by M. A. Foster
Jay celebrated her eighteenth birthday by spending the weekend with her friends at the Hard Rock in Orlando. And her childhood friend Lucas Wild, front man of the band LAW, and his bandmates surprised her with an impromptu concert. Lucas is the son of Andrew Wild, the drummer for Royal Mayhem. Jay had told me that she and Lucas were practically raised as brother and sister, which is the only explanation for why she wouldn’t have been all over him. Lucas Wild is hot. Actually, all three band members of LAW are hot.
But I’ve only got eyes for one guy, who’s more than hot. He’s gorgeous, and so damn sexy.
He’s also complicated.
And to me, perfectly imperfect.
Things have gotten pretty hot and heavy between Cole and me since homecoming. Our relationship is so different from my relationship with Josh. Up until the night when all hell broke loose, Josh had always treated me like I was made of glass. He was always gentle, even during sex.
He made me feel cherished.
But with Cole, everything is intense and raw. The sex is hard, sometimes rough, primal, and filled with so much need. So much lust. It’s like he loses his mind when he puts his hands on me, like I’ve unleased a beast.
I feel wanted, desired.
I feel alive.
Cole is still a flirt, and if I didn’t know that it was just a natural part of his charm, I might even be jealous. Although, before Cole became a permanent fixture in my life, jealousy wasn’t something I was familiar with.
Even when I caught Josh with that woman in his office, I didn’t feel jealous. I felt betrayed. As though I’d been left.
I shut down and my walls went up.
I’ll admit I didn’t foresee this happening, but I can’t stop it. Cole broke through my walls without even trying. Maybe my defenses were down because of Willow and my friendship with Jay, or maybe it’s just meant to be. I like Cole… a lot, yet I feel guilty, like somehow I’m betraying Jade. I know it sounds ridiculous because they were only together for one night, but still….
HALESTORM’S “I HATE Myself” is playing over the sound system as I walk into Jay’s closet.
“Jay?” She doesn’t answer, so I call louder. A second later, she peeks her head out of the room where she stores her luggage and other crap, wearing an expression like she’s just been caught doing something she shouldn’t be.
I snort a laugh. “What are you doing?”
She bites her lip, like she’s considering a lie. “Come in here.” She waves me over. “Hurry.” Once I’m inside, she turns her back to me.
“What is that?” I point to the navy spandex bottoms with ‘Property of Easton’ ironed on the back.
“What?” She grins. “Zach will love it.”
I press my hand to my stomach, laughing harder. Oh, I love this girl. “I’m sure he will.”
AS THE SECOND-PERIOD dismissal bell rings, students rise and begin to gather their things. I reach for my backpack hanging on the back of my chair and everything from inside falls out and onto the floor.
What the hell?
Turning my backpack over, I notice that the bottom and sides have been sliced nearly to shreds. I hear snickers near the door and turn to see Hannah and Ashton watching me. I should’ve known Ashton was planning something and would strike sooner or later.
Tossing my two-hundred-dollar backpack in the trash, I gather my books and loose papers and head for my locker.
Zach and Jay are just a few feet ahead of me, standing in front of their lockers. “Jay, Zach,” I call out.
Jay turns and smiles as she takes a step in my direction. “Do you need some help?” she asks.
Suddenly a hand lands on the middle of my back and shoves me at the same time I feel a kick to the back of my knee. I lose my balance, stumbling forward. Jay’s and Zach’s eyes widen as my books and papers go flying in different directions and I fall on my face, smacking my chin on the floor.
Laughter erupts from nearby students as Jay bends down to gather my books and papers while Zach helps me to my feet after inspecting what feels like a massive cut on my chin, but he reassures me it’s just a small one.
“Ow, fuck!” Jay screams and brings her hand to her chest, covering it with her other hand.
“What happened?” Zach squats down as Jay whimpers in pain.
She looks over her shoulder, and I follow her line of sight to see Ashton and Hannah standing further down the hall, laughing. I notice Reagan is standing off to the side laughing, too. Then Hannah shrugs and mouths, “Oops” before she turns and walks off with Ashton at her side. Then Reagan falls instep beside them as they continue down the hall.
Zach and I both look at Jay, but before either of us can process what just happened, she takes off, sprinting in their direction.
“What happened?” Cole appears my side, breathless as he inspects the cut on my chin.
Suddenly a scream echoes from down the hall.
“Shit.” Zach takes off toward the sound.
“What happened?” Cole repeats, but before I can answer, Alex walks up.
“What happened?” he asks, panicked.
“Ashton and Hannah”—I wave my hand in the direction they headed—“one or both of them shoved me and I fell. Jay was picking up my books and papers and I think someone stepped on her hand. I saw both Ashton and Hannah laughing, and then Hannah mouthed, ‘Oops’ to Jay. I’m pretty sure Jay went after her.”
“Here you go, Harper.” A girl I don’t know passes me a paper towel.
“Thanks.”
Down the hall, a whistle blows and Principal Avery is yelling for everyone to get back to class.
“Let’s go,” Alex says as he leads us toward the office.
Ms. Patty frowns when we walk in and she sees me holding a bloody paper towel. “Harper, are you okay?”
I nod, keeping the paper towel pressed to my chin.
“They in there?” Alex gestures to Principal Avery’s office but continues walking up to the closed door, knocking twice.
“Come in,” Principal Avery calls out, and Alex opens the door.
Jay and Lexi are seated in front of Principal Avery’s desk. Zach is standing beside Jay. Ashton, Reagan, and Hannah are standing against the far wall. If my chin didn’t hurt so bad, I would burst out laughing. All, but Zach, are a mess, a mixture of wild hair, black eyes, swollen cheeks, and bloody noses. Although, I don’t understand how Lexi got dragged into this.
“What happened to your chin, Harper?” Principal Avery asks once Cole closes the door behind us.
“Someone tripped me in the hall.” I shoot a pointed glare at Ashton.
“I have never in all my years as an educator seen such despicable behavior. This is the second time there’s been an incident involving the two of you.” He waves his finger between Ashton and Hannah. “There is a strict no-tolerance policy on bullying in my school.” He reaches over and presses the intercom button.
“Patty speaking” sounds from the tiny speaker.
“Patty, please contact the parents of Reagan Vaughn, Ashton Grant, and Hannah Scott, and let them know I am requesting a conference right away.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you.” He looks over at Lexi. “I never expected this from you, Lexi.”
“Sorry, Principal Avery.” Lexi gives a careless shrug. “Jayla is my friend. Ashton and her friends were ganging up on her. I couldn’t just stand there.”
Cole crosses his arms over his chest and exhales harshly through his nose. I can feel the anger vibrating off him.
Ashton’s mouth falls open. “We weren’t ganging up on her. I was trying to get her off Hannah.”
“By pulling my hair,” Jay snaps.
Principal Avery’s head swivels toward Reagan. “And what about you?”
“I was just trying to get her off Hannah.”
Jay sneers. “By sucker-punching me in the head?”
“You girls make yourselves comfortable. Cole and Zach, you’re excused for the afternoon. I�
�ll let Coach know you might not make it to practice. Go with them over to the medical center so Jayla can get an X-ray on her hand. Harper probably needs stitches.” He gives me a pointed look. “Do you need me to call anyone?”
I shake my head. “No, my dad’s out of the country. I’m staying with Jay.”
He nods and returns his attention to Jay. “I’ll call Emerson.”
“I’ll call her, Principal Avery.” She stands from her seat, holding her hand to her chest. “Trust me, your eardrums will thank me later.”
I roll my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing as Cole and Alex both snort beside me.
The corners of Avery’s mouth curve upward as he shakes his head.
“Principal Avery,” Hannah says. “Why are we in trouble and Jayla’s not? Look at my face.”
“You purposely stepped on her fingers!” He slams his hand down on his desk.
“It was an accident!”
“People don’t say ‘Oops’ when it’s an accident. They apologize. Clearly she was hurt. You could’ve stopped to see if she was okay. Now be quiet or I’ll expel you for assaulting another student. Which is still an option.”
THERE’S A SOFT knock on the door before a familiar-looking nurse walks into the room. “Harper? Hi, I’m Mia,” she greets.
Harper nods. “I remember you from Mac’s.”
Oh, right. She’s a ‘friend’ of Uncle Liam’s. I remember her now. The hot chick with the purplish-blue eyes.
“Let’s have a look. Tilt your head back.” Harper does as requested. “It’s not deep. I don’t think you need stitches. Maybe just a butterfly.” She removes her gloves before she taps the screen of her iPad. “I’ll be right back.”
I wait for the nurse to leave the room before I ask, “How long?”
“Hmm? Probably just a few minutes.”
“That’s not what I meant. How long have Ashton and Hannah been fucking with you? I heard what Principal Avery said today about this being the second incident. They’ve never been in trouble before, so I know it has something to do with you.”
“Today was the first time they got physical. The Monday after our first date, I went to school early to look over some pictures from the Friday night game. I was on my way to the media room and ran into them in the hallway. They had no reason to be there. Ashton tried to play it off by saying they were there for the yearbook committee meeting, and I called them out for lying. She made a light threat, something about staying out of her way. I ignored her, of course. When I got to the media room, I found my camera—my mother’s camera—had been smashed and the lens cracked. All of them were cracked. I went to Principal Avery, but he couldn’t do anything because there was no proof. But I know it was them.”
“Of course it was them.” Clasping my hands behind my neck, I drop my head back and blow out a breath. “Is that why you left that day? I thought you were avoiding me because you were embarrassed to be with me,” I admit.
She smiles. “I love being with you. But honestly, I was trying not to draw attention to our relationship. I was afraid of what those girls might do. And I had good reason. Look where we are.” She gestures to the room. “And Jay most likely has a broken hand.”
“This is my fault. They wouldn’t be messing with you if it weren’t for me.”
“Well”—my tough girl smirks—“I guess you better get over here and kiss me and remind me that you’re worth it.”
“I can do that.” I move to stand in the space between her parted legs. Placing my hands on either side of her hips, I lean in and brush my lips against hers, careful not to hurt her chin.
The door swings open and I turn my head to see Emerson walking in. “Cole, can I have a minute with Harper, please?”
“Sure,” I say before turning back to kiss her lips once more before leaving the room.
EMERSON MOVES TO sit in one of the empty leather chairs against the wall, crossing her legs, propping her purse in her lap, and blowing out a heavy puff of air through her nose.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
Her brows pinch together. “For what?”
“I’m sorry Jay got hurt because of me.”
Emerson purses her full lips. “Harper, do you really think I’m blaming you for any of this? You were being bullied. You should’ve said something. You’re a part of our family now, and I will not tolerate those bitches hurting my girls.” She points at me and smiles. “Do not tell Jay I said that. I’m proud of her for standing up for herself, but putting her hands on another student makes her just as much of a bully. She needs to understand that fighting isn’t okay, unless she has no other way to defend herself.”
I nod, lowering my head. Personally, I’m proud of Jay for kicking some ass. Those bitches deserved everything they got.
“I’m going to the school to meet with Principal Avery and the other parents. I actually went to high school with Hannah Scott’s father, Harold. Do you have any special requests?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you have any suggestions on how they should be punished? Even though I haven’t lived in this town for over twenty years, I’m still a Mackenzie, and I’ll be playing that card today.”
I smile. Emerson’s a badass. “I’ll leave it up to you since Jay is the one who got the worst of it. If I didn’t have my hands full, I probably wouldn’t have fallen.”
Em frowns. “Why were you carrying your books?”
“Huh?”
“Why were you carrying your books instead of using your backpack?”
I blow out a breath. “Because Ashton and Hannah cut it up in class. Ashton sits directly behind me and Hannah sits beside her. My backpack was hanging on the back of my chair.”
Emerson’s eyes turn to slits, lips pursed and nostrils flared. “Oh, those little bitches are going down.” She pushes herself up from the chair and slides her purse over her shoulder. “Harper, are you sure you don’t want to tell them? David and Patty would be devastated if they knew their granddaughter was being bullied in their own school.” She means the Averys. My grandparents.
I shake my head. “I’m not ready.”
She nods, accepting my decision. “Okay. I won’t push.” She rests her hand on the middle of my back, a comforting gesture. “But when you decide, I’ll be there for you. Whatever you need, Harper.”
I nod and pull her in for a hug. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“Anytime,” she says in a low voice before pulling away and walking out the door.
EMERSON CLIMBS BEHIND the wheel of Jay’s Range Rover and heads to the school. No doubt heads are about to roll in that office, because Emerson, although petite, is kind of scary. She has a fiery temper and a razor-sharp tongue to back it up.
Bass—with Jay riding quietly in the front passenger seat of his Denali—drops Harper, Zach, and me off at school to pick up our cars. He waits for Harper to get in her car before following her out of the parking lot.
Zach doesn’t waste any time getting to his Jeep and racing over to Jay’s.
Pussy.
But me? I lean against my truck and I wait.
Thirty minutes later, the last bell of the day rings.
And here she comes.
Ashton is too busy digging in her bag to realize she just walked right past me.
“Hey,” I call out, pushing off my truck and walking toward her.
She turns and smiles as if nothing happened. Maybe she’s just as psycho as Hannah. “Hey,” she replies sweetly.
Grabbing her by the upper arm, I guide us both toward her car.
“Ow!” she shrieks. “What are you doing?”
I don’t answer or release her arm until we reach the driver side of her car. Spinning her around, I slap my hands on the roof, caging her in, leaning in so we’re face-to-face. “You’ve always been kind of a bitch, Ashton, but that never bothered me much because I’m kind of an asshole. But today you went from bitch to bully. You and your little psycho friend Hannah fractured my cousin’s
hand and broke her finger. What the hell is wrong with you?” I yell.
She jerks her head back, eyes wide. “That wasn’t me,” she defends, tears filling her eyes. “I would never do that to her.”
“What about Harper? I know that was you.”
“She took you away from me!” she shouts.
“She didn’t do shit!” I shout back. “I took me away from you. How many times did I tell you that you’re not my girlfriend? You were never my girlfriend.” I lean forward again. “Listen to me, girl. I don’t need to tell you to leave Jay alone, because obviously she can take care of herself. But stay the hell away from Harper, my girlfriend,” I drawl, getting my point across, “or I. Will. Ruin. You. Got it?”
“Fuck you, Cole!” She shoves my chest. “Don’t threaten me.”
“Fuck you, Ashton! It’s not a threat. It’s a fuckin’ promise,” I growl.
“Cole,” Uncle Marcus says beside me, and I freeze. Wait. What? That can’t be right.
I swing my head to the side and see Alex. Shaking my head in disbelief at how much he sounded like Uncle Marcus, I shove myself away from Ashton and she scrambles to get inside her car.
“Stay the fuck away from me and my family,” I tell her before she slams the door and starts the car. I hear the faint click of the door locks before she flips me off and backs out of her spot.
I look at Alex and then over his shoulder to see my friends leaning against the back of my truck, looking on.
“She’s a piece of work.” Alex chuckles in disbelief. “How are Jay and Harper?”
“Jay’s hand is fractured and her ring finger is broken. She has to wear a soft cast for a few weeks. Surprisingly, Harper didn’t need stitches.”
Alex’s jaw clenches.
“Chill, dude. You can’t be everywhere. Zach was standing right beside Jay and he didn’t even see that coming. She can handle herself. Did you not see Hannah’s face?”
Alex snorts. “Eva will be here in a couple of days. She’s gonna see Jay’s cast and give me shit for not telling her.”
