by Cassie James
“Uhm.” Is it horrible of me to be asking him instead of going straight to Sadie with my question? It just seems like if she was going to tell me she would have. She has to know I’m curious. “Mine and—” Oh god, I feel like such a jerk right now. “The Harringtons?”
“Oh, yeah.” He relaxes, and now I’m wondering what he thought I was asking about. “Honestly, I’m not clear on all the details. That land that Harrington Estate sits on? That used to be Lexington land. Harrington Senior claimed he won the deed fair and square. Old Man Lexington—your grandfather, I guess—swore Harrington tricked him.”
This story is more anticlimactic than I expected. Rich people problems. The land attached to Lexington Estate is already massive, it’s not like it was that much of a hit to lose a little of it. “What’s everyone else think?” I don’t really care about what really happened, but maybe this has something to do with how I’m being treated here.
“I don’t know.” I give him a pointed look. He answered way too fast for that to be his honest answer. He tries again, slower. “Your family was one of the founding members of this town. No one was ever really going to call Old Man Lexington a liar.”
“But…?” I urge him on. Now things are starting to sound a little juicier.
“I don’t want to offend you. This is your family we’re talking about. He just was known for being a little eccentric, okay? Sometimes he said things that didn’t always make sense.” Ace’s thin smile is all apologies as the bell chimes, signaling the end of lunch. And unfortunately, the end of my digging.
I feel bad spending so much time giving Ace the third degree, but I can see he still managed to finish his lunch around all the talking. Which is more than I can say for me. I throw a nearly full tray of food away, even though it pains me. I have to remind myself that I don’t have to rely on school meals anymore. There’s food at home. Plenty of it. More than I could eat in a month. No worrying where my next meal might come from. Still, old habits die hard.
The rest of the day mostly passes in a blur as I struggle to focus. There’s something inside of me that feels like it’s vital for me to do well and impress Pearl. She did take me in when she technically didn’t have to, after all.
I manage to avoid Smith in the American lit class we share. I partner up with Sadie in biology. I’m even pleasantly surprised to share a photography class at the end of the day with Ace. And not so pleasantly surprised to find out Jax is in there too. By the end of the day, I’m beat. I lean my head against the window in the back of Smith’s car and fall asleep right in the middle of Sadie inviting me to some party.
Chapter 8
The water practically glitters in the moonlight as soft waves ripple around the edges of the boat. If it wasn’t for the few dozen people behind me, this would be the most peaceful place on earth. I’ve come a long way from dirty lake parties with Jake and his brother.
“There you are.” Smith leans on the railing next to me. “My sister was looking for you.” He pulls a joint out and lights it. It’s not the first one I’ve seen him light tonight, either. “You’re missing the party.”
I look back at where people are flowing in and out from the deck to the cabin. This isn’t just a boat, it’s an actual freaking yacht. A couple months ago, I would have laughed in someone’s face if they told me I’d ever be at someone’s yacht party. The closest I’d ever gotten to something like this was racing paper boats in the puddles outside of my house with one of my neighbors when we were like six.
“Yeah, gosh, it’s unbelievable right? I guess I really should be more open to partying with people who can’t stop asking me if you and I have a suicide pact.” Seriously, two weeks have passed since Jax’s dumb photo prank and people are still asking if the two of us really have a suicide pact a la Romeo and Juliet. Jokes on them. If I were going to kill myself, I would definitely go solo.
He lowers his voice. “Did you want to make one now? Because I have always thought a viking funeral was the way to go.” He looks wistfully out at the water.
“Hilarious,” I deadpan. I would never, ever admit it, but I do want to laugh. Smith is funny when he wants to be, he’s proven that day after day as Sadie and I ride to and from school with him. I did try to ask Sadie the other day why she doesn’t drive herself, but she changed the subject, so I left it alone. God knows there are plenty of things I don’t want to talk about either.
But I’m not letting Smith worm his way into my good graces. So, every time he makes a joke, I make a point not to react to it. Not the way he wants, at least. It’s become a game now, with his jokes becoming even more outrageous and—like in this case—inappropriate.
“I should go find Sadie,” I tell him, turning to go. He grabs my wrist, tugging me back to the railing as I glare at him. “You’re hurting me.” If he bruises me this time, I’m not gonna let him get away with pretending he didn’t realize he’s done it. He does let go, much to my surprise. He also holds his other hand out over the railing and drops the joint he’s been holding into the water. I’m glad he’s not gonna blow smoke in my face again, but I can’t help judging the fact that he’s so callously throwing away money by doing that.
“I just…” He narrows his eyes, looking at me funny. “Lets hangout later. Alone.” I stare at him, waiting for some kind of explanation but it doesn’t come. Holy shit, is he coming on to me? After a solid two weeks of me rebuffing his every attempt to be friendly? After the hot and cold act he put on when we first met?
“You’re insane if you think I want to go anywhere alone with you,” I tell him. Honesty is the best policy.
He puts his hand on my wrist again, but this time he’s gentle. He trails his fingers up my bare arm. Damn Sadie for making me wear a sleeveless shirt. I totally could have pulled off long sleeves in August.
“I think I could change your mind.” He twists a section of my hair around his finger, but the gesture makes me flinch. It reminds me of Patrick doing the same thing to Sadie the night of my welcome party. And while Smith has been on his best behavior, Patrick has still been taking digs at my intelligence every chance he gets when we’re stuck in Psych together.
I step out of Smith’s reach. I don’t want to play whatever new game this is. No matter how much effort he’s been putting in, I can’t forget how he acted when we first met. Or the fact that he’s best friends with Jax, who might actually be the worst person I’ve ever met.
Smith, who I’m learning is really bad at taking no for an answer, grabs me by the belt loops of the very expensive jeans Pearl gifted me. “Oh, c’mon. Don’t you want to play Romeo and Juliet with me? Our family histories set it up perfectly.” After what Ace told me, I’m pretty sure he’s right about that.
“They both die at the end, remember?” Dying isn’t really on my agenda for the year. Fooling around with Smith isn’t either. And I definitely don’t second-guess myself as his hands leave my belt loops to wrap around my waist instead. Nope, definitely not second-guessing at all.
“I got you something,” he changes the subject. Those baby blues of his sparkle, and I’m not sure if it’s because he’s teasing me or if it’s because he knows he’s got my attention now.
“Stop buying me things.” Like the phone I still only reluctantly use. I have tried calling Jake on it a few times, but it goes to voicemail every time and he hasn’t called me back. I’m trying not to take it personally, but I’m starting to worry that maybe our last conversation really fucked things up between us more than I thought.
Smith squeezes my hips tighter. “Screw what I said, I don’t want to hangout later, let’s do it now. Then if you’re still trying to run away from me, I’ll let you.” It feels like a trap. I haven’t done anything that should have Smith feeling this confident about putting his hands on me or gifting me things. I’ve been distant with him at best these last few weeks.
“I’m not running away from you.” I sound fully indignant. “I’m just not interested.” What part of that is so hard to u
nderstand?
We both turn, momentarily distracted as a loud cheer makes its way through the party. Most of the noise is coming from inside the cabin. I don’t want to be curious about these people, but now I can’t help but wondering what’s going on that all these snooty kids would get so excited and loud over.
Smith must read my mind. “Let’s go see what’s happening.” I start to protest, but I lose the words when he slips his hand into my back pocket. I shoot a glare up at him, but he only smirks and squeezes my ass. “Humor me,” he says, and he looks so earnest for a second that I miss my chance to protest because he’s propelling me forward.
I’ve been avoiding the cabin ever since Sadie first dragged me on board. I keep picturing a sweaty orgy taking place inside—which doesn’t turn out to be true at all. If it weren’t for the gaudy gold wallpaper and glittering chandeliers, this could be any other party. Lots of drunk people thinking they can dance and couples making out in whatever dark corner they can find. It’s no more salacious than any other party I’ve ever been to. I’m equal parts relieved and disappointed.
We find the source of the cheering in the boat’s narrow galley kitchen. Small, but still nicer than the kitchen I grew up with. Cece is matching Jax shot for shot. They do a whole row of shots, even though she already looks wasted. Someone lines up another row, and Jax knocks those back no problem, too. He looks bored by the whole thing, but Cece’s not looking so good. “Are you okay?” I reach out and touch her shoulder. She turns to me with glassy eyes and squints like she’s not sure where exactly I’m standing.
“Stay out of it,” Smith mutters. Too late. There are still six shots still lined up on the counter—with who knows what in them—and it’s obvious Cece isn’t going to survive them. Whatever is happening here, I can already tell that it’s not okay. “Juliet.” He says my name like a warning. He should know by now that I’m not going to let him talk me out of anything.
“Hey, Cece? Let’s find you somewhere to sit down, okay?” I elbow Smith out of my way so I can take her hand, but Jax, who was watching up to this point with casual disinterest, is quick to get into the middle of things. He puts a hand on Cece’s shoulder, and she freezes in place. Not out of fear, but with a dreamy look up at him like he’s Prince-freaking-Charming. This girl clearly has no sense of self-preservation.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jax’s voice is low and direct, causing everyone else to fall silent. I know it’s meant to intimidate me, but I don’t let go of Cece’s hand. At the rate she’s going, they’re going to kill her. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t already have serious alcohol poisoning. The alcohol on her breath is so strong it smells more like heavy duty nail-polish remover. “Cece has shots to finish. So, unless you’re planning to finish them for her... fuck off.”
I’ve gone nearly seventeen years without being pressured into drinking. A sip here and there with friends or a stray boyfriend, but never doing shots—and never doing them like this. I even managed to get away with not actually drinking at my welcome party despite Sadie’s best efforts.
My hand shakes as I pick up the first glass but I make eye contact with Jax and force myself to follow through with the questionable choice I’m making. If I thought the room had gone silent before, it’s nothing compared to the silence now. Everyone is trying to get a good look, probably wondering if I’m bluffing. I’m not.
I tilt my head back and pour the first shot into my mouth, wincing against the way it burns sliding down the back of my throat. I can feel the tension radiating off Smith from beside me, but he doesn’t say anything. As always, now that Jax is involved he’s staying out of the way. And that actually pisses me off more than him thinking he has any right to try to tell me what to do.
“Five more to go.” Jax leans back against the counter, and for a moment I fall for this act that he’s back to being bored and disinterested. It’s his eyes that give him away. There’s a rage in them that’s much heavier than his normal, run-of-the-mill angry look. I’m embarrassing him, I realize, and I have a bad feeling that I’m going to pay for it later. It’s too late now though to back down, especially with all these people watching. Someone’s also managed to get Cece to sit on a stool and out of harms way, which was really all I wanted.
I pick up the second shot glass. Jax’s eyes flicker to my hand and I imagine he’s seeing the same thing I am. My hand’s not shaking anymore. I toss the second shot back, much more prepared for the burn this time. In about fifteen minutes, I’m really going to regret this, but hopefully that will be enough time for me to track down Sadie before I’m as useless as Cece over here. “Cheers.” I raise the third glass in Jax’s direction before I down that one, too. I can already feel my body heat rising by what feels like a billion degrees. God, I fucking hate this place.
“I think you’ve proven your point.” Smith pushes the fourth glass away just as I start to reach for it. Jax laughs, an entirely unamused sound that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He stands up, pulling himself to his full height, which is a few inches taller than Smith, and quite a bit more menacing.
Jax picks up the fourth glass and hands it to me, his eyes on mine even as his words are meant for Smith. “I don’t think you want to get involved right now, Harrington. The adults are playing.” He taps the bottom of the glass, forcing the liquid to slosh. I have no choice but to hurry and take the shot or risk ending up wearing it. I put the empty glass down, my stomach churning. I wearily eye the last two shots still waiting for me. “Enjoy it while you can, Cinderella. I’m sure you’ll miss the top shelf liquor when you’re back in the ghetto where you belong.”
“Fuck you, Jax.” The alcohol is making me brave. “Cinderella’s carriage might turn back into a pumpkin, but she still gets a castle.” I use both hands to pick up the last two shots. I’m not used to drinking like this; I need to finish here before I wind up throwing up or passing out in the middle of the floor.
One.
Two.
I toss them back like it’s effortless, even though it’s anything but that. My stomach rolls painfully, threatening to send it all back up again. I swallow hard and meet Jax’s glare. His eyes flicker away, and I follow his gaze. He’s checking out the row of half-filled liquor bottles in the corner. I shake my head. I gave him what he wanted, I’m not going to keep bluffing through another round of this repulsive game he’s playing. “We’re done here.” I brush past him, through the kitchen in the direction of a door which I’m desperately hoping leads to a bathroom.
Something whizzes past my ear, shattering against the wall beside me. I turn, eyes wide, catching sight of the shattered glass spread around my feet. I’m lucky I didn’t get cut. There’s no question who threw it, Jax is smirking when I turn all the way back. I don’t know if he meant to hit the wall to scare me, or if he meant to hit me and missed. Either way, the sight of him smirking like that makes me crazy. I lunge forward, fully prepared to go full Nikon Park on his ass—governor’s son be damned.
Smith catches me around the waist just before I reach Jax, who doesn’t even flinch. “It’s not worth it.” Of course he doesn’t think so, he’s Jax’s own personal bitch-boy. I elbow wildly until I catch Smith in the ribs and he’s forced to let go of me and keel over to catch his breath. He curses and tries to blindly reach for me again, but I’m still in control of myself enough to shuffle out of reach.
“We’re done when I say we’re done.” Jax gets in my face, his smirk morphing into something far more cruel. He doesn’t touch me, but he’s as close as he can possibly be without physical contact. I can’t handle it. Even though I know in the moment it’s not the wisest choice, I reach out to shove him firmly in the abdomen. Except the second my hand makes contact with his stomach through his shirt, my brain goes blank.
He’s surprisingly hard under his shirt, muscled in a way I wouldn’t expect from looking at him when he’s casually slumped over all the time. I forget all about our audience, and the fact that h
e just threw glass at me, my hand developing a mind of its own as my fingers dance slightly lower, dangerously close to the waistband of his pants.
“Jesus.” Did that whisper just come from me? Jax grabs for my hand, but my touch descends another couple inches all on its own. It’s enough to make even Jax falter. I look up at him, surprised to find my hand still on him, and he looks down at me with his mouth in a hard line and his eyes dark with something other than the usual anger. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was actually turned on right now. “Uhm.” I pull my hand away. This was why I didn’t want to stick around after my shots. I look around, notice all the people staring and whispering around us. And Smith. He looks about as sick as I feel.
Now, having effectively embarrassed myself for life, I turn and flee. And this time no one dares throw anything at me.
My heart beats somewhere closer to my throat than my chest as I wander through three doors before finding an empty bedroom. Every reasonable part of my brain that’s currently functioning tells me it’s a bad idea to lay down, but my body is still leading the charge. I collapse onto the corner of the bed, and for a few glorious minutes I revel in silence with my eyes closed against the spinning room. Being on a boat is definitely not helping my sudden drunk state.
“Are you okay?” The voice sends me shooting up to a sitting position much faster than I should have. It’s only Ace. He’s much too big to be in this tiny bedroom with me, especially with the door closed. How did he get in here without me noticing? “You’re drunk.” He doesn’t say it like a question. I don’t remember seeing him tonight, but he’s here and he’s clearly heard about my drinking exploits.
I let out a groan. “I’m not drunk, just dying.” Which of course is a stupid thing to say, because I’m pretty sure I’m both drunk and dying. “Can you help me find Sadie?” I want to go home.
“Yeah.” I push to my feet, grabbing Ace’s arm when I nearly topple over. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait here? I can go find her for you.” I shake my head because if Ace, the huge guy that he is, can sneak up on me in here, then anyone could. “Okay, well, here.” He wraps his arm around my waist, letting me lean into him as we somehow manage to shuffle out the small doorway together.
