by Mina Thorne
“Yeah, I think that’s their biggest fear. How are you though?” I asked.
“Fuck, I’ll miss you so much,” he said. “I mean, I already miss you so much it’s ridiculous. But other than that, I’m good. I thought I was going home, but one of the burns on my leg got infected, so I’m in for another round of IV antibiotics.”
“Can I see you before I leave?” I asked.
“I don’t think so,” he said and looked down. “I won’t lie, it’s been fucking tough. I don’t know how well I’ll come back for football and I miss everybody. Even Rome and B Man, those sons of bitches.”
“I’ll be back in January when I turn eighteen,” I said. “I’ll see you then, and you’ll be healthy enough to…”
“To fuck you hard and dirty?” he said with a lopsided grin. “God, I can’t wait. I’ve been dreaming about you, babe.”
His voice was a low groan when he said it like he was ready to drive over and fuck me right then.
I missed him so hard though; I hadn’t been able to see Whitt in so long it felt like his gorgeous body, and thick dick were just pleasant fantasies.
We chatted for a few minutes more, and I promised to talk to him whenever I could.
I was slowly warming up to the idea, even if I hated it.
It was temporary. I could see what life in California was like when I had the money I’d always wanted, and it would be good to spend some more time with Mom and Reg again.
Even if it was going to be pure torture without my guys.
Chapter 75
Rome took it the hardest. I texted him to give him the head’s up on Sunday night, but at school, on Monday morning, he practically fell on his knees to beg me to stay.
“I can’t talk her out of her decision,” I told him. He’d been waiting for me at the front of the school. Barrett was with me, having driven me that morning, and he stood by my side.
“This is fucking bullshit,” Rome growled and clenched his fists. “I can’t go that long without seeing you. I won’t know what to do with myself.”
“I guess you’ll have to come to see me,” I grinned. “Or get used to your hand until January.”
“That’s too long, almost two months,” he said with a scowl. “We’ll look after you if it’s Becca they’re worried about.”
“They are worried about her. I mean, I’m worried about her too,” I replied. “I’m angry about going back to California, too, but Mom has the final say.”
“This is just so unfair, what about Christmas break? We could have gone skiing at our family’s lodge in Aspen,” he said.
“Next year, I promise,” I said and placed my hand on his arm. “I promise it won’t last for long and I promise I’ll be home before you know it.” He wasn’t okay with that though, he followed me through the school and stayed by my side every moment he could. Rome was the most emotional about me leaving, and that surprised me. I wouldn’t have thought he would be so hurt by it, but it just proved one thing to me. I had a lot more to learn about these boys of mine.
At lunch, I was basically the center of attention in the cafeteria, and it unsettled me. I wasn’t used to being the focus of so many people, and so many of them popular. And every one of them dying to listen to my story about the locker room fire over and over again.
“So then Rome and Whitt and Barrett showed up, they saved me, but Whitt was injured quite badly,” I said, finishing up my story as I stood in front of everybody with my tray of food in my hands. “And I’m exhausted, so if you don’t mind, I would like to have my lunch now.”
“Oh no, did I miss it?” one of the girls on the cheerleading squad said as she strolled into the lineup. “Can you tell me all about it over lunch. Please?”
I sighed and shook my head, but she followed me to the table and sat down across from me. She was joined by a few other girls, and eventually a few guys from the year behind us.
And halfway through my meal, I reluctantly started the story of how Becca lured me to the locker room and lit it on fire all over again.
It wasn’t that I was upset to talk about it, but in a weird way, it felt like I was being re-victimized all over again. The strange bright excitement in their eyes as they hung on my every word was unsettling, and I realized again that I didn’t want this kind of popularity.
In fact, I didn’t want popularity at all.
After the table thinned out a bit, Sienna sat next to me and grinned. “I need to buy a ticket just to visit with my friend.”
“It’s embarrassing,” I replied. “I don’t know how many times I can keep telling the same story over and over again.”
“Maybe just record it or something and hit play when they bother you,” she laughed.
“I could upload a video to YouTube,” I said. “I could make some money off the views at least.”
We ended up laughing over our imagined scenarios, and when the next group came up to hear about my traumatic attack, Sienna shooed them away and stood up for me.
I would miss her too, and she said she’d miss me, but she wasn’t as upset as the boys. We would message each other and stay in touch until I returned.
Still, it would be strange without her and the girls I was friends with now. They knew me as Stephanie Montgomery, heir to Montgomery holdings and gave me the respect that came with it.
California didn’t know that part of me, and as much as I didn’t want to be popular, it would feel strange to slip back down the rungs of the social ladder to the bottom again.
The rest of the day went well enough. Dr. Adams approached me at the end of school to double-check with me again. His concern was almost humorous since he’d been such an asshole to me before. But he did seem sincere now, especially since I would have the opportunity to sue the school, apparently.
But Dad had decided not to. It wasn’t anything they did that led to my injury. It was merely Becca’s crazy actions that had almost killed me.
By the time Barrett drove me home, I was exhausted. I spent some time with Kit and Mom in the sunroom and then headed right up to my room.
Rome was coming over later so I took the time to video chat with Whitt and was thrilled to see him looking a little better than he had the day before.
I finished up with him and laid across my bed, waiting for Rome.
Barrett was off with his tutor, so I got to spend some time with my most emotional boyfriend. My fantastic surprise, that one who was the most aggressively horny and overly sexual turned out to be the most upset by my pending departure.
Soon enough, he tapped on the door and came in. He was stunning, as usual. He’d grown his blonde hair out a little more, so it was shaggy in that perfect way. Like he didn’t care about it, but it just managed to fall around his strong face in a golden frame.
His eyes were a deeper blue than usual as if the emotional turmoil he suffered had caused them to change color.
He looked sad and loyal, desperately in love with me and extremely excited to be alone with me again at last.
“I can’t believe you’re going away,” he said and sat on my bed. I rolled onto my side and propped my head on my hand.
“Not for long, remember that,” I replied.
“I’m going to go nuts without you,” I said.
“Me too. Why don’t we take advantage of our time together now, though? Why don’t you kiss me?”
“As if I need you to ask me,” he said, and he grinned, that lopsided crooked grin of his that warmed me up from my core to my heart.
He crawled to me on the bed and covered me with his broad, strong body. He was heavier than Barrett and Whitt, but it was all solid muscle. He looked like he worked out for hours a day, but it was just his god-given rock hard physique.
And I loved it. Being with Rome made me feel even smaller, even more delicate. As if I was precious and could be broken if he didn’t handle me with the utmost care.
“God, Steph,” he exhaled as he looked down at me. He brushed my hair off my forehead and gazed
into my eyes. “Where the hell have you been? It feels like I’ve known you forever, but we’ve only known each other for a few months.”
“I’ve been right here,” I smiled and pulled him closer for a kiss.
His kisses were desperate, but his mouth gave away the urgency in his desires and his need for me.
He was everywhere all at once it seemed, his hands pulling at my clothes and panties while he dragged his own off until we were naked against each other.
“Yes, spread your legs for me,” he growled and pushed my thighs apart. His hands sought my soaking wet heat and slipped along my slit, hitting my clit and making me gasp in pleasure. “Open yourself, Steph, let me stretch your pussy wide.”
His dirty talk was surprising, but so hot.
So, so hot.
“Please,” I moaned and spread my legs for him.
“Please, what?” he demanded and looked down at me with a bright glint in his eye.
“Please fuck me,” I sighed. “Fill me up and split me open, Rome. Fuck me hard.”
Where did my dirty talk come from? I was never like this during sex, I usually bit my lower lip and let the guy take the lead.
“Beg me,” he said and teased my clit again with his finger. “Beg me to fuck you, Steph.”
“Please, Rome, I’m dying without you. I’ve been thinking about this for days, feeling your big dick inside of me. Please…”
That’s all it took, he growled and held his dick in his hand, lined it up and plunged into me. I cried out and clung to him as he began to fuck me hard and fast, speaking dirty things in my ear.
We came, exploding our ecstasy together until our bodies were exhausted and limp and we fell into each other’s arms.
I would miss Rome. I would miss him with a longing like the ache between my legs when he pulled out of me.
I never wanted to be apart from him; it almost hurt when he drew away.
“I don’t want to lose this,” Rome said with a wistful sigh. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“You aren’t losing me,” I said and wiggled against him. He tightened his arms around me and sighed again. “I’m coming back, Rome, and I won’t forget about you.”
“If you do, I’ll fly out to California and find you,” he said and kissed the top of my head.
“I’d expect nothing less,” I replied with a smile.
We only had a couple of days left before I went away, but I wanted to live a lifetime in them.
I wanted memories to take with me, and memories to leave with Barrett, Rome, and Whitt.
Because there was a small part of me that worried they’d forget me when I was gone.
Chapter 76
Wednesday arrived with lightning speed.
I wasn’t ready for it; I wasn’t ready at all.
Neither were Rome and Barrett. At least with Whitt in the hospital, it felt surreal, as if I wasn’t leaving him at all.
But Rome and Barrett came to the tarmac with me to see me off.
So did Dad and Kit and that angered me a little. I felt resentment rise in my throat like a gorge when I realized my friend Kit would get to stay behind and have the life I wanted.
She would live in my house, see Barrett every day if she wanted, and enjoy her carefree days with my Dad.
I hugged Rome and Barrett until I was forced to leave them behind. Mom and Dad asked them to let me go so I could board the private plane that was ready to take off.
I hated it, I hated every minute of it, and when I climbed onto the jet, I was miserable. I should have been enjoying the leather interior, the fancy seats, the personal hostess, the delicious meal that had been prepared for us, and the overall indulgence of flying in your own plane.
But I didn’t enjoy any of it. It was all like bitter ashes in my mouth, and I hunched over in one of the buttery soft leather seats and stared out the window almost the entire time.
Mom tried to talk to me, but I didn’t reply. I was too upset for words; I felt like I’d break down into tears the moment I opened my mouth to speak.
She got the hint and left me alone. I was sure she assumed I was pouting, but it was much more than that. This felt like a soul-crushing weight on me that made it hard to breathe. As if I’d been buried alive and the soil above me crushed my chest and pushed out the air.
With each mile we flew away from Harrisburg and my three boys, my heart sunk lower and lower. About halfway across the country, Mom came and sat next to me. She was quiet at first but finally spoke.
“Are you ever going to speak to me again?” she asked with a bright smile. I could tell when she was faking her smile, and this one of the fakiest fakes in a while.
“Of course,” I replied.
“Could I get an estimated date and time on that?” she asked and observed me for my response.
I glowered at her, but she always knew how to get through to me.
I rolled my eyes, crossed my arms, and leaned back in the chair. “How about March twenty-eighth at seven in the evening?”
“Should I pencil that date in?” she asked with a grin. “Of should I add it in ink and really force you to commit to it?”
I rolled my eyes, but I smiled. I couldn’t stay mad at her, I never could.
“You do seem sad though; I hope once you get back to school with your old friends you’ll get over it and realize California isn’t that bad.”
“We’ll see,” I replied. I couldn’t exactly tell her how I felt, not then at least. Not while it was still such a raw wound.
“Of course you’ll be okay,” she said and sighed. “I just know it. I know this was the best choice for you, Stephanie. Even if you hate me for it.”
“I don’t hate you,” I said. “I’m just sad, but you’re probably right. Once I get back together with Maddy and Brie, I’ll be okay again.”
She was so happy I was apparently letting her back inside my head that I didn’t have the heart to tell her that nothing had changed.
I was faking it for her and would continue to do so until my time was up.
I was counting the days until I got to go back to Harrisburg.
* * *
“Oh my god!” Maddy yelled as I stepped out of Mom’s car in front of the school. “Get over here, girl!”
She held her arms wide open, and I walked right into them as she scooped me up into a hug.
I heard a loud shriek come from over my shoulder and turned my head to find Brie racing down the lawn towards me.
“Bitch!” she screamed and joined our group hug. I saw mom out of the corner of my eye. She smiled and waved before she drove away.
“I missed this,” I said with a laugh. “I can’t lie; this was something I forgot about.”
“You forgot about us?” Maddy said and stepped back. She feigned shock and dismay. “You silly bitch, I can’t believe you forgot about us!”
“She didn’t forget about us, that’s impossible,” Brie laughed. “She might have forgotten about the rest of the losers around here maybe.”
“Who’s calling who a loser?”
A deep voice called out, and I saw Josh walked towards us. I cringed at how weasely he looked, and at how nasally his voice was.
I couldn’t believe I’d ever thought I had a crush on him. He was skinny, almost scrawny compared to my muscled hotties back home. And his eyes were too close together.
Whatever had I been thinking?
“I think she means you,” I said with an acerbic sneer. “I mean, you’re the only one around here who fits the bill.”
“What about Tyrell?” Maddy asked and nodded towards the other side of the lawn.
I turned to look and found him, my old nemesis, strolling towards us. He was another one who looked completely different from my memory of him.
I’d once felt so insignificant next to Josh and Tyrell, the kings of our school. And now? Not even close. Tyrell was more built than Josh, but still, nothing compared to my gorgeous guys.
“Well, well, well, look who
crawled back to town. If it isn’t the BJ Queen herself,” Tyrell said and started to unzip his pants. “How about one right here for old time’s sake?”
“Fuck you, loser,” I said and turned away.
“Fuck me? Sure, I’ll take a screw or a blow,” Tyrell said, and Josh snickered.
“Seriously, just fuck off you guys,” Maddy said with a shake of her head. “She just got back, and she’s been through a lot. Lay off for the time being.”
“Lay?” Josh said with a nasty laugh. “How come everything you mention sounds like you bitches want to fuck?”
“Haha, good one,” Tyrell said and high fived Josh.
“Let’s go inside. I think your old locker is still empty. We’ll get you all ready to go at the office,” Brie said.
“Of course the school whore is on her side,” Tyrell said. “Too bad we’ve already fucked you, Brie. I’m not down for any more sloppy seconds.”
“Or thirds,” Josh laughed. “Or tenths or twentieths…. who knows how many dudes she’s fucked.”
“You two are fucking disgusting,” I snapped. “You’re such pathetic losers, it’s ridiculous. You’re ridiculous!”
“Let’s go,” Maddy said and grabbed me by the arm. “They’re not worth it.”
“Yeah, listen to your friend, whore,” Josh sneered. “Scuttle away and hide out with your whore friends.”
“Holy shit, I totally forgot about them,” I said and sighed deeply as we walked away from them. “Thank god I did, too. That crazy bitch Becca might have tried to burn me alive, but at least I didn’t have to listen to her snicker stupidly and call me a whore.”
“Yeah, there’s that,” Brie laughed.
We made our way to my old locker after we picked up my course schedule at the office. It was so strange, being back. Everybody was so familiar, and yet it all felt like I’d never been here before.
I settled right back into the routine though; my first class was with a favorite teacher from last year, so that was a smooth transition.
The second class was okay, but Josh was in it. He sat behind me and wouldn’t leave me alone. He kept whispering at me, things like, “BJ Queen,” and “Harrisburg whore,” among so many others.
