by Leila James
“He told me he’s going to dump you as soon as he gets what he wants.”
“Which is what?” I raise a brow, blood flowing into my face, making it hot. I’d hate to think Xander’s been talking to Aria about me, but—
She scoffs. “Well, I’m guessing it hasn’t happened yet since he’s still with you. He’s a fucking guy, Scarlett. It’s not like he’s going to hang around after you give it up.”
There are a few snickers from the other girls standing with her. My eyes flicker around to them, taking note of exactly who is miserable enough to join Aria in taunting me like this.
She uses a sickly-sweet voice when she speaks again. “I’m just trying to save you from the heartache of it all, Scarlett.” She gives me a smug little grin. “I’m trying to be your friend, if you’ll let me.”
I step toward her. “I haven’t believed a word out of your mouth since the minute I met you. Why the hell would I start now?”
She shrugs. “Has he even taken you home to meet his mom and stepdad yet?”
I try so hard not to let what she’s just said bother me, but it does. It’s like a slap in the face and a bucket of cold water all at once, because she’s right. I have no idea where Xander lives or anything about the people who currently reside there with him—except Janie. My hands start to shake.
“Uh-huh. I see I’ve got you there. Come on, girls, let’s leave her to cry her sad little tears in peace.”
When I finally exit the bathroom a few minutes later, I’m late to class. As I hurry down the hallway, I skid to a stop outside Mr. Harrigan’s door. I’d forgotten that Aria and Xander have US Government together after lunch on even days. I can’t help but stand and stare as Aria presses herself up against Xander. She whispers in his ear, a grin tipping her lips when she sees I’m watching. She grazes her lips over his jaw.
I don’t stick around for more.
I close my eyes, knowing that Aria is a vindictive bitch. If I’ve learned anything at all, it’s that she could totally be fucking with me.
Even so, my hands are trembling so badly I’m embarrassed to go to my next class, so I jog down to the nurse’s office. I give a tap with my knuckles to her door. “Excuse me, Mrs. Jansen. I’m not feeling well. I have study hall this period. Can I lie down for a little while?”
“Of course, honey. How’s the head after the knock you took last week?”
“Oh.” I touch the back of my head. “I’m fine. It just gave me a doozy of a headache.”
“Okay, honey. Well, I’m going to run down to the bookkeeper for a minute. You just rest.”
The minute she walks away, my phone is out.
Me: Aria cornered me in the bathroom just now.
Daphne: What? Why?
Max: There’s only one answer to that—Xander.
Daphne: She’s next-level crazy when it comes to him.
Me: You can say that again.
Me: She claims he talks to her about me.
Daphne: Ugh. I don’t know what to tell you.
Max: What’s she saying?
Me: That he’s going to leave me as soon as …
Max: ?
Me: As soon as I let him fuck me.
Daphne: Whoa.
Max: Baby girl, where are you?
Me: Nurse’s office. I felt sick after I saw her climbing all over him in class. I couldn’t go to study hall.
I let out a big sigh and switch over to the text messages I’d been exchanging with Xander. I’m not that girl. I may have decided not to go to class, but I’m not hiding from him. I’m not going to sit back and just let her manipulate me.
Me: Hey. Was whatever Aria was whispering in your ear a few minutes ago anything about me?
A few seconds go by before the little dots start jumping. I stare at them for what seems like an eternity before a message comes through.
Xander: No. She was asking what the plan is for this weekend.
Me: Meaning?
Xander: Where the party will be, if I’m planning on bringing you.
I’m not waiting to address what she’s done. That bitch has it in for me, and I think he has some pretty heavy blinders on when it comes to anything concerning her.
Me: She cornered me in the bathroom with her girls before class.
Me: Said some not-so-nice stuff. You should ask her about it.
Xander: Red … I’ll take care of it.
I can practically hear his heavy sigh, stuck between the Rose everyone says he belongs with and the Thorn he’s actually with. Supposedly. Doubt creeps in, dark and insidious. I blow out a harsh breath, trying not to let Aria’s antics bother me.
Me: I’d appreciate it.
Xander: It’s done. I’m on it.
Xander: Now, can we talk about something else?
I can’t tell if I’m getting brushed off, if he’s pissed that Aria’s being a pain, or if I’m really bad at reading between the lines of a text message.
Me: Like what?
Xander: Like about how hard you made me while I was eating your pussy at the bonfire?
Xander: How sweet you tasted on my tongue?
Xander: Or how much I enjoyed you sucking my cock?
Me: Well, all right. You just went there.
Xander: I did. And I plan on going there again.
Xander: Are you coming to the game on Friday?
Me: Do you want me there?
Xander: At the game *and* after the game.
Xander: Red, when are you going to figure it out?
Me: What?
Xander: All I want is you.
Chapter 43
Things have been quiet since I let Xander know what Aria has been up to. Quiet in that she hasn’t bothered me in person anymore all week. She has, however, taken to tagging me in photos on social media of her with Xander. I’m sure she’s trying to start some shit, but I can’t help but think she’s certifiably crazy because he’s spent the entire week hanging out with me each day after practice. Tuesday and Thursday, he’d come and hung out at Teri & Terry’s with Janie for over an hour while I worked.
So, I’m not sure what Aria thinks she’s trying to pull, but Daphne took a closer look at the pictures and recognized them from the previous football season. The cheer uniforms were last year’s.
I glance at my phone and see it’s almost seven thirty, so when I hear the honk from outside, I know it’s Daphne and Max. Aunt Liz glances up from the romance novel she’s reading on the couch. “Big game tonight, huh?”
“Yep. That’s Max honking, so I’d better take off.”
“Did you say Daphne was going, too, sweetheart?” Uncle David tears his eyes away from the NFL coverage he’s watching.
“She is. This is the first time we’ve managed to drag her to a game.”
“Well, have fun.”
“Be careful.”
Those last two sentences come out of Uncle David and Aunt Liz’s mouths respectively, but at the same time. Funny how opposite they are with their advice.
I give them a broad grin. “I will try to do both.”
Aunt Liz winks. “Of course you will. And you’ll let us know when you get to Daphne’s?”
“Yes,” I lie. Internally, I cringe. I really hate to deceive them, but Xander said he wanted me to come to his place tonight. I guess Micah is hosting a party this weekend, but not until Saturday night. Instead, I’m really hoping Xander and I have our own very special sort of party. Not even going to deny it.
“Say hi to Xander for us.” Uncle David nods. “I hear that kid’s crazy good.”
I press my lips together, waving as I hurry toward the door. “I’ll tell him you said hi for sure.”
From Max’s passenger seat, Daphne waves at me as I exit the house. I grin back at her, jogging across the yard. I pull the rear door open and slide onto the backseat. “Ready for this, Daph? Your first game of the year.”
She snorts a little. “I’m coming because you specifically asked me to, girlfriend.”
�
��Can you blame her, though? Aria’s been way too quiet lately. Not to mention, Justin’s been sniffing around again, too.”
My mouth drops open. “I didn’t realize you’d noticed.”
Max glances at me in the rearview. “Well, I did. That fucking creeper is everywhere lately.” He taps his fingers on the wheel. I’ve come to notice he does that when he’s uneasy about something. “Xander may have mentioned it, too.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Did he really?”
Max nods. “I’d say that it was weird for him to approach me, but we’ve talked several times since the incident at Beau’s. He’s genuinely nervous about the way Justin is acting.” He grimaces. “I wonder if Justin isn’t the sort to want revenge.”
Daphne snorts. “I might, too, if I had my nose broken twice.”
Revenge. Really? “Do you think he’d take that out on me instead of Xander?” I frown. It’d be totally awesome if people would just leave me alone.
“Well, he’s fucking psycho, so who knows. But—I truly believe that taking it out on you would make Xander angrier than anything else.”
The football stadium parking lot is absolutely full when we get there, and Max has to park in one of the last rows. Knowing I’ll be leaving with Xander later means I don’t particularly care where we park.
We scramble from the SUV and pay for our tickets, only to realize once we do that there is zero room in the stands. We’ll have to join the crowd forming at the fence. I hadn’t realized until Xander said something earlier, but tonight’s game against Silver Heights Prep is always the biggest of the year. I had no idea Rosehaven Academy even had a rival, but the Kings are in the house and the crowd is livelier than I’ve ever seen.
My gaze shifts to the field where they are preparing for kickoff. Silver Heights wins the coin toss and chooses to receive, leaving Xander on the bench for the moment. Helmet off, he swivels around, scanning the crowd, but then his gaze quickly shifts to where Max, Daphne, and I are standing at the fence close to our end zone. I hold my hand up, smiling as he spots us and shoots me his signature megawatt grin.
Max chuckles. “Damn, baby girl. It’s not funny how into you that boy is.”
“Hush.” A faint blush tints my cheeks. And then because I can’t resist, I follow up with, “I might be pretty into him, too.”
Micah and Beau turn to see what Xander is looking at and both lift their arms in greeting.
“They’re something, too, huh?”
“I have to say, I don’t actually mind his friends. They’re a little man-whorish, but since I don’t really care what—or who—they do, I can just focus on how tight their friendship is and the fact that they are fun. They’re pretty nice to me, too. From the minute I first showed up at Beau’s party, they’ve just kind of accepted the idea of me with Xander.”
I side-eye Daphne, whose face has dropped a bit. “They’re just guys having fun, Daphne.” I turn more fully toward her. “What’s wrong?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Nothing, I guess.”
Max seems to be thinking through what I’d said and finally laughs. “The funny thing is you weren’t even technically with him yet at that point—at the party, I mean. Though, I’d say by the end of the night it was obvious he was staking his claim.”
I tilt my head to the side. “You might be right about that.” We watch the game in silence for a few minutes.
Max startles, peeks behind me, then gestures to my rear end. “I think your butt just vibrated.”
I slap at him and laugh as I pull my phone from my back pocket. One glance at the screen has me stiffening, then catching the corner of my lip between my teeth. “Shit. Hey, what are you guys doing tomorrow?”
Daphne shrugs. “I’m free all weekend, if you can get me out from under my mountain of homework. I could be tempted by free food.”
“Sorry. Family obligations tomorrow. Why?” Max watches the movement of the players on the field.
My brows draw together at the tone of his voice and the distinct lack of eye contact.
He waves off my concern before I’ve even said anything aloud. “It’s nothing. I’m free Sunday, if that works. What do you need?”
I press my lips together. Time to spill. “I keep getting these weird texts.”
Daphne sputters with laughter. “Weirder than all the dick pics?”
“Yeah. Well, sort of. Different weird. Like, freaking-me-out weird.”
“Explain yourself.” Max gives me a look as if to say I can’t believe you kept something from us. If only he knew.
“So, it started first with a text about how I got the scholarship.” I hesitate for a second, making sure I have their attention. “That’s when I asked you to look into it, Max. But then the next one said something about my mother and did I know who she was secretly dating in high school.”
Daphne’s brows shoot up. “Uh, so … someone is poking into your mom’s past?”
“It would appear that way. Or knows something I don’t. It’s like they want me to uncover something. But I don’t know what I’m looking for, exactly. I’m guessing the two are connected.”
“Okay, I’m not following. What does this have to do with this weekend?”
“Because the two of you are going to help me dig through all the boxes in our garage.”
Max grunts as he crosses his arms over his chest. “What? What for?”
“I’m hoping to find some sort of a clue in my mom’s senior yearbook.” I clamp my lips together for a few seconds. “Is that dumb?”
“Not at all.” Daphne shakes her head emphatically. “And if we don’t find your mom’s yearbooks, the school does keep copies in the library. They wouldn’t have anything personal in them, but it would be a good backup plan.”
“Good. Because look at the text I just got.” I hold up my phone so they can both see.
Unknown Number: Who’s your daddy?
Chapter 44
Coming off their big win, Xander and his teammates are riding a definite high when they race out of the locker room. There’s whooping. Yelling. All sorts of alpha-male behavior.
I grin when he makes eye contact with me. Four weeks ago, I would have had serious reservations about returning his smile. But now? Nope. Those dark eyes roam over me, and I can only think of all the ways I want him to touch me—how I want him to brand me and make me his.
He breaks away from his teammates, waving good night to them over his shoulder, and hurries toward me. He. Looks. Delicious. Dark jeans and a black T-shirt cling to his body in all the right ways. His hair is still a little damp from his shower, and he runs his hand through it as he closes the distance between us. He greets me with a gritty, “Hey, beautiful,” as he takes me into his arms, lifting me off my feet and whirling me around. My heart pounds so hard against his chest, I’m sure he can feel it. And I don’t care. I want him to know how I feel and what being close to him does to me.
“Hey, yourself.”
He catches my lips in a searing kiss, and I think I might melt right here in his arms. “You still cool with hanging out at my place?”
Excitement shoots through me. After what Aria said, I worried there was a chance that he didn’t want to introduce me to his mom or stepdad, that we were just a little fun and he didn’t feel the need.
“Yeah, sure. Is anyone home?”
“My mom and Janie.” He nips at my neck, then sets me on my feet. Taking my hand, we walk through the parking lot to his car.
“Oh, good. Except, I’m guessing Janie will be in bed already.”
“Yeah, probably. We can duck in and say hi to my mom, though. She’s probably just watching a movie or something.” He rubs his hand through his hair again.
“And your stepdad? Is he traveling again?”
“Always.”
I nod. “Okay. Well, I’d love to meet your mom.”
He grins broadly. “Let’s make it happen, then. And after that, I’ll let you see my room.”
My head whips around to
find him staring at me, his eyes hungry. He wiggles his brows at me. “I have plans for us tonight, baby.”
“But—” It’s not that I don’t want to have sex with Xander. I’m just nervous. “Your mom—”
He chuckles roughly. “It’s a big house, Red. I’ll make you come so hard you’ll scream my name and no one will hear you.”
Lust slithers through my veins, licking at me from the inside out.
I look into his eyes, raking my teeth over my lower lip. “Prove it.”
Xander’s home isn’t far from Rosehaven, and we’re there in minutes. I haven’t had ample time to prepare myself before we pull into the driveway. “Oh boy.” I take a deep breath.
He’s eyeing me from the driver’s seat. “It’s just my mom. You’ll be fine. She doesn’t bite.” He winks at me. “Not like I might.”
I swat at his hand before I push the door open and step out. He comes around the front, holds his hand out for me, and we walk over to the side door outside the garage. He lets us in, and I look around, finding myself in the biggest mudroom I’ve ever seen. Little hooks line one wall for coats, and an industrial washer-and-dryer set sit on the opposite wall. Xander ushers me through a doorway at the far end. He flips on a light, illuminating a gorgeous kitchen. White cabinets, top-of-the-line appliances, a long granite island—this kitchen has all the bells and whistles. It’s breathtaking.
Xander tucks a finger under my chin, closing my mouth, which had involuntarily opened. I cover my mouth, giggling. “Sorry. This place is amazing.”
“Xander, is that you, honey?”
Xander raises his voice. “Yeah, Mom.”
She wanders into the room. “You won?” Xander’s mother is drop-dead gorgeous, which shouldn’t surprise me, considering how handsome her son is, but it catches me off guard. She’s all raven hair and dark eyes framed by long lashes. My coloring is almost the exact opposite.
