by M. A. Foster
“Language,” Aunt Jess warns.
“—gun is Bass,” Max finishes.
Harper smiles. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
“Harper is new, but she’s one of our best servers,” Alex adds as he approaches our table.
Harper smiles at the compliment.
“Do you go to Heritage Academy?” I ask.
She nods. “I’m a senior this year.”
“Me, too. Maybe we can hang out sometime. I met a lot of Cole’s friends yesterday, but most of them were guys. They were nice—”
“Yeah, I’ll bet they were,” Dylan chimes in. “Harper hasn’t met Cole yet,” he adds with a smirk.
I snort. “You’re kidding? You guys go to the same school.”
Harper shifts nervously on her feet. “I know who he is, but we haven’t actually met.”
“Oh.” How has this girl managed to stay off Cole’s radar?
Harper takes our drink orders, then hurries off to the kitchen. “How has Cole never noticed her before? She’s gorgeous,” I say to Alex and Dylan.
He will today. Mark my words.
“They don’t have the same friends,” Dylan says. “Harper’s a loner, a bookworm.”
“She’s a nerd,” Aiden chimes in with a laugh. The little shit. Uncle Max and Aunt Jessica are going to have their hands full with that one. He’s thirteen, gorgeous, and a smartass. He’s a younger version of Cole.
“Oh, stop it, you guys,” Aunt Jessica chimes in. “You’re making Cole out to be a shallow jerk. His focus is on football right now, not girls.”
Uncle Max shakes his head. Either Aunt Jessica is delusional or in denial.
Mimi lets out a loud laugh and that’s my cue. I cup my hands over Willow’s delicate ears just as Mimi shakes her head and says, “Jess, honey, he’s an eighteen-year-old young man with the libido of a porn star. His penis is like a GPS permanently programmed to direct him to the nearest willing piece of ass within a five-mile radius.”
The whole table erupts in laughter just as Cole swaggers in and over to our table.
“What’s so funny?” he asks.
“Co!” Willow wiggles off my lap and hobbles over to Cole.
“Baby girl!” Cole scoops Willow into his arms and hugs her to his chest. “Sorry I’m late,” he announces to the table as he pulls out the empty chair across from me and settles Willow in his lap. “Have you guys ordered yet?”
“Just our drinks. Why are you late?”
“I had something to do.”
“Something or someone?” I joke, just as Harper arrives at the table with our drinks.
“Shut up,” Cole mumbles.
I do my best to keep a blank expression, as does everyone else. Cole is distracted by Willow’s toddler babble until Harper says, “Cole, do you know what you’d like to drink?”
“A fruit punch,” he says and tilts his head to look up at our server. It takes everything I have not to laugh when Cole does a double take. “Who are you?”
Harper narrows her eyes and frowns at Cole’s harsh tone.
I open my mouth but Willow beats me to it. “Dat’s Ahpee, Co.”
Cole chuckles at Willow before he looks back up at Harper. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so rude. Are you new?”
“Yes, but we’ve been going to school together since sophomore year. I’m Harper.” She holds out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Cole.”
“You too, Harper.” Cole smirks, shaking her hand and raking his eyes over her from head to toe. Harper takes our food orders and once again hurries off to the kitchen, with Cole’s eyes locked on her ass like a heat-seeking missile.
“What’d I tell ya,” Mimi says.
Called it.
“BRAD YOU’RE UP,” I say, poking him with the pool stick.
Brad, Justin, and I decided to blow off the parties and head over to Mac’s for dinner and a few games of pool.
Brad turns away from the railing and says, “Mackenzie just walked in with the goddess.”
I look over the railing to see Cole and Jayla heading for the stairs, Evan and Lexi right behind them. “Stop calling her that.”
“Yo!” Cole hollers with his hands in the air, making his presence known to everyone as he makes his way over to me.
Cole taps the pool stick just as Brad is lining up his next shot. “Dude, come on,” Brad growls and tosses it on the table. “I’m done.”
“I thought you were going out to dinner?” I ask.
“We did,” Cole answers before he turns his attention to a group of girls sitting at the high-top table in the corner and winks. This fucking guy. “Jay wanted to see Alex and Dylan play tonight.”
Jay walks up and her eyes immediately zero in on the girls—who, by the way, are not here with us. Without acknowledging me, she says to Cole, “Lexi and I are going downstairs to get a table.”
Cole nods. “I’ll be down in a few.”
Jay nods and walks off with Lexi. I watch her until she disappears from my view before shifting my gaze to Cole, who’s grinning.
I shake my head.
“I told her yesterday that you two need to kiss and make up.”
“Oh, yeah? What’d she say?”
“Something about punching you in the throat.” He chuckles and walks off.
LEXI AND I find a table near the stage and settle in while Alex, Dylan, and two other guys are setting up the stage. Harper comes over to our table. “Hey, Jay. You want a sparkling water?” she asks, remembering my drink order from lunch.
“Yes, please. With a glass of ice and a lime?” I wave my hand between the girls. “Do you two know each other from school?”
Lexi smiles. “Yes. Harper, right? I think we were in Mr. Fritz’s fourth period math class together last year.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Harper nods and smiles. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” Lexi says, jerking a thumb at me.
“Sure thing. Be right back.”
Harper walks off and Lexi turns to me. “I’ve always wondered about her. She’s so pretty, yet I’ve never seen her with a guy. She never ate in the dining room with the rest of us or went to any of the parties. I think I saw her a few times at the football games last year, but I don’t think she has many—if any—friends.” She shrugs. “Not that I have many friends either. All of my friends are Evan’s friends.”
I frown at that bit of information. “What about the girls you introduced me to at the party yesterday?”
“They’re Ashton’s friends, not mine.”
“Who’s Ashton?”
Lexi snorts. “Ashton Grant. She used to be my best friend until she and her gold-digging mother moved into our house and took over my life. Now we barely tolerate each other.”
“So, your dad is married to her mom?”
“God, no. My dad is an idiot for moving her in, but he’s not stupid enough to marry her. I think he only did it because Ashton and I were close and he thought her mom would be a good fit, but Ashton’s mom is a fake bitch. It’s funny how people change when they win the lotto.”
“She won the lotto?” I’m confused.
“She did when she hooked my dad.” She rolls her eyes. “And, of course, he’s never around to see the way she really treats me. I can’t stand her, so I stay at Evan’s a lot of the time.”
“That sucks. Have you talked to him about it?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Nah. She makes him happy, so I just stay out of the way.”
“Wow, Lexi. I’m sorry. My dad wouldn’t go anywhere without me and my mom. That’s why I was homeschooled my whole life. And if it makes you feel any better, I only had two friends growing up. Now they’re both busy with their own careers, traveling all over the country. I could really use a friend or two.” I give her a wink and she smiles. “And I’m sure Harper could use a friend or two.”
Lexi nods. “Definitely.”
“HEY, EVERYONE,” ALEX greets the bar patron
s. “Thanks for coming out tonight. I want to introduce you to a member of the Mackenzie family. Come on up here, Jay.”
I look over at Lexi and she smiles, giving me a little push. “Go.”
I shake my head and look around the table. Evan and Cole are with us, along with Brooklyn, Piper, Hannah, and Ashton, who is perched on Cole’s lap, like a queen.
I like Brooklyn. She’s a year younger and a grade below the rest of us, but she’s much more mature than the company she keeps. And she’s down to earth, like all the Manning kids I’ve met so far. Piper is quiet and seems to go along with whatever her friends are doing. Hannah is an asshole. She’s rude and snarky to everyone, as if she just hates everything and everyone around her. Ashton is self-absorbed and only interested in Cole. I keep my thoughts to myself because I’m the new girl and I’m not here to stir up any shit. I don’t need the negative attention.
“Go, Jay,” Cole urges.
“Fine,” I mumble, pushing my chair back from the table and heading to the stage. I hear Hannah say, “Why is she going up there? Can she even sing?”
And Cole replies with, “Shut up, Hannah.”
“Everyone, this is Jay,” Alex says into the microphone and a round of applause rings out. “Feel like singing something?”
I give a half smile. “Do I have a choice?”
Shaking his head, Alex smirks. “Nope.”
I look over my shoulder and wink at Dylan before returning my attention to Alex. “Okay, but I get to pick the song.” I walk over to the side of the stage, grab a tambourine, and move back over to the microphone.
BRAD, JUSTIN, AND I finish our game of pool and head downstairs just as Alex calls Jay up to the stage. Ashton, Hannah, Piper, and Brooklyn are at the table. Thankfully, no Reagan.
Brad takes Jay’s empty seat, while Justin and I grab two chairs from a nearby table, just as Jay taps a tambourine to her side and Alex strums the guitar.
“Oh, my God,” Brooklyn squeals at the same time Lexi shouts, “I love this song!” Both girls jump out of their chairs and haul ass to the small dance floor in front of the stage.
“Wait for me,” Ashton calls out and Piper follows. Hannah leans back in her chair with her arms crossed because—like I said—she’s a bitch. Just about every female moves to the dance floor and begins singing and dancing along with Jay.
“This song sounds familiar,” I say.
“It’s Adele,” Hannah informs me in a snarky tone. “They play it on the radio like twenty times a day.” She rolls her eyes.
I hope they get stuck.
Maybe then I’ll enjoy looking at her.
“So, does Brooklyn,” Brad adds. “She’s got it on replay. I heard it four times in a row in the car the other day.” Brad smirks at me and says, “Your goddess has a set of pipes on her.”
“His what?” Justin asks.
I say, “Nothing,” at the same time Brad says, “I meant the goddess. Not his goddess.” He smacks himself on the forehead.
Cole laughs and leans forward with his forearms on the table. “You ain’t heard nothing yet. She’s really good.” He looks over at me. “Goddess. Really?”
I jerk my thumb at Brad, which is all the explanation he needs.
I CAN’T SLEEP.
Rolling to my side, I lift my phone from the nightstand and check the time. Twelve thirty. Ugh.
Tossing the covers back, I slide out of bed and make my way over to the French doors leading to the balcony. I punch in the four-digit code on the alarm panel and step out on the balcony into the humid air. The air is so thick, it’s not five minutes before I feel like I need another shower. And the mosquitoes are no joke.
I spot a familiar figure standing alone on the dock facing the water. Turning around, I head back inside, grab a long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of yoga pants and slip them on over my tank and sleep shorts. Sliding my bare feet into a pair of flip-flops, I skip down my balcony stairs to the path leading to the dock.
“I guess I’m not the only one around here who can’t sleep,” I say, snaking my arm around Bass’s waist. Bass lifts his big arm and wraps it around my shoulders, tucking me closer to his side. I tilt my head back to look up at him. Even in the shadows of the moonlight, I can see the pained expression on his face. My heart sinks. “What’s wrong, B?”
“Nothing, Princess.” Bass smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I was just thinking.”
“You’re sad.”
He nods slowly. “Yeah.” He sighs. “I am.”
I rest my head against his chest. “I miss him, too.” I turn to stare out at the lake. “Do you think he would’ve liked it here?”
“I do,” he says, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before turning us around and guiding us back to the house. “Come on. It’s late and you have school tomorrow.”
“B, will you do me a favor?” I ask, pausing to look up at him.
“What’s that?” He smiles again, but this time it’s real.
“Will you get a life?” I smile and bite down on my bottom lip. Bass’s eyebrows draw inward. “Just hear me out,” I begin. “You’ve been taking care of us for a long time. It’s time you find someone to take care of you. You’re still young and handsome. Mom has a pretty friend named Lisa she could hook you up with.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “I’m not saying I don’t need you anymore because I’ll always need you. You’re one of the most important people in my life and the closest to a father that I have now, besides Uncle Drew, but he isn’t with me twenty-four seven like you are. Now that I’ll be busy with school and dance classes on Wednesday nights, you’ll have more free time to live your life instead of babysitting me.”
“That was a mouthful, Princess.” He chuckles. “And I’m not babysitting you. It’s my job to take care of you and to protect you,” he states in a firm tone. “It’s what Marcus wanted.”
“I know, B, but we’re not in LA. I don’t think we need to worry about the stalkarazzi jumping out from the bushes. Besides, I’m not a celebrity.”
Bass gives me a look.
“I’m not,” I insist. “Not really.” He raises his brows. “Okay, fine,” I growl. “You mentioned something the other day about hiring additional security. I don’t think we need it but if it will give you break, then I’m okay with it.”
Bass nods. “Well, if I’m gonna get myself a life, you’ll need it.” He chuckles. “We’ll see how things go first. Come here.” He pulls me to his chest. “I love you, Princess, but you’re not calling the shots when it comes to protecting you. You’ll get your space, but give me some time, okay?”
“Okay.”
He releases me and we walk to the house in a comfortable silence, only the chirping of crickets and croaking frogs echoing in the darkness.
I’m completely lost in my thoughts when I hear a fluttering sound, like a helicopter in the distance.
But the fluttering sound gets closer to my ear. Before I realize what the hell it is, something lands on my neck and crawls up the side of my face.
Something with too many friggin’ legs.
“Aaaaah!”
EVERY LIGHT INSIDE and outside the house flicks on at the sound of my scream. Two men appear out of nowhere and come running toward me. What the hell? It doesn’t escape my attention that they’re dressed the same as the GI Joe guards at the security gate.
“She’s okay,” Bass calls out—more like laughs out—from behind me. I sprint through the back door and into the kitchen, swatting at my neck, hair, and clothes.
“What happened?” my mom shrieks as she runs into the kitchen. Her eyes are bugging out as she reaches for me, grasping my shoulders to look me over.
I can only imagine what she’s thinking when she sees my disheveled appearance. Half of my hair has fallen from the hair tie and probably looks like a couple of rats got to it. My clothes are ripped. I’ve scratched my neck, which I’m pretty sure is bleeding right now. I might’ve even punched myself in the face; my lip feels a little swollen and I th
ink I taste blood in my mouth.
“She’s okay,” Bass chokes out through a laugh from behind me. He leans against the island in the kitchen. “She….” Laugh. “A bug….” Laugh.
“It’s not funny, B,” I pout.
“I’m sorry, Princess, but that shit was so damn funny.” He laughs again, wiping his eyes. “Em….” Laugh. “I don’t even think her feet touched ground.”
He’s right about that.
I turn to face my mom. “I was attacked by a flying roach,” I screech, shuddering. “It crawled on my face and then fell down my shirt.” I shudder again. Just the thought of it crawling on me…. Bwah!
Mom’s lips roll inward between her teeth, clearly fighting back her own laughter. Her eyes sparkle with amusement as she gives me a once-over, taking in my appearance. “It looks like it.”
I narrow my eyes in warning but it’s too late. A loud laugh rips from her throat as she leans against Bass, prompting his laughter to continue and urging the rest of the people who’ve joined us in the kitchen to start laughing.
“I’m glad you all find my traumatic experience hilarious.” I raise an eyebrow and turn to B. “We’ll see how it goes, huh?” I gesture to the two dudes standing in my kitchen who are trying not to laugh. “It looks like you’ve already made that decision.” I’m not sticking around for an explanation. Bass can explain when I’m ready to speak to him again.
I turn on my heels and stomp toward the stairs, pouting like a child. “I’m going to take another shower.” Or three. “You’re all fired,” I call over my shoulder, which earns me another round of laughter. “Except Grace,” I add. “She feeds me.”
I OPEN MY eyes when Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop This Feeling” starts playing from the small round speakers in the ceiling. My bedroom door swings open and Mom dances her way into the room, holding her cell phone as a microphone. I’ve come to the realization that the only way that phone will ever leave her hands is if she has it surgically removed. She dances her way over to my bed, climbs on top of the mattress, and proceeds to sway her hips to the beat, shaking me awake. My mom loves her some JT.
