I think George carries me to my room and then I think he is he one who told me that my pants were spotting blood. I think he is the one that broke it to me that my period had arrived.
I think he helped me to the bathroom and stood guard there outside the shut door as I sat down in the shower stall, the water pelting down on me.
I think Noah was there too when I finally left the bathroom, my hair wet, my skin papery.
I think I didn’t have any pads and Noah ran out and came back with a pack of pads, extra large, I think they are his mother’s.
I think George stays with me as pain ravaged my body and my soul.
I think my brother and Noah stay up googling stuff online about periods and broken hearts.
I think George presses a hot water bottle that Craig brought over, to my lower tummy.
I think I force them to leave.
I think I cry myself to sleep that night.
I also think nothing will ever be the same anymore.
But I know two absolute truths.
One is, I don’t hate Ivy, I hate myself. Also, I think I’m beginning to hate Brittney.
And the other—my birthdays are shit and not worth celebrating. I mean, the boy who steals my breath just gave away his first kiss to another girl right in my face.
Can anything ever top that?
“So, let me get this straight.” Noah starts, waving a fry in his hand, pointing at the three girls behind the counter. “You can’t give me extra chicken because it’s not fucking promotion day?”
His eyes widen, his face growing red with feigned hurt and his voice drops to a whine.
Star rolls her eyes as Ivy starts laughing but Kim stares him down, not giving the fuck head the time of day.
“Yes, now can you move along, we have real customers, with real needs to serve.” Kim says, her voice hard, making Star and Ivy laugh.
“No! I was first in line!” Noah whines and I roll my eyes, and then look at my girl, her face radiant as she smiles.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, just from her nearness.
I wait for her to look at me because I fucking know she can feel my gaze on her. Just like I felt hers on me during football practice earlier today. Instead of doing her cheer thing, that she’s actually enjoying now that Brittney isn’t in school, she was watching me.
Yeah, her heart beats for fucking me and no one else.
She looks up then and our gazes lock and hold.
It’s so easy to tune out the rest of the world when her eyes are on me. It’s so easy to get lost in those muddy brown, twinkling, yet troubled orbs that suck my life in. But even when she does that, she breathes life back into me.
Like a fucking goddess.
“Can I get you anything, your highness?” She asks, a tentative smile on her beautiful face that has a small blush. But I see her sass is back in business.
I smirk.
I make her nervous. I like that. I like that a lot.
“Yeah. You on a platter. I’m starved.” I mumble for her ears only.
God, I want her even now as she looks down at the counter, playing with her fingers, avoiding my heated gaze on her.
She gasps.
“You can’t say something like that in public!” She whisper-yells, looking around.
“Oh, but baby I can. I’m not too proud to say I want to eat you out in that sexy as fuck uniform.” I groan as our gazes lock again. This time, she doesn’t look away, she watches me as she licks her plump, shiny lips.
Fuck.
Her fierce boldness has been coming back slowly and I love that about her. I love that she is allowing herself to be who she is. Astraea isn’t the sweet, do goody, two shoes little girl that people mistake her for.
She has a mean streak in her. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be able to survive me. But then again, I made sure that she did. She has some fucking fight in her.
I saw it from the first day we met. Hell, I thought she would be that one bully every kid would avoid on the playground. She had that sweet, angelic thing going on but her tongue could set fire to your pants.
So, I had to fucking take control—wanting to be her worst nightmare and the only one she feared.
I became the bully in her story.
“Well, I’m still on shift for the next three hours so, you’ll have to wait.” She says softly, her eyes twinkling. I know she’s fucking wet right now. I can see it in her eyes.
“Gross! You guys get a room!” Noah says out of nowhere, now standing beside me.
“Go fuck yourself.” I groan, the words leaving me with annoyance.
“I would but can you believe this shit! They are not giving me extra chicken!” He whines.
“And you want it because you can’t afford to buy more?” I say, eyebrow arched as I stare at him.
“He’s a stingy motherfucker, that’s what.” Emmett says from my left, his hair still wet from the shower he just took after practice. Mine is probably still wet. “Urgh, I’m hungry as fuck.” He says, staring up at the menu.
Ever since Star got the job at The Haven, the boys and I have been eating here whenever she and Kim had a shift. Of course, the first time we ate here, word spread around town that The Blue Boys have a new hang out spot and now the place is packed to the brim with teenagers from all over town.
Good for business, yes. But privacy? That’s a thing of the past.
So, it doesn’t surprise me at all when some girls behind us start giving Emmett suggestions on what to eat.
“How about the number three and my phone number. Call me anytime.” One girl says and Noah starts laughing, snatching the piece of paper up, completely aware that Kim is watching him with a frown.
“Sweetheart, you’re too desperate.” Noah says to the girl, whispering but everyone fucking hears him and they all start laughing, the girl now embarrassed. We were the fucking Blue Boys after all, being assholes was in our nature.
“Try to be more subtle. You know, like you’re mysterious. Emmett likes that kind of bullshit.” He starts laughing then as Kim, Star, Emmett and I all roll our eyes.
This clown.
“We’re out of number three meals and besides, a nice healthy salad, a side of cornbread and gravy with pulled pork will do Emmett some good, right?” Ivy says out of nowhere, her teeth gritted together, eyes set hard on Emmett who watches her with the same air of. . .coldness.
Holy fuck.
Without even thinking about it, Star and I stare at each other, then back at Ivy and Emmett. It isn’t hard to notice all the crackling tension around them.
Star’s eyes also harden when I look at Ivy or even glance in Ivy’s direction but so far, she hasn’t brought up the topic that I know is eating at her.
“You think you know what I want, huh?” Emmett says, his voice almost a deep growl; and suddenly everything makes fucking sense. The fog clears up in my head as I look at my best friend, the dots connecting.
“Well if you’re looking for something else, you won’t find it here.” Ivy says, narrowing her eyes.
Well, there it is.
“Uh, can I order.” I say, stepping in, hiding a smirk of my own as I look at Kim, with Star now serving another client.
“Yeah sure, same old?” She questions, typing something on the large screen.
“Yeah. How long has that been going on?” I question Kim, glancing at Ivy and Emmett who are still locked in this. . .battle that for the first time in my life, I’m fearing for someone else’s life.
Emmett doesn’t look too happy.
“What, you didn’t know?” Kim almost gasps, her jaw dropping to the floor.
“Should I know about this?” I question, brows furrowed, quickly flipping through all my childhood memories with Ivy in them, but coming up with a night I’d rather bury deep down.
“You’re a dickhead if you don’t know.” Noah answers. Again, from out of nowhere.
“What the hell is wrong with you today? You’re twitchy as fu
ck.” I say, watching him.
“Right. He’s too hyper today.” Kim echoes as we both look at Noah.
“Whatever man, I didn’t sleep well last night.” He says. “And I’m fucking nervous.” He mumbles under his breath.
“What, couldn’t find a place to soak your dick?” Kim bites out and I step back, as Star’s eyes widen, having heard that too.
Well then.
“You know what Kim Possible, I know you want my dick. I mean, you always talk about it. All you have to do is say the magic words.” He wiggles his eyebrows and I almost cringe.
“I’m not begging you like you’re a damn gigolo.” Kim huffs as Star starts laughing.
“Okay, go away. Your table is at the back. Shoo!” Star says, waving Emmett away from Ivy and Noah from being mauled by Kim who looks like she could murder the jerk right there and then.
“You too.” Star says, watching me.
Something about the way she is looking at me, with a bit of doubt and insecurity in her eyes makes me react impulsively. So, I choose that moment to declare to everyone whose watching us, that she’s fucking mine.
I reach over the counter and cup her face in my hand, caressing her cheek with my thumb as I stare deep in her eyes.
“You don’t get to chase me away. I’ll always be fucking behind you, around you. Even when you feel fucking suffocated, I won’t back away.” I groan, the words as serious as a heart attack, needing her to understand that this is forever.
She doesn’t say anything but her mouth opens with a gasp and I lean in and fucking kiss her.
With everyone watching us.
It’s not a long kiss but it’s enough to get my blood rushing and her ready for me. Too bad we have to wait for later.
Pulling back, I stare into her glazed over eyes.
There, I hope that’s enough of that boyfriend and girlfriend bullshit she wanted.
I place a Benjamin Franklin in the tip jar then make my way to the back, where Em and Noah are fighting over something.
Knowing damn well that everyone’s eyes are on me and my girl.
♥
For the next three hours, we stay in The Haven, relaxing, eating, pretending like we don’t know that a war is brewing in the air.
Hell, we even do our homework and finish up some college applications—that are really late to be honest but whatever. They’ll be lucky to have us, whichever school we decide on, it doesn’t matter.
Star and I haven’t discussed college yet but I know she wants to get as far from the place as possible. Which is something I understand but I have an empire that I’m growing out here, something that will sustain us for the rest of our lives without touching a dime of our parents money, if ever, because after I’m done with them, there won’t be anything to the King’s name anyway.
And I’ll make sure both Philip and Denise are alive to witness their ruin and destruction.
“Okay boys, we are officially closed. Now get out.” Kim says, hands on her waist, starring us down.
“No!” Noah says, sitting back as he twirls a pen in one hand while the other tugs at his hair.
Thirst trap.
“Excuse me, what?” Kim huffs, getting angry.
“You heard me. I actually have a complaint about the rudeness of the staff here. I want to see your supervisor.” Noah says.
Emmett and I look at each other.
“Really?” Kim says, with a smirk on her face as if she knows something that Noah doesn’t. At this point, I’ll say Noah has met his match in life. Kim doesn’t take his bullshit but that doesn’t mean she’s not affected.
“Ivy! Someone wants to see you.” Kim calls out over her shoulder but doesn’t move.
The restaurant is empty, everyone is gone. The blinds are closed. The front doors are locked. Star is probably in the back, restocking the shelves and cleaning there. She takes her job seriously, but I know it’s because she wants to take her mind off of things.
Things that make her stir at night and shudder during the day.
Things that I can’t protect her from, but God knows I fucking want to.
“Yeah?” Ivy says, coming to a stop by the table. Her eyes immediately go to Emmett who tenses when she approaches. And as if she just got burnt, Ivy looks away and turns to look at Kim.
“What’s up?”
“Someone here has a customer complaint.” Kim says, watching Noah who has a wolfish smile on his face.
“What seems to be the matter, Mr. Montreal?” Ivy asks, her smile intact.
I can’t fucking stay for this bullshit, wasting my damn time.
I get up then and leave the table, going in search of my girl. Noah wanted us to do the damn thing tonight. Better get it done now because I feel starved of my time with Star. I hardly see her these days.
I find her washing the counters, her body swaying softy to the music playing in the restaurant.
God, she’s a stunning sight for sore eyes. And she doesn’t even know that she’s beautiful.
“If I asked you to dance with me, would you?” I ask her, my voice low, an echo of the same question I asked her so many fucking years ago.
The night I tried to kiss her at a party but she didn’t kiss me back. Instead she ran.
She broke me that night. Made me doubt us.
And then, I started bullying her in earnest.
“Only if you’re not a jerk.” She answers, looking up slowly, a small beautiful smile on her face.
My chest tightens.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing her happy. Seeing her smiling.
Because of me.
All of a sudden, I feel like I’m worthy of her. Not that I was ever going to give her a fucking choice when it came to us. I don’t do that noble shit.
“What are you thinking?” She questions, watching me.
I’m thinking that I want you so bad, I ache.
I’m thinking of the best way to tell you my plans without you freaking out.
I’m wondering if you’re ready for me.
For this.
For us.
“You can’t dance for shit anyway.” I murmur and she throws her head back in laughter, wiping down the counters.
“I’m sorry, not all of us did ballroom dancing when we were fucking four years old.” She mocks, using a snotty British accent, impersonating my dance teacher from a long-ass time ago. How she remembers this, is beyond me.
I start walking towards her, ready to haul her over my knee so I can spank that ass. I smirk as she backs away, I bet she can feel the desire in me. I can see the answering call in her.
“Hey you two, you can fuck like rabbits later, come on!” Noah shouts, breaking the moment.
“I swear, I’m getting tired of this shithead.” I groan, feeling like I’m going to kill Noah with my bare hands. And as if reading my mind, Star smirks walking over to me and plants a soft, chaste kiss on my lips.
Lips starved for her.
“Don’t kill my best friend.” She tsk. “I won’t forgive you.” Star says, sticking her tongue out, as I grab her hand, placing it over my hard as fuck dick and she gasps.
“You did that.” I say, then before I really lose it and fuck her right here for everyone still in the restaurant to see, I start walking towards where everyone is.
“Come on, let’s get this over and done with.” I groan, then lean in to whisper in her ear. “You’re going to ride me long and fucking hard tonight.”
I feel her entire body shiver as an electric charge moves between us, going straight to my hard dick.
Fuck.
She turns and looks at me over her shoulder and I slap her ass, hard, making her jump and walk faster at the same time.
Tonight, baby.
It’s a fucking promise.
“What’s going on?” Star questions when we get to the table where Kim and Ivy are seated in the booth, talking amongst themselves while drinking slushes like they have just had a long, hard day.
E
mmett and Noah, are also there, with a lone, blue candle burning in the middle of the table.
“You do know it’s not yet my birthday, right?” She questions, looking at everyone.
I can feel her getting tense and anxious so I step closer to her and immediately, she sinks into me, taking a deep breath as if to calm herself.
I kiss the crown of her head as Noah and Emmett get up.
“No, if it was, you would be getting shitfaced right now. Hell, I have fifteen kegs lined up for your birthday party.” He says throwing his head back in laughter.
“Noah!” Star gasps, swatting his arm, her eyes wide. “Be serious.”
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket but I ignore it as I concentrate on this moment, allowing Noah to take the lead because he wanted to do this
“Listen Baby Blue.” Noah starts, now growing serious. “Everyone here is present because somehow, you opened up your heart and allowed each one of us to find a home there.” He starts, pointing at her chest.
Star’s eyes are still wide, I can feel that she’s holding her breath in but she allows Noah to go on.
“For some of us, you are the only home we know.” He continues, his voice deep, steady and sure. I guess he was hyper for a reason.
“Uh, I’ll go finish up cleaning in the kitchen.” Ivy say as she stands up awkwardly.
“No, please stay.” Star says softly.
“I feel like I’m intruding.” Ivy says looking around but Star smiles, then looks up at me and my probably blank and stony face, then back at her. “No, you’re good.”
I swear, I hear Emmett growl beside me but he doesn’t say a word. Ivy sits back down and Noah huffs.
“Thanks for interrupting me! You know, I didn’t ask you to sit down for nothing.” He says, looking at Ivy with exasperation. Ivy laughs, rolling her eyes.
“Oh, come on drama queen, carry the fuck on. Some of us are tired as hell.” Kim bites out.
“I could make you feel better.” He says, with a wink.
“Noah!” I bite out, getting tired of his antics.
“Oh shit, my bad. Now I don’t fucking know what I wanted to say. I practiced you know.” He says, now looking directly at Star who smiles at him.
“You’re better when you improvise. What’s up, Noah?” She questions, looking at him like she really knows him.
Vicious Hate (Westbrook Blues Book 2) Page 30
