.

  “Why don’t you bring out a blanket?” Roman suggested.

  I’d already passed them and was almost to the door when I turned and gave a tight smile. “That’s okay. I’ve got some studying to do, too.”

  Roman nodded, but I wasn’t sure if my mom bought it. I’d been too chickenshit to glimpse her expression. The screen door creaked as I pulled it back and let it slam shut behind me.

  The sweat on my forehead became more pronounced as I made my way upstairs. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? This was my safe space. My jockless space. My Camden’s-bullshit-free zone.

  I collapsed onto my bed and swiped the beading sweat with the back of my hand. My heart rate was too quick. It thudded in my ears, so loud it was all that I registered until the knock sounded on the door.

  The door creaked and Camden entered my line of sight.

  He sat down next to me on the bed. I didn’t sit up, nor turn to look at him. Maybe if I ignored him, he’d go away. If I didn’t move, he couldn’t see me. He was a vicious T-Rex, and I—

  “I was waiting for you by your car.”

  Damn it.

  I let out a heavy sigh and sat up, still not looking at him, but giving up on pretending he wasn’t there.

  “Orchestra ran later today, and I was there thinking about how last week you pointed out my not caring that you got in trouble…”

  “So you thought, ‘Hey, I’ll go remind her parents I exist.’” I scoffed and rolled my eyes, tucking a flyaway that had escaped my ponytail behind my ear.

  “No.”

  I planted my palms on the bed and turned my head to face him, skepticism written all over my features.

  “I came to apologize. Your stepdad started talking to me about football, and your little brother got excited… I wasn’t even trying to intrude, it just happened.”

  “Right.” I looked away from him in order to peer up at the ceiling in exhaustion. I couldn’t do this shit anymore.

  “Eden.”

  Another sigh and I rolled my neck to look at Camden.

  “I’m sorry.”

  I waited for a smirk, or for the amusement in his voice to register, or for something, anything, to indicate that he wasn’t serious. The gold ring making up the delicate edge of his irises stood out to me, but then again, it always did. His jaw was flexed, his lips were thin. His hands were resting in his lap. If he was faking sincerity, he was doing a damn good job of it.

  I didn’t say anything, mostly because there were so many things he could’ve been sorry for, and I couldn’t begin to guess which one he was referring to.

  “I keep treating you as if you’re any other girl, but you’re not. You’re different. Those differences are hard to grasp sometimes, but they’re the reason I like you. They’re what make you… you.”

  My brows pinched together, and I tilted my head. “What are you talking about?”

  He scooted closer to me, and I had to force myself to stay still. My muscles ached to squirm away, and my eyes shot to the open door on instinct.

  “I pushed you.”

  I returned my gaze to Camden. We were inches apart now, but his hands were still in his lap. His voice was low, like he was saying something he didn’t want to carry outside my room.

  “I thought a lot about it, and I get why your interest in me has seemingly… died. You weren’t ready for anything, and I tried to get you to do it anyway. Sex, even if it’s not really sex, is a big deal to you, and it should be. I wasn’t thinking, and I’m sorry.”

  I stared at him, searching the dark in his eyes for any indication that he was lying. Because he had to be lying. I needed him to be. I needed him to be Camden Knight, the asshole jock, the bully. That was the barrier between me and the warmth he enveloped me in when we were this close. It was hard to say no to the charming, helpful, broken guy. It was easy to say no to the bully.

  “It wasn’t a big deal,” I said, mimicking his low voice.

  “Yes, it was.” He moved his hand to rest next to mine on the bed, still not touching, but so close. “But it’s not going to happen again.”

  “I know.” I lifted my hand and rested it on my lap before scooting a few inches away. “Because I don’t like you like that. I’m not interested in having a relationship with the guy spreading rumors about me.”

  “They’ve stopped. No one’s going to be spreading anymore—”

  “Because of you, or because of Hunter?” I whirled my head toward him so that I could see his face when he answered. When he inevitably lied.

  He paused for several moments and took a deep breath. “Hunter is the one who told people to stop, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “So, you haven’t really done shit for me then, is that right? Let me ask you something, Camden.” I leaned in closer, but it had nothing to do with not wanting anyone to hear me. I wanted to project as much malice as possible. “Which would make me more pathetic… going out with Hunter, or going out with you? Because you keep telling me I shouldn’t go out with him, but—”

  “If you want to go out with him, then do it, Eden. Go out with him. I’m sure he’ll have much more respect for how far you’re willing to go than I do.” Camden ran a hand through his hair, tousling the brown locks. Somehow, when he was done he looked even more handsome.

  “Should I be thanking you for not raping me?”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying.”

  “Then what?” My tone was clipped, and some of the pride he’d stolen over the past month returned. The bite was delicious, it was powerful. It almost made me realize why he did what he did. Making him small, made me feel so much bigger.

  He sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry, okay? That’s all I’m trying to say. I’m sorry for pushing you. I’m sorry for sending the picture, the condom, the rumors, all of it. None of it was even necessary.”

  “What do you mean by ‘even necessary’? Necessary for what?”

  The emotion Camden had allowed himself to display came to a screeching halt. His demeanor changed in an instant from vulnerable to guarded. I watched it. I could almost see the shield coming over his skin.

  “Nothing.”

  He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around before standing. “I hope your parents aren’t mad at you anymore,” he said, not looking at me. He went to step away but stopped when I spoke.

  “They weren’t ever mad at me. They were disappointed. They weren’t holding it over my head or anything.”

  “Right.”

  “Camden.”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he took a few moments to look at me. Goosebumps rose over my flesh when our eyes met, the coldness in his reminiscent of when I’d seen him before. Before all of this happened. Before he decided he liked me. Before I knew him.

  Did I know him?

  “I don’t think we should be enemies anymore… but I don’t know if we can be friends. Too much has happened.”

  His shoulders bunched with tension, but he nodded. “You’re probably right.”

  Two steps closer to the door.

  Three.

  I knew I should let him go. I should let him walk out of there and allow myself to be the victor. I’d won, and for the rest of my life I could take solace in the fact that I hadn’t let them break me. I hadn’t let them take everything, just almost everything. But something was mixed in with the victory, swirling with it, overshadowing it. It was vinegar to my victory’s water, making it sour.

  It was regret.

  “Can I just know why?” My voice filtered through the room, making me cringe. He stopped in the doorway and turned, his eyes still cold as ice. There was desperation in my tone that made it that much worse.

  He glanced around, as if contemplating whether he should leave or stay.

  “Please,” I said, abandoning my win altogether. Th
e word burned my throat like acid, which would’ve explained why it came out so gravely.

  “Is it important to you?” he asked, taking a step back into the room. His hands were in his pockets, but the relaxed gesture didn’t ring true. He was on the defensive. I was certain of it. It’s why his gaze was so cold, and it got me thinking. Was he always on the defensive? The only time he warmed me was when we were alone.

  I nodded and smoothed my hands over my lap. “Yeah.”

  He scanned the room rather than answering. What he was looking for, I had no idea. He locked onto a photo in a frame on my dresser, and he walked over to it to get a better look. All I could see were the rigid planes of his back, and they weren’t giving me any clues as to what he was thinking. But then again, I could never tell what Camden was thinking. I never knew his motives. That’s why this was so important to me. I just… needed to know.

  He picked up the picture frame and held it closer to his face. I guessed he was looking for something, but I couldn’t begin to understand what. I stood and carefully walked over to him, being as quiet as possible, so as not to startle him.

  “You have a beautiful family,” he said, setting the frame back down and shoving his hands back into his pockets.

  “Thank you.” It was a whisper that came out more like a question.

  “Hunter is my family.” He turned to me and leaned against the dresser. The intensity in his eyes was enough for me to want to look away, but I didn’t. My gaze didn’t waver.

  “I know you might think I’m lying when I say this, but he’s like a brother to me. He’s important to me.”

  “I’m not going out with him.”

  Camden chuckled dryly and looked away for a moment. “I know, I’m not talking about that.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair again. “You wanted to know why I started being mean to you…”

  My eyes narrowed in confusion. “Because of what I said about Hunter? None of it was a lie, I watched—”

  “I know. I’m not talking about that either.”

  He didn’t elaborate, but he also didn’t have to. The memory of that night came back to me in a flash, and I realized what he was talking about. Hunter’s mom. I’d almost forgotten about it, and my stomach twisted as the memory surfaced. Something came over me that I never thought possible in a scenario like this—jealousy.