“Well, for what it’s worth, I hope you’re doing okay. Roman is an asshole. You deserve better.”
Julio whistles and the teacher’s head jerks in our direction with a glare. In a quieter tone he says, “You can say that again. That guy is a grade-A asshole.”
Aaron high fives him and I stifle a groan as the two dive into a heated conversation about just how much of a dick Roman is. Great.
Just as class ends Aaron’s phone chimes with a message. He pulls out his cell and scowls. “Shit.”
“Something wrong?” I ask.
He ruffles his sandy blond hair before shoving his phone in his back pocket and grabbing his skateboard. "One of our dishwashers at the diner just bailed. No notice either. Tonight is going to suck."
“You work at a diner?” Julio asks.
He nods. “Yeah. My aunt owns it—the Sun Valley Station. Best burgers in town. I work there after school sometimes to help her out.” He shrugs. “I don’t really need the money but it gets me out of the house.”
An idea forms and before I can talk myself out of it I say, “I can help. I mean, if you think she’d want to fill the position. I’m looking for a job.”
His brows furrow. “You are?”
I bob my head enthusiastically.
“Allie, you sure this is a good idea?” Julio whispers beside me. I give him an affirming nod. This is a great idea. Exactly what I need.
“Yeah. I’ve put in a few applications around town, but I haven’t gotten any callbacks.”
“I’ve seen your place and your new ride. You’re not hurting for cash. Why would you want to scrub dishes at a diner?”
“Because I don’t want to have to rely on my bio-dad for everything. I barely know the guy. You know what he’s like. Would you want anything from him?"
He shakes his head with a grimace, probably remembering Gerald’s words when he’d last been over.
“If you helped me get this job you’d be doing me a huge favor.”
His lips twist as he considers it. “You’d be able to work tonight?”
I nod.
“Alright. I’ll talk to her. I can’t make any promises but plan on working the closing shift. It’s four to eleven.”
“Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.” The bell rings signaling the end of class and we all get up, gathering our things.
Aaron smiles and steps forward. His arms open as if to hug me and instantly I stiffen. Julio intercepts the touch, reaching out to shake Aaron’s hand while pulling him into a bro hug. Aaron’s eyes widen in confusion over Julio’s shoulder.
“Thanks for helping my girl out, man. I’m glad she’ll have a friend around after I head back home.”
“Uh, yeah. Of course.”
Julio steps away and then tugs me toward the door.
“See you tonight,” I tell him, rushing to leave.
Roman
I sit on the hood of my El Camino, my legs wide and Silvia standing between them. Her manicured hands rest on the top of my pants and she’s leaning into me, trying hard to be seductive.
I ignore her. She thinks I’m lingering because I want to be in her fucking presence when in reality, that is the last thing I want. Keeping her close today is already biting me in the ass. She’s a stage-five clinger with a serious complex but Allie’s Audi is four cars down and I want her to see Silvia between my thighs.
I want her to see just how over her I am, so I wait.
“Yo. We going to practice?” Emilio asks, tossing his bag into my backseat. Dom’s already in the locker room. He’s our QB and he can’t afford to show up late. Coach would rip him a new one.
“Yeah, we’re going.”
He gives me a sideways glance until he spots Allie and the new fucker walking beside her. Realization dawns on Emilio’s face and he does me a solid. Walking toward the gym doors he shouts, “Come on, fucker. You can bone Silvia later.”
Allie’s head jerks toward his voice. Then she follows his gaze and sees what I wanted her to see. Hurt flashes in her eyes. What the hell does she have to be hurt about? I might not admit it to anyone else, but she’s the one who dropped me. She showed up with some random, held his fucking hand, and now wants to act like this is all on me.
Not happening.
I grip Silvia’s hips and draw her closer. Nuzzling her neck, I keep my eyes locked on Allie’s as I let my other hand wander until I’m grasping Silvia’s tight ass.
She moans in my embrace and presses herself closer to me. “Roman, you feel so good.”
I bite back my scathing response, hating the feel of her body pressed against mine when it should be Allie instead.
I scrape my teeth along the column of her neck. She visibly shudders. So fucking dramatic but it works to my benefit.
Allie stands there, ten feet away from her car, watching us. It’s like she’s frozen in place and I take full fucking advantage. When Silvia’s hand dips down to stroke my dick over my jeans, I shift, making sure Allie has a nice view.
Her cheeks heat, a pretty pink blush staining her cheeks but whether in anger or embarrassment I have no fucking clue.
Julio calls her name. When she doesn’t respond, he tugs on her hand and draws her to her car. Her eyes stay locked with mine the entire way until she finally steps inside and the tinted windows block her from my view.
As soon as her car leaves the lot, I push Silvia away and head toward the gym.
“Hey—” she squeaks.
“I got practice.” I'm already halfway across the parking lot.
“Oh. Okay. Call me later!”
I throw a wave over my shoulder. I won’t call her, and yet she’ll still be waiting for me tomorrow when I get to school. So damn predictable.
Allie
I got the job.
Just as Julio and I are walking in the door, I get a text from Aaron.
Aaron: My aunt said you can work tonight as a trial run. If it works out, the job is yours. Closing shift 3x a week.
Me: THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
“You look happy,” Julio says as we drop our bags beside the kitchen island. I grab two glasses from the cupboard and fill both with water before handing one to him. “Thanks.”
“I am happy. Aaron said I got the job. Finally, something good. Ya know?”
He nods but his brows are pinched together as he looks down at his glass. “I don’t want to rain on your parade, but are you sure this is a good idea?”
I stiffen. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
He runs a hand through his dark brown hair and lifts his gaze. “Allie, you’ve been through a lot.”
“I know that,” I snap, not liking the direction this conversation is going. Not two minutes ago I was elated. Now, he’s popping my balloon and for no reason.
“How are you going to handle being around everyone? The customers? The other staff? What if Aaron goes to give you a friendly goodbye hug again?”
I chew on my fingernail. “I’ll figure it out,” I tell him, determined to make this work. “I’m fine. I didn't have any major breakdowns at school today. This will be good for me.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he lets the subject drop. I check the time and notice I have forty minutes to get ready and be at the diner. “I need to get ready. Do you want to drop me off and you can keep the car in case you want to do anything?”
He shakes his head. “No. I have some independent study homework I need to catch up on. You okay to drive yourself?”
I nod. “I’ll be fine.”
He still doesn’t look convinced, but says nothing as I jog upstairs to change.
The Sun Valley Station is packed for a weeknight. Nearly every booth is filled and only two barstools remain empty at the front counter. I recognize a few students from school but, thankfully, I don’t spot the Devils. I don’t think I could deal with seeing Roman right now.
Aaron waves me over as soon as I walk in the door. “Hey, follow me.” He catches the attention of one of the ser
vers and calls out an, “I’ll be right back.”
She nods and Aaron leads me through a set of swinging doors and down a private hallway to an office. He knocks twice on the door before opening it.
“Aunt Emma, this is Allie.” A middle-aged woman with ash-blond hair looks up from her desk. Her features are severe. Sharp nose, high cheekbones, and thin lips. A pair of reading glasses sit perched atop her head.
“You go to school with my nephew?” She leans back in her seat, setting aside the papers she’d been looking at to give me her full attention.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ah, manners on this one,” she says to Aaron before turning back to me. “Do you have any work history?”
“I was a barista back in my hometown for a summer.” It’s not much but it’s something and it did teach me to work at a fast pace.
“Did Aaron fill you in on the particulars? This is a dishwashing job. It’s not glamorous. You won’t be waitressing and you won’t be earning tips. From time to time you might buss tables if the girls up front need the help but for the most part, you’ll be in the back. You good with that?” She gives me a scrutinizing once-over.
I hadn’t known what to wear so I put on a pair of black skinny jeans and a long-sleeved black t-shirt and paired it with white sneakers. I assumed black would be safest.
“Sounds good," I tell her.
“Okay, then. Aaron will get you an apron and show you to the back. If you keep up today, the job is yours. It’s minimum wage but you’ll get a dollar raise once you last six months. Schedule changes each week but you’ll be guaranteed three shifts.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
Aaron leads the way back through the hallway and into the kitchens. I’m greeted by two cooks, but both are elbow deep in work so they only offer me a wave and a smile. I stiffen when I realize it’ll be just the three of us back here, but my shoulders relax when Aaron leads me further into where the washing station is.
It sits away from the cooks in a small corner. “Servers and busboys will stack dishes here.” He points to a low counter already piled high with dirty plates and glasses. “And then when you’re done with them, you put them here. Silverware and glasses all get put inside the automatic runner so they’re sanitized but you’ll wash plates and bowls by hand.”
“Sounds easy enough.” I give him a smile. “I think I got it.”
“Okay, and if you get stuck or need help, I’ll be up front.” He places a hand on my shoulder and I instantly lock up. Panic rushes into me and Aaron doesn’t miss my reaction. His hand immediately lifts and he takes two steps back.
“What just happened?”
I open my mouth to answer but nothing comes out.
“Allie, you’re really pale.”
I wrap my arms around myself and look away. Julio was right. This was a horrible idea. What had I been thinking?
I worry my lower lip struggling to give Aaron an explanation for my behavior when he says, “Something happened to you while you were gone?”
I meet his concerned gaze knowing my own is glassy-eyed with unshed tears and nod.
“Fuck.” He rubs the back of his neck. “That’s why your friend stepped in when I went to hug you today?”
Another nod.
“Okay. Okay.” He paces in front of me as he takes this all in and I brace myself for whatever he has to say next. “I don’t need to know what happened. It’s none of my business. If you decide you want to tell me at some point, you can, okay? I’m here, for whatever you need.” My heart melts at his confession. I knew Aaron was a good guy. “But…” A shake of his head as he expels a harsh breath. “You don’t want to be touched. Is that it?”
I nod. “Yeah. Pretty much.”
“Is that why your friend is here in town? To help you out with whatever you’re dealing with?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll help, too. Whatever you need. I know he can’t be with you twenty-four seven. When you’re here, I’ve got your back. Okay?”
A tear slips down my cheek and I swipe it away. “You’re a really great guy, Aaron. Thank you.”
Roman
She’s not eating. I don’t know why I care but the girl never eats. Not at school anyway. Her cheekbones are sharper. Her clothes fit looser. Something is up and I have no fucking clue what.
I know my boys notice. They give her the same concerned glances I do when they think I’m not looking.
The urge to force her to tell me what’s wrong is strong, but she’s still with that fucker, Julio. And worse, she’s hanging out more with Henderson. One of them is always with her. She’s never alone. Not in her classes. Not at lunch. Hell, even when I spot her going to take a piss, one of these assholes is always right outside the door.
I’m tempted to find a way to distract them so I can pull her away but I talk myself out of it. I shouldn’t care that she’s losing weight. What difference is it to me? She wasn’t eating a ton before. This is just more of the same. Maybe she’s still upset over her mom. That’s probably all it is. I can’t say I blame her, but it is not my problem. Not anymore.
Just then, Silvia struts toward me. I groan. The girl is clingy as shit. “Yo, Rome,” Emilio calls. “The wife is coming.”
I flip him off and ignore the annoyance Silvia’s presence brings. Sarah is right beside her, making stupid eyes at Emilio. He tilts his chin at her in greeting and the girl swoons. Pathetic.
Kasey Henderson walks by just then and sneers with a dramatic eye roll. “Getting desperate, boys,” she calls out before heading to the table Allie’s sitting at. I ignore her comment and throw my arm over Silvia’s shoulder and as expected, she presses herself into me, her breasts and the inch-thick padding in her bra mashing up against my chest.
“Are we going to get to spend some time together this weekend, Ro?” she asks, fluttering her lashes in what I’m sure she thinks is a seductive manner, but really she ends up looking like she’s got something stuck in her eyes.
I shrug my shoulders. “Dunno. I got plans with the boys. We’ll see.”
Her bottom lip juts out and I know she’s not happy. Chick’s been trying to screw me all week. I’ve kissed her but that is as far as things have gone and only ever in public. If I’m going to lower my standards to a girl like her, there’s gotta be a reason for it, and ensuring it gets back to Allie is reason number one. Silvia wants more. She wants to fuck. But the idea of screwing her makes my dick limper than a soft noodle.
I can barely manage to shove my tongue down her throat as it is.
A few weeks ago, I’d have fucked her in a heartbeat. Silvia’s got a tight ass, curves, and a decent rack. Her teeth are straight, and she’s got long, sleek hair I’d normally enjoy wrapping around my fist. But now, all I see when I look at her is a pathetic girl who can’t seem to understand just how uninterested I am in her.
She’s a means to an end. A way to pass the time. The season’s over and I don’t have football practice anymore to use as a distraction, so instead I try and come up with creative ways to screw over the girl who decided to stomp on my fucking heart.
When Allie’s gaze turns my way, I lean into Silvia’s touch and capture her lips with mine. She moans dramatically into the kiss and I force myself to close my eyes, pretending it’s Allie I’m kissing. Allie whose mouth I’m tasting.
Silvia moans again, not bothered in the least that we’re in a crowded cafeteria and she sounds like a porn star. I wish she would shut the hell up. When she moans for the third time I pull away. Her pupils are dilated and her smile wide as she struggles to catch her breath. I flick my gaze back to Allie’s table but it’s empty now. She’s gone.
Allie
The week passes and before I know it, it’s Saturday night. I work the closing shift again at Sun Valley Station, only this time, Aaron has the night off so he can go watch the girls' basketball game. The season just started and Kasey plays on the JV team, though not by choice. She hates sports but I guess her parents a
re forcing her into some extracurriculars. Aaron’s going so he can make fun of his sister later.
I was originally given the night off too, and Aaron invited me to come, but I couldn’t stomach the idea of attending another school event.
The diner is slow the first few hours I’m here, but I know once the game is over that’ll change. Everyone will either go out and party or come here for food since other restaurants in the area will be closed, so I take advantage of the reprieve and make sure all the dishes are clean and stacked so that when the rush hits, I’m ready.
Julio had to head back home this morning. I was bummed to see him go but he can only take so much time off from school. He offered to stay longer but I didn’t want to take advantage of him. I appreciate the week he gave me, though. I’ve only had one panic attack since Monday and true to his word, when Julio wasn't around, Aaron did his best to step in and help make me comfortable.
The volume in the front of the diner increases and I chance a look at the clock, noting that it’s just after nine. Less than two hours until closing and we’re just now getting busy.
I keep myself occupied, scrubbing dishes down while I listen to some older My Chemical Romance songs. I’m bouncing to Black Parade a little over an hour later when Emma pops her head in the back and says, “I have to leave early and handle some stuff. Julie will be the one closing up with you tonight.”
I nod. Julie’s one of the waitresses who works here full-time. She’s in college and from what I’ve gathered, also a family friend so she’s trusted with a key and closing out the register.
Tonight's cooks, Rodrick and Ben, let me know they’re heading out when they fulfill the last order of the night and I wave goodbye to them. They’ve mostly kept to themselves since I started working here and a part of me wonders if Aaron said anything to them about me. I wash the last of the dishes just as the double doors swing open and Julie bounces into the room.
Wicked Devil: An Enemies to Lovers, High School Bully Romance (Devils of Sun Valley High Book 1) Page 19
