by KC Kean
"You're acting ridiculous, Toby," Hunter mutters as he silently accepts a smoothie from Archie, who proceeds to hand the others out to Xavier and Tobias as well. "I'm still coming up with nothing from the message you received yesterday. Which tells me whoever sent it had the phone signal set up to bounce around the damn world to make it untraceable," Hunter admits, and I sigh, annoyed that I seem to get outsmarted at every turn.
"Don't worry about it, it really isn't your problem," I murmur, smiling in thanks, but nobody agrees with me.
"We'll find out who sent it," Xavier bites out, and when I meet his gaze, I know he means it. If there is anything I have learned about Xavier Knight, it's that he too doesn't like to be outsmarted, and that's what will be causing him more concern than anything. Not the actual threat against me. But I appreciate any help they’re willing to offer.
"So, bubble, we have a free day today. Want to spend the day around the pool relaxing together?" Tobias asks, changing the topic as he palms my thigh, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his track.
Glancing to Charlie, she nods excitedly, likely wanting to do the same with Archie, and I shrug.
"Sure. Are you guys going to tell me anything else about Ilana while you're here?" I ask, meeting Xavier's gaze as I push for details, and he sighs as he rises to his feet.
"Don't push it, Eden," he mutters, giving me his back as he heads for the door, and I sigh. Simultaneously, Hunter and Tobias stand, the latter offering me a playful wink as they follow after him, leaving their empty smoothie glasses behind.
"Twenty minutes, bubble, and I'll be back," Tobias calls out over his shoulder, and I'm left to stare after them like a fool.
The front door slams shut behind them, and silence falls over the house.
"I think you just might have your hands full there, Eden," Charlie murmurs, and I slowly nod in agreement.
I am so fucking screwed.
Lying side by side with Charlie on the loungers, the sun beating down on us, I feel like I’m in an alternate universe. The Allstars were back within twenty minutes, just like they said they would be, and that was almost four hours ago. Only Tobias mentioned actually coming back, so it surprised me when they were all here in their swim shorts, relaxed and completely out of character.
Xavier is standing in the same navy swim shorts I saw him in the first day I arrived, his aviator sunglasses in place as he shows off his physique. Hunter is shirtless too, his striped board shorts tight around his thighs as he relaxes in his chair. Tobias, on the other hand, is wearing orange swim shorts. Bright, bold, and totally him. I want to lick my way up all of their abs, preferably one after the other, but I won’t tell them that.
The strangest part is they're actually being…nice? Not douches is probably the better way to describe it. There’s been no harsh words or anger towards me, they’ve simply laughed and joked without a care in the world.
“I have honestly never seen them so chill, Eden. It’s almost weird. I think Xavier was born with a stick up his ass.” Charlie chuckles, straightening the strap on the bikini I loaned her. The deep red takes her from the quiet girl next door to sexy vixen, and she fucking knows it. Archie hasn’t taken his eyes off her all day.
“I fucking heard that,” Xavier grumbles from the patio table where the guys are playing poker. I have no idea who’s winning, but they’re playing with chips, jibing each other, and relaxing, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.
“I’m not sorry that you did,” Charlie throws back, and I grin, looking past her to see Xavier scowling, but the smallest lilt of his lips tells me it’s not serious.
“So, you and Archie, huh?” I whisper, doing a better job of keeping the conversation between the two of us, and she blushes, swiping her wispy hair from her face, her body tensing for a moment before she releases a breath.
“Is it embarrassing to admit I’ve crushed on him so hard since we were twelve?” She cringes, and I just smile.
“No way. You guys are cute, and you’ve never acted as the cleat chasers do.” Her face scrunches in disapproval, knowing who and what I’m talking about, since we all watch them hang all over the players.
“I just don’t want to get my hopes up. He’s a football player with plenty of options. I don’t want to get screwed over or fuck it up myself.”
“You are totally playing it cool, no stress, Charlie. But if you’re really worried, you should do that hangman thing I saw on social media the other day,” I murmur with a grin before taking a sip of my water.
“What hangman thing?”
“You know, where you put their name in your phone, and every time they fuck up, you delete a letter. Fuck up enough to lose all their letters, and they’re gone.”
Charlie practically cackles beside me as my words sink in, making the guys pause their game as they stare over at us. Turning my head away, I chuckle as I look out to sea.
“That is some next-level shit, Eden.”
“Right? Lou-Lou used to do it all the time too.” The mention of my friend from White River feels almost nostalgic, but the reminder that I still haven’t heard from my mom plays havoc on my mind. I need to call Lou-Lou soon.
I have to stay strong and hope everything is okay because there is no one I can turn to who will know where to look or what to do. Well, no one who is willing to help at least, I think, glancing over at the guys again with a heavy sigh.
“Turn that frown upside down, bubble,” Tobias calls out, fixing his hat like he always does as he grins from ear to ear at me. I give him the two-finger salute, which was apparently the wrong thing to do when he jumps out of his chair instantly.
“I think Eden looks a little hot, Toby. She probably needs to cool off,” Hunter murmurs, a sly grin on his face as he brushes his blond hair back, and I gape at him in surprise, knowing exactly what he’s insinuating.
Tobias stalks towards me, and I quickly stand, my arms outstretched as he nears.
“I swear to God, Tobias, don’t even think about it.”
His grin only widens as he nears, and I start to back away. The damn pool takes up far too much space out here, there isn’t nearly enough room for me to run, but the second I get to the bottom end of the pool, I take off to the left, running around it as I feel heavy footsteps close behind me.
“Why are you always fucking chasing me?” I grumble, stopping beside a sun lounger and using it as a shield between us.
“Because, bubble butt.” He says it so casually, I frown, making him chuckle. “Your ass when you run makes it totally fucking worth it, bubble, especially in your little two-piece,” he states, pointing his finger at my black bikini.
“You’re an asshole.”
“You fucking love it. Now come here,” he murmurs, trying to lure me in with a cheeky grin on his face, and I falter for too long, watching as Tobias strokes a hand over his abs, giving him the opportunity to wrap his arms around me.
Spinning me so my back is to his chest, my arms pinned at my side, I’m lifted off the ground as he takes off running, straight for the pool.
“Tobias, don’t you—”
My words are cut off as we both plunge into the cool water, fully submerging as I barely manage to hold my breath, but he quickly pulls me back to the surface, his arms around my waist as he turns me to face him.
With my eyes still closed, I swipe the loose bits of hair from my face, thankful I braided it back this morning and opted against wearing makeup, hearing the others laughing in the distance.
“You are so dead,” I murmur, finally wiping my eyes so I can open them, but when I do, I’m not impressed with the wide smile on Tobias’ face. “So dead,” I repeat.
He doesn’t say anything as he pulls me in against his chest, lifting his hand to stroke his thumb under my eye before tilting my chin up. His blue eyes sparkle as he lowers his lips to mine, and my body instantly heats.
I shouldn’t let him kiss me. We fucked last night, but that’s supposed to be where it ends. I just can’t bring myself
to pull away. Instead, my hands wrap around his neck as I hold him closer, deepening the kiss.
A sudden splash disturbs us, pulling our lips apart as we turn to see what’s going on. Hunter is in the pool across from us with a frown on his face as he glares at Xavier, who stands on the side. But Xavier’s eyes are transfixed on Tobias and me.
Someone is chucking their toys out of the crib again, or more specifically, pushing Hunter in the pool because he feels left out.
A part of me wants to beckon Xavier over, give in to his little tantrum, and satisfy myself at the same time, but I can’t help but enjoy riling him up, which is why I give him my back and bring my lips to Tobias’ once more. I feel him grin against my lips, enjoying the path I chose as he wraps my legs around his waist and squeezes my ass cheeks under water, likely for Xavier’s benefit.
“This is absolutely fucking riveting. Like we can’t see the hickeys all over her body, now we get to actually watch you mark her skin with your hands. Excellent. I can’t breathe with how much joy I feel,” Xavier scolds, and a sudden splash follows his little speech.
“You should cool off. You were turning green, hulk man,” Charlie sings. I pull my lips from Tobias’ to glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, Xavier is in the water beside a laughing Hunter, swiping his hair back off his face as he glares at her.
“I’m hardcore, call me Kraken,” Archie cries, scooping Charlie up into his arms and jumping into the water, splashing Xavier as he does, which only makes me laugh harder.
“This isn’t over, bubble,” Tobias murmurs in my ear seductively before lifting me in the air and throwing me into the water closer to the group, my scream barely leaving my lips before I sink underwater again.
I let myself sink to the bottom a minute in an attempt to cool off, but I also need a moment to gather myself. It feels like forever since I had a day like today, and I don’t see many of them in my future in this toxic town of Knight’s Creek, but it’s given me the chance to relax.
Now I’m fully charged and ready to figure my shit out.
29
Eden
Sitting on my bed as I tie my running shoes, I can’t decide how I feel, my mind going round and round in an endless circle of confusion.
School today was…fine. There was the odd rumor and whisper from people who saw me on Tobias’ lap down at the water’s edge, but I can deal with rumors because I don’t care.
I’m a whore. Washed-up trash. A master at threesomes. I like women.
You name it, they’ve said it. KitKat and Roxy have been encouraging the sneers and harsh words, as always.
I mean, someone actually sang Meatloaf’s “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad,” and I struggled to keep myself from laughing, while another part of me wanted to jump Hunter here and now, make it a full house.
But really, there was no actual drama all day.
There was also nothing from the Allstars. Not a single word. I sat where they had expected me to be, and they swarmed me like usual, but there were no jibes, no death glares, not even a hello.
It’s so nice when toxic people stop talking to you. It’s like the trash took itself out.
I should be glad. One and done is my own fucking motto. So why do I feel so deflated?
Bracing my hands on my knees, I sigh. Get your shit together, Eden. They’re a distraction anyway. Saturday was fun, definitely different, but it was a one-off rarity. No one had mentioned anything from the night before. Tobias kissed me a few times, and I let him, unable to stop myself, but otherwise, we were just six high school seniors enjoying a school-free day.
Archie and Charlie, on the other hand, are besotted with each other, which is why I declined to go to Pete’s with them after school. I needed a break from all their sweetness.
Standing, I link my earphones to my phone and find my favorite Lofi Fruits playlist which always helps relax me. Just as I slip my wireless earphones in my ears, my phone lights with an incoming call. Mom. The shrill ringtone blasts in my ears.
Hitting the accept button as quickly as I can, I drop back down to my bed.
“Mom? Mom.” My heart pounds in my chest, desperate to hear her voice.
“Hey, Eden,” she murmurs, her voice sounding tired, offering more relief than I care to admit. She’s fine. My mom is fine. “Is everything okay there?”
“I’m fine, Mom. Everything here is how a new school would be anywhere else, except it’s full of secrets, and the Grady name is apparently full of them. I have no way of digging further into anything it seems,” I admit, and she hums in response. “Although, my mother did go off the radar for days, leaving me to worry like crazy,” I add, and silence greets me.
It pisses me off that she doesn’t jump to fill me in on all the secrets swarming this town. Not even my own mother wants to help me it seems.
“I’m sorry, Eden,” she finally whispers. “I’m safe, there’s just been an issue with my cell service the past couple of days is all.”
Bad service? Her answer is bad fucking service. I want to yell and scream at her, but I feel like that’s all we fucking do when she eventually calls, and I don’t have the energy for it again today.
“When can I see you, Mom?” I ask, my chest aching with loss. It almost feels like they’re both gone since my mom is suddenly not in my life at the minute.
I’m having to wade through troubled waters alone and hearing her voice only seems to make me feel more helpless.
“Soon, Eden. I hope,” she mutters in the end, not filling me with much confidence. I consider telling her about the threatening message I got at the game on Friday but think better of it. She’s not going to be able to help or do anything about it, so what’s the point? Besides, I’ve hinted at the Grady name, and I can’t see her even caring that I’m being threatened right now.
“I miss him, Mom,” I whisper, rubbing where the ache in my chest is, holding my tears at bay as I hear her sniffle down the line.
“Me too, sweetie. Me too.”
My eyes fall closed as I flop back on the bed, neither of us speaking for what feels like hours, just sitting with our thoughts and memories of my dad.
“I have to go, Eden,” my mom finally says, and I take a deep breath. I’ve had my weak and vulnerable moment, and now it’s time to lock it all back up.
“Okay. Please be safe, Mom. I know there are things you aren’t telling me, I can feel it, but please just be safe.”
“You too, Eden. I love you.”
The call ends before I can respond, and she doesn’t deny that she’s keeping things from me. It should annoy me more than it does, but I seem to be getting used to being left in the dark about everything. She’s spent my whole life keeping things from me, I shouldn’t expect her to stop now.
I need to run, clear my mind. Now.
Slipping my phone into the arm strap, I tighten my ponytail before heading downstairs. Reaching the bottom step, I find no one down here, which isn’t a surprise, as I grab two bottles of water.
Taking the steps that lead off the back deck down to the beach, I can already feel the afternoon heat. Which is why I’m in running shorts that barely cover my ass cheeks and a sports bra. It’s too hot for anything else.
Dropping a bottle of water in the usual spot at Archie’s, I take off down the beach, pressing play on my playlist as I take the path closer to the water so I don’t have to deal with the dry sand.
Letting the music wash over me, my Lofi Fruits playlist seeping into my soul, I make it to the end of the beach in no time, dropping my other bottle of water in the sand as I do, before heading right back where I came from.
My mind is like a whirlwind. There seems to be so much going on, pulling me in different directions, yet somehow, it all feels interlinked.
The Allstars, Ilana, school, Archie…even Richard. My brain is fried.
Repeating the motion over and over again, with the occasional water stop, I force myself not to look at the house at the end. Even catching a glimpse of it ma
kes me think of the Allstars, and they’re already consuming my headspace enough as it is. Between wanting to know the answers to my questions and the sexual tension, I can’t take much more.
As the songs continue to play in my ear, my muscles start to ache, but my mind feels much clearer, calmer.
Stopping at the end of the beach, gulping down my water before I dehydrate, I look out to sea, loving how the sun sparkles off the water, the blues and greens of the ocean reaching as far as my eyes can see, the white waves crashing before me. It’s so lulling, so peaceful.
A hand on my stomach is followed quickly by a solid body behind me as I scream in shock, my water bottle dropping to the sand.
Whipping my head around, ready to fight off whomever the fuck it is, I gape when I see Tobias grinning down at me. His lips are moving, but I can’t hear him over the music.
I quickly tap my earphone, and the music pauses. “Tobias, you scared the shit out of me! Why would you fucking do that?”
“Oh hi, Tobias, how are you? I’ve missed you and your blessed peen so much. Let me just drop my sassy attitude so I can stick it in my mouth.”
“What?” I stare at him in confusion, and he pouts at me like a child. No man should look that hot with pouty lips. His full lips pucker in my direction as his eyes drop. I can’t deal with his puppy dog eyes too.
“Why are you out here alone, Eden?” he asks, his face surprisingly serious, and the fact he said my actual name tells me he means business.
I turn to face him fully, his hand remaining in place, his fingers splaying out against the base of my back, and I shiver at our closeness.
“I’m running.”
“I don’t mean state the obvious, Eden. I mean, have you forgotten the threatening message you got the other day? You shouldn’t be alone. It’s not safe. Especially when even we don’t know who sent it.”
His eyes drop to my heaving chest as I try to catch my breath from the shock, but I don’t really know what to say to him.
“I—”
