Power Play: Upper East Side (Greisbach Academy #2)

by Trinity Towers

  “Is a relationship what you want? You’ve only been here a month. We skipped from a fake relationship to a real one without you having a chance to be here and single. It makes me wonder if this is what you really want?”

  Tears began to fill my eyes. “Of course it is! Why would you even think anything different? I think we’ve both made some serious mistakes and maybe we need to take a step back and just talk this through. Things escalated quickly.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough. Where do you want to start?” Pushing himself off the tree, he took my hand and guided me down a side pathway. His hand was cool in mine and I savored the feel of his firm grip.

  We didn’t talk for several minutes. A part of me was scared that if I said the wrong thing—if I said anything for that matter—that the closeness would go away and it would be another week before we talked again. Hell, maybe it would kill what was left between us forever and that was the last thing I wanted. So I remained silent, keeping my fingers tightly entwined in his.

  Jaxson was the one to break the silence. “Well, we might as well start from the beginning of this. Why did you show up at the club I was fighting at?”

  With a sigh, I shrugged. “Because you kept getting mysterious injuries that you kept making excuses for. Then you’d take off without giving me any idea as to where you were going. I was concerned about what you were keeping from me. So I followed you.”

  “Was that your idea?”

  I opened my mouth and almost told him it had been Damien’s and then stopped myself. Damien may have put the idea in my head, but I’d made the decision. “It was my idea. I asked Damien to come along since I had no idea where we’d be heading. I realize it wasn’t the right thing to do, but you weren’t being forthcoming with me and I couldn’t understand why you were keeping secrets from me. I still don’t understand why you didn’t just tell me the truth.”

  “I didn’t know where our future was headed, it’s not like we’ve been together for an extended time. My parents wouldn’t approve and the last thing I need is more waves. My father settled out of court with that douche from Florida for twenty-five thousand so my dick is in a sling over that already. My parents want me to go to Yale or one of those prissy school and then work with him running and eventually taking over the family legacy. If they knew I wanted to be an MMA fighter they’d cut my ass off. I’m not an idiot; I’m quite attached to my driver and my no-limit credit cards. As a result, very few people know.”

  “Does Trina know?”

  He frowned. “I honestly don’t know what she knows, I sure as hell didn’t tell her. Gabriel and Preston of course know. Not too many people go to the places I fight at, so it’s been quite easy to keep under wraps.”

  “Eventually it’ll get out.”

  “Yeah. Eventually. But not today and not tomorrow, as long as Damien knows how to keep his mouth shut.” There was a menacing look in his eyes that made me cringe.

  “I’ll make sure he doesn’t say a word.”

  Jaxson nodded.

  I had to admit, it made sense. As much as I wanted for us to share everything and be each other’s confidant in all ways possible, he had a point. Just because we were in love now didn’t mean something stupid wouldn’t come between us and end it all. It almost already had. We were still young. And this very argument and not speaking for a week proved how unsteady our relationship could be.

  “What was the deal with that douche at the club?” His jaw clenched as he asked the question.

  Crinkling my nose up at him, I replied, “Nothing. We danced a couple of dances. I got pissed at you, had too many drinks and knew you were texting Gabriel, but not me, to work it out so I got angry and acted out. It wasn’t a great way of dealing with the situation, I know that now. Nothing happened between us, we just danced two songs and that’s when you showed up and almost killed him.”

  “If I wanted to kill him, I’d have done it.”

  “Not sure how I feel about that.” I chanced a smile up at him and was relieved to see that he smiled back. “I don’t think a dance with me would have been worth his life.”

  His grin widened. “You’re a pretty good dancer. It would be at least worth a few fists to the jaw.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment—I think—but I’d prefer there wasn’t any fighting over me.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Please do. I’d much prefer we use words than physical violence.” A gust of wind picked up, making me shiver as we reached the park zoo.

  “It’s still open. Have you been to the zoo at night before?” he asked, pulling his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans.

  “Haven’t been here yet period, to be honest. Been meaning to.”

  “Then there’s no time like the present.” Jaxson led me to the ticket booths and paid for two admissions. Entering the zoo, I immediately spotted the pool at the center where there was a show going on with a seal doing tricks.

  “Awww, so cute.” Pulling him along behind me I picked up the pace, and we found a spot on one of the stone benches to enjoy the show. “I love seals,” I whispered.

  “Who doesn’t?” Jaxson gave me a wink, making my heart do a little flip-flop in my chest and putting me at ease. It was starting to feel the way it had felt between us before the fight. I wasn’t sure if the fight was officially over or just on a brief pause until we finished watching the show, but I wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  There weren’t many people around watching the cutie pie perform. That was fine by me, since the trainer kept him facing us for the majority of their routine. When I shivered again, Jaxson slipped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me against his warm, hard body. I moaned softly, laying my head against his shoulder.

  “I’ve missed this,” I practically purred.

  “Me too, babes.” He pulled me a little tighter.

  Nestling my face against his neck, I inhaled, enjoying the faint smell of his cologne. “Are we okay now?” I feared that question, but at the same time it was one that had to be asked.

  There was a long pause. “I think things got out of hand. And I think that next time we have issues that we first and foremost have to trust one another and secondly, we need to take a moment and allow each other the room to take a breath so we can figure out our issues out in a more productive manner.”

  I laughed. “You sound like a shrink, do you know that?”

  “Most likely. I’ve been to enough of them over the years.”

  Frowning, I caught his gaze. “Why?”

  “Various reasons. I’ve always been pretty rebellious growing up. My parents thought it would help. What they were really hoping for was for me to be more like my father. That never happened, however they still haven’t given up hope.”

  Reaching out, I ran my thumb against the scruff of his chin. He had a few days’ worth of growth on his chin and it gave him a rugged, dangerous look. I liked it. “I think I really like this look you have going on.”

  Jaxson raised a brow at me. “You mean the too lazy to shave look.”

  “I prefer to think of it as you were intentionally trying to be sexy, so I’d fall head over heels for you again.”

  His grin grew wicked, making my pulse race and my core tighten. “Is that why you went running wearing make-up for the first time ever?”

  “A girl never reveals secrets like that. Gives the man way too much power.”

  “Is that so?”

  I nodded, our eyes locking onto each other’s. God, I’d missed him.

  “Thank you everyone for supporting the Central Park Zoo and have a wonderful evening.” The trainer’s voice broke our moment and we refocused onto her and the cutie pie of a seal, who’d made his audience laugh.

  While standing we gave the seal and trainer a round of applause, I laughed when the seal gave a little bow, making a woop woop woop sound.

  “So, where to next?” Jaxson asked, slinging his arm around my shoulders.

  “The
aviary, I think.”

  He nodded. “Good enough.”

  As we walked, I mulled over the idea of asking him about the comment he’d made about us spending too much time together. We seemed to be in a pretty good place right now, did I dare mess with it? But I knew I had to, otherwise I’d overthink it for days.

  “I do have a question for you though.”

  “Okay, what’s that?” Jaxson opened the door to the aviary for me, stepped back and allowed me to enter before following behind.

  “Were you serious when you said we spent too much time together? Do you mean it?”

  With a sigh, Jaxson stopped walking and turned me to look at him. “Look, Keira, I was angry. I’m very sorry about that. I didn’t really mean it. It was unnecessarily harsh and I regretted saying we needed a break the moment the words had come out of my mouth, but I was too stubborn to admit it at the time. I’m sorry. I would like to have everything go back to the way it was—if you’re okay with that?”

  Relief washed over me. I was more than okay with that.

  Sliding my hands up his chest, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my body flush against his. “I love you, Jaxson. I’ve wanted things to go back to the way they were from the moment we had that fight at the club.”

  He brushed a stray lock of hair that had fallen from my ponytail from my eyes, and leaned down, his lips ghosting against mine. I could taste the mint from his toothpaste as I welcomed his kiss, our lips and tongues playing and teasing one another not giving a damn if anyone was nearby watching.

  His kisses sent a shiver of pleasure through me, my body beginning to ache for his. His hands slid down my back and to my butt, grasping it in his large hands and giving the cheeks a squeeze.

  Giggling, I pulled back from him, giving him a playful swat on the shoulder. Leaning into him, I whispered, “We should wait until we get to my place.”

  “Is your mother gone for the night?”

  I nodded. “She went with Tony to Atlantic City for a couple of days.”

  He frowned. “Atlantic City, why would she go there? And who’s Tony?”

  With a huff, I shook my head. “He’s someone I’m concerned about.”

  “Concerned why?”

  Chewing at my lower lip, I shrugged. “I’m not sure, I just have a feeling. She knows him from the diner she worked at back in Florida, but I have a feeling that I just can’t pinpoint about him.”

  “You think he’s using her for her money?”

  “Dunno,” I shrugged, “Certainty possible, don’t you think?”

  “Perhaps it’s time you had someone check this guy out. I’ve got a guy. He’ll have everything you need to know about this Tony dude for you in less than a week.”

  A part of me felt getting a PI to check on my mother’s kinda-sorta boyfriend was a little underhanded, but at the same time she was a target for anyone who wanted to manipulate her to get to her money. She was the ultimate prize for anyone looking for a sugar momma.

  “Or maybe we need to have her meet someone up to her caliber?” I cringed saying the words, but I didn’t want my mother being used. She was a good woman, and beautiful to boot. She could have anyone she wanted, she didn’t need a man who’d use her, break her heart and steal her money.

  Yes, getting a PI was for her own good. Besides, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

  Chapter 15

  This was hard. So very, very hard. I took a look over the roof of Damien’s car and my eyes locked with Jaxson’s on the opposite side of the street, also about to get into his own car. I wanted to go back to riding with him to school, but we thought this might be a better plan. If Trina was going to be spreading rumors about our breakup it wouldn’t hurt to let them see the scenario play out. Jaxson would show up at my party Thursday night and it would spark hot gossip.

  You know what they say, all publicity is good publicity. It certainly wouldn’t hurt getting me in the heads and hearts of the other students at the school. It might even give her a false sense of security and keep her from posting the video, opting to save it for a better time. That being said we were working on pure speculation. We’d see how it all panned out by the end of the school day.

  Getting into Damien’s car, I waited until the door was closed before turning to Damien, who I knew had a ton of questions for me. The previous night, before I had fallen to sleep in my bed, cuddled in Jaxson’s strong arms, I’d texted Damien, asking for him to pick me up and telling him that everything was A-OK with Jaxson now.

  “Girl, don’t be stingy with the information. What happened last night?”

  I was grinning from ear to ear. “A lot. It was amazing. I’m so happy right now.”

  “Then why are you in my car with me?”

  Taking a deep breath in, I slowly released it. “Well, Trina is under the impression that Jaxson and I have broken up. We’re just going to play on that for the next few days until the party Thursday night. You see, if she’s spreading rumors about us then we can not only show the student body that she spreads gossip without merit, but also it might be enough that it’ll keep her from releasing the video she has with me walking home in the towel.”

  “What would keep her from releasing it out of spite if she loses?”

  “She’s going to want to keep that golden carrot until she feels it’s absolutely necessary. The same with my text messages to Jaxson—if she was able to get into my phone that is. You just don’t waste good stuff for no reason.”

  “Okay. Suppose it’s not like you have anything to lose.”

  “Exactly,” I agreed, “I don’t. It’s just going to be hard keeping up the act, though Jaxson is with a private school tutor for the next few days until he’s fully caught up so by Friday we can get back to normal.”

  “That’ll be good. I miss you two together, as gag-worthy as your displays can get at times.”

  I laughed, heat coloring my cheeks. “That’s why we do it, just to make you and everyone else in the student body gag at all the PDA.”

  “And it’s working.”

  I leaned over and gave his shoulder a nudge. “What about you anyhow? When are you going to find love?”

  “Honey, I’m not so sure. It’s hard to find a good man. My world isn’t the same as yours in that respect.”

  “Don’t I know it. Took me a lottery win to find mine.”

  “Damn, if I have to win the lottery then I’m in some serious trouble. The drag scene is a good way of meeting new like-minded people. Greisbach Academy isn’t going to be the place where I find love.”

  “Did anyone at the show catch your eye? You seemed to be doing well at the after-party. I saw you looking over a few hunks.” Tilly was one that came to mind, but I kept my observations to myself.

  The car pulled up to the school and stopped. I was feeling the nervousness I’d felt numerous times while pulling up to the school when things were going amiss. I should really be used to the feeling by now. Jaxson’s car had left before ours, which meant he was already in the school.

  “Show time.” Damien gave me a reassuring smile as his driver opened the back door for us.

  Getting out, I waited for Damien and we walked through the courtyard together. Maybe it was just me, but I could have sworn people were looking at me and whispering about me. Leaning into Damien, I kept my voice low when I asked, “Are you getting the being-watched feeling that I am? Or am I just being weird?”

  He cringed. “Yeah, I don’t think you’re being weird. There’s definitely a vibe going on.”

  “Damn, word gets around fast, doesn’t it?”

  “When it’s juicy gossip about the king of Greisbach then it certainly does.”

  “I hope this whole scene works and doesn’t blow up in my face.”

  All I got for a response was a wiggling of his perfectly sculpted eyebrows. Seeing his careful pruning reminded me that I was about due for a spa day. I was a shaving kind of girl and I think it was about time that I upped my game and sta
rted getting waxed. Olivia and Damien had both been nagging me about going to their girl—she was the best in Manhattan apparently.

  Entering the school, we walked straight to my locker and then Damien’s to start preparing for the day. We’d almost made it to the theater when my suspicions were confirmed as a girl from my math class approached me with hesitation. She was a pretty girl with long strawberry-red curls falling down her back and a line of freckles along the bridge of her nose. I’m pretty sure her name was Alexandrea.

  “Hey, Keira. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry to hear about you and Jaxson, you two made a wonderful couple. Don’t worry though, you still have my vote in the election.”

  “Thank you. Will you be attending the party tomorrow night at Moon Palace?” I reached into my bag and pulled out an invitation, passing it to her while giving her my best politician smile. “Alexandrea, right?”

  She nodded, a blush coloring her fair skin. “That’s right.”

  The invitations were elegant: a black card with silver trim and the engraving white with a multi-colored shimmer to it. “There’s an open bar. We’re going to have an amazing time.”

  Alexandrea looked down at the invitation, her fingertips tracing the raised lettering. “Thank you. I’ll be there, for sure.”

  “I’m so happy to hear it and thank you for your vote.” Slinging my backpack back onto one shoulder, I headed into the theater with Damien and down our normal aisle. Jaxson and I didn’t sit side by side this way; we had a Damien buffer. Jaxson didn’t even acknowledge our presence, which I’ll admit hurt, even if it was simply all for show. He played the role way too well for my liking.

  I couldn’t help it; I kept taking periodic glances over at him as Headmistress Witherspoon rambled on and on to the group. Perhaps we were both playing the roles too well, since I was sincerely concerned at the detachment I felt from him at the moment. We’d just gotten back to a good place, which made this whole charade even harder on me.

  There were more eyes on us than there were on the headmistress. It was as if every set of eyes in the gym had peered over at us at least a half dozen times each. I kept telling myself it was just my imagination, but I knew better than that.