Ever Found: Lost Boys of Neverly Prep: Academy Romance

by L. E. Bross

  I may not even be around for graduation, depending on how things go with Peter on Saturday. I know he promised me all kinds of perks for helping him, but there’s nothing stopping him from kicking me out once he has the timepiece. I’ll need to make sure I have what I need to take care of Belle before I give it to him.

  I ignore the voice in my head asking what happens with the guys if I end up leaving. The ache in my chest says it all. I grab the catalogs and stand.

  “I’ll take a look and let you know. I should go before lunch is over.”

  She stands when I do.

  “If you need anything at all, Ever, I have an open-door policy. It doesn’t even have to be school related. Consider me your confidential sounding board.”

  I try not to roll my eyes. No way am I telling her anything about me.

  “And remember, you get out of life what you put into it, so give it your all.”

  I leave before she quotes anymore inspirational posters. I think I saw that one on her wall actually. The woman in the office barely glances at me as I pass and I make my way down the hall toward the computer wing. I might have time to talk to Baz before lunch is over.

  Except I turn the corner and almost run smack into Trey. He’s leaning against the lockers, almost like he was waiting for me.

  “Just the person I was looking for.” He gives me the once over and his gaze snags on the catalogs in my hand. His glare turns glacial. “Ivy League? What’s the going rate for a degree these days?” he asks with a sneer. “Fucking a houseful of guys or maybe, just one older man? Since Panchard bribed the school committee to let you enroll, and since you’re living under his roof and all, he’s gotta be getting something out of it.”

  He’s a disgusting pig. I go to move around him but he grabs my arm. I see red.

  “Get your fucking hands off me or I’m going to kick you in the balls so hard they’ll come out your mouth.”

  He chuckles but lets go of my arm. I wasn’t bullshitting him. I’ll drive me knee between his legs if he touches me again.

  “Tsk tsk.” His voice turns mocking. “You really should be nicer to me. Those schools won’t mean too much if you’re behind bars, will they?”

  “What the hell do you want, Trey?” I grit out.

  “Luc’s going to ask you out. Tell him yes.”

  My mouth pops open and I stare at him incredulously. “Seriously? Your grand scheme is to blackmail me into dating Luc?” I laugh and shake my head. “I thought he was your friend? Why would you bring him into this? Why make me date him? What the hell do you get out of it?”

  “For starters, it’ll piss those assholes off.”

  “You’re doing this because you’re mad they kicked you out of their group? You want me to fake date someone you call a friend, hurt him, just to maybe get to the guys? Don’t know if you’ve noticed but they kind of hate me right now.”

  Darkness floods his eyes and he growls. “I’m doing this because they don’t deserve any of it. It shouldn’t be them living this life.”

  His hands flex into fists and I take a step back. The halls are empty and Trey towers over me. He could do anything and no one would know it. Agreeing is the best course of action for now.

  “Fine, how long does this have to go on?”

  “Until I decide it stops.” A smirk replaces his scowl. He flips back and forth between anger and glee way too fast for it to be normal. He’s unstable and that’s never a good thing. Unpredictable people are even more dangerous.

  “You do realize there’s only a few more weeks of school, right? Pissing off the guys has an expiration date.”

  Something dark dances in his eyes. “Oh, this is just the beginning, don’t you worry. Make nice with Luc, Ever, or my dad gets those pictures.”

  With that he turns and saunters back down the hall like he doesn’t have a care in the world. A sick feeling crawls up my throat. I want to tell the guys, warn them about Trey, but then I’ll have to tell them what he has on me. What I was doing in Hook’s safe.

  My wicked web of lies just keeps entangling me more and more.

  I stare down the hall, now empty, and wonder what the hell he’s gonna make me do. Whatever it is, I won’t hurt the guys. A quick glance at my phone shows I have about eight minutes before the bell. Not enough time to get something to eat or to go see Baz, so I head to my locker.

  Just as I stuff the useless college catalogs inside, I feel someone stop next to me. My skin prickles thinking Trey came back for more when I look over and see Luc. I exhale in relief and shut my locker.

  His expression is strangely blank but I can see the frustration in his eyes.

  “So I need to ask, you and me, am I wasting my time, Ever?”

  His sudden question takes me aback and I can’t come up with a quick enough response because he drags his fingers through his hair and exhales harshly.

  “That answers that question.”

  His gaze cuts away from me and I grab his sleeve before he can leave. Despite everything that’s happening, Luc’s a decent guy and I don’t want to hurt him. I also don’t really want to date him, but Trey’s warning rings in my ears.

  “We just haven’t really had much time to get to know each other, that’s all. You’re a nice guy…”

  He snorts and rolls his eyes. “And here comes the it’s not you, it’s me line.”

  “A real date,” I blurt out.

  His eyes widen in surprise.

  “We haven’t had a real date. Let’s just start there? No race track, no friends hanging around, just you and me? Maybe a movie or coffee or something?”

  Finally the corner of his lips quirk up. “Are you asking me out, Ever Darlington?”

  “Are you progressive enough to accept?” I tease.

  He throws back his head and laughs. His green eyes sparkle and not for the first time I wish that I was attracted to him like I am to the guys, because it would make things so much easier.

  But he started out as my mark and I got tangled up with the LB and I can’t see Luc as anything but a possible friend now. I know he wants more, though, and I haven’t figured out how I’m going to deal with that yet.

  “There’s a baseball game tomorrow night, but after I’d love to take you to dinner. Just the two of us? And I wouldn't mind at all if you wanted to come to the game, too. Meri always goes to see Trey. You could cheer me on.”

  He winks and the cheesy grin he throws me makes me chuckle. The bell chimes and people start filtering out into the hall.

  “I’ll think about it. Baseball is kinda boring, though.”

  He lays his hand on his heart and gasps. “That wounds, Ever. Deep. But there are also the tight pants for the ladies’ enjoyment.”

  I laugh again and see the curious glances thrown our way. People here have nothing better to do than to worry about what everyone else is doing. I have the urge to yell at them to stay in their own fucking lane.

  “Can I walk you to class?” Luc says.

  I mentally pull back from my old man tirade and focus on Luc and not everyone else.

  “Sure, but I'm not letting you carry my books.”

  “So, where are we going?”

  “Study hall. Room one twenty-two.”

  He lays his palm on the small of my back to guide me around a group of students and I realize that I feel nothing. Outside of a little bit uncomfortable for leading him on.

  “So is everything okay? I heard you got called to guidance.”

  “Yeah, the whole what do you want to be when you grow up speech.”

  He chuckles. “We've all been there. They're really adamant about the whole college thing here at Neverly. So what are your plans? Are you artistic? Musically inclined? Planning a career as a one-woman comedy act?”

  This time it’s me who laughs loudly. “Umm, no, no, and hell no. Honestly, I’ve never really given it much thought.”

  He swings an amused glance my way. “There's like six weeks of school left, you probably should get on
that.”

  “What about you? You have your entire future mapped out at eighteen?”

  His cheeks pinken. “Kinda, yeah. I’m going to University of South Carolina for business and then I’m going to work with my dad. We’ve been talking about expanding Hook Development so I’ll be in charge of the business side of things.”

  “Wow. That’s amazing, Luc.”

  I give him a side hug just because I’m so damned impressed he’s got it all figured out. We turn the corner to head down the south wing when I look up and my gaze clashes with Riot’s. He's talking to some guy I don't know, but when he sees me walking with Luc, his face goes tight. Anger burns in his eyes when his stare drops to where I’m still half-hugging Luc. I self consciously take a half step away from him, but it doesn't matter now.

  He saw enough.

  “Maybe something will click for you on Tuesday at the college fair,” Luc says, but I’m barely listening. Every atom in my body is tuned in to Ry as we pass him.

  His jaw is hard, his body rigid with tension.

  Ry’s reaction gives me a tiny measure of hope. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t act this way. Maybe there is a chance I can repair the damage I did after all.

  Maybe my story can still have a happy ending.

  I leave Luc at the door and the rest of the day is uneventful. I don’t get to see Baz until after school and when I get to the computer room, he’s got half a dozen people in there with him.

  I get his attention then wait outside the door until he pulls away from them.

  “Hey, sorry but I’ve got to help with coding club right now and there’s a race tonight so I won’t be around.”

  I let out a frustrated sigh but he shakes his head.

  “I haven’t found anything yet so there’s really nothing to see.” He drops his gaze and cradles the back of his neck before looking up from under his eyelashes. “So I know I said I’d trust you, but Ry said you and Luc were getting cozy in the hall today. Is there anything I should know?”

  Heat climbs into my cheeks when he won’t look away.

  “Umm, we’re going on a date tomorrow night.”

  He huffs out a frustrated breath and tips his head back. When our eyes meet again, hurt shines bright. “I really don’t understand this.”

  I lay my palm against his chest, over his beating heart. “I know and I’m so sorry.”

  Well, Trey is already getting his wish and I haven’t really done anything yet. Baz is hurting. With a mental middle finger at Trey, I grab Baz by the jacket and pull him outside the room. Before he can protest, I shove him against the wall and press my lips to his.

  I can’t ignore Trey yet, but I can make sure that Baz knows I do care about him. He groans against my mouth then his arms wind around me, pulling me tight to his chest. His tongue sweeps inside, desperate and demanding, claiming what I freely give.

  He flips us around so that I’m pressed against the wall now and he nudges his leg between mine. Now his thigh is very close to where I ache and I whimper into his mouth.

  He cradles my face between his hands and pulls back enough to look into my eyes. His pupils are huge and I feel his harsh breath against my swollen lips.

  “I fucking hate whatever it is you’re doing and I don’t understand it at all.” His gaze darts between my eyes like he’s trying to discover all my secrets with just a look. “I will trust you, Ever, but not forever. Finish whatever it is you have to do and then you’re ours.”

  I explode in a rush of goosebumps. Ours. I love the way that sounds. I nod and he presses his lips to my forehead, leaving them there for several long seconds.

  “Now I get to go talk code with a hard-on. Thanks for that.” He steps back, then reaches down and adjusts himself. He’s not lying. My mouth goes dry and he shoots me a wry smile. “Sucks not getting what you want, doesn’t it?”

  He disappears back inside the room and I let out a shaky breath.

  The balls I’m juggling start to move faster. I have to keep them going for a few more days. Once I talk to Peter, I can deal with Trey.

  I’m so close to ending this.

  I just need to hold on for a little while longer.

  Chapter Four

  “I’m so glad you called!” Meri shouts to be heard over the whine of the bikes.

  I debated not going to the race but in the end, I couldn’t stay away. Even though Riot warned me not to come, I decided I wasn’t going to listen. It’s a public place and he can’t really keep me away anyway.

  The people we go to school with give us a wide berth, like they don’t even want to be seen near me. Thankfully there are enough town people here that Meri and I can sort of blend in to the crowd. It’s not that I don’t want Riot to know I came, it’s just better if he stays in the dark.

  I just want to watch the races, not deal with the angry ass tonight.

  “So Luc told Trey you guys are going out tomorrow night. Girl, I can’t keep up. You’ve got more guys than a dog has fleas.”

  She shoulder bumps me and I teeter on the edge of the hay bale before finding my footing. I think she’s on her third beer so I’m keeping a close eye on her so she doesn’t fall off.

  The bikes roar past and Meri screams out Trey’s name.

  I can’t stop the visceral reaction it has on my stomach. Thankfully I don’t drink or I might have thrown up right there. Baz is in Trey’s heat again, but this time Trey stays focused on his own race. There aren’t any incidents on the track tonight and at the last second, Trey pulls ahead and beats Baz by a tire length.

  Meri jumps up and down pumping her fist in the air and I can’t help laughing at her enthusiasm.

  “I’m gonna go congratulate the winner.” She gives me sloppy wink and for a second I feel sorry for Trey, then think better of it. He deserves it.

  The last racers line up on the starting line and my gaze immediately goes to Riot. He’s directly in the middle of the pack, with Luc and X on each side of him. Ry and X high five and I can't help but wonder what happened between Luc and the guys. Maybe tomorrow night he’ll tell me.

  I hold my breath when the starting gun cracks and the bikes jump then dive down the first hill. Everyone around me screams as they top the first rise right in front of where I’m standing. Riot’s in the lead and takes the hill faster than the others, getting more air under him. I don’t exhale until he touches down. X and Luc are right behind him but take the jump a little easier. The rest zip by but I barely notice as I track Riot.

  My heart jumps into my throat every time he soars through the air. I’ve only seen him race once, but tonight it seems like he’s got the demons of hell nipping at his heels.

  “Fucker’s gonna wreck,” a voice behind me growls and I turn to see Baz behind me, his arms crossed over his bare chest. He’s glaring at the track, more specifically Riot as he comes around in front of us again. His front tire wobbles when he touches down and the crowd gasps until he punches the throttle and the bike darts forward.

  He’s almost half a lap ahead of the rest of them now.

  “What the hell is he doing?” I yell at Baz.

  He glares at me. “What do you think?”

  “You think this is my fault? He’s the one who’s mad at me.” I stand on the hay bale with my fists planted on my hips looking down at Baz. From here I’m about six inches taller than him now.

  “Holy shit, did you see that?” some guy says. “I can’t believe he landed upright.”

  I spin around but Riot is already disappearing around the corner.

  “Ever,” Baz barks and when I face him again, he dips forward and heaves me up and over his shoulder. His arm braces the back of my thighs and thank god I wore shorts tonight and not a skirt because my ass would be on display for everyone to see.

  I pound my fists into his thighs but he just walks into the crowd. I hear people laughing but the jostling keeps me from being able to lift my head.

  “Put me down, asshole.”

  I wiggle my enti
re body until he lands a hard slap on my butt. Surprise turns to indignation and I respond in kind, except his leather gear blocks most of my hits and I’m sure he barely feels a thing. It doesn't stop me from trying until my arms burn, though.

  “Where the hell are we going?” I grit out. His shoulder digs into my gut and it’s starting to hurt. Just when I’m sure I’m going to throw up, the world spins and he sets me upright onto my feet. I clutch at him until everything stops moving, then slap both hands against his chest.

  We’re at the top of the track where the starting line is and somehow it’s down to the last lap already. I watch Riot come barreling around the last turn then open it up, going full tilt toward the finish line even though there isn’t anyone even close to catching up.

  Baz steps out in front of Riot’s bike and just barely misses getting hit. Dust kicks up from the sudden stop.

  “The fuck, man?” Riot growls.

  Baz points at me. “Get the hell on his bike.”

  I take a step back, shaking my head. After the way he was riding, there’s no way I’m getting near him. Riot must agree because he revs the bike a few times to drown out what Baz is saying.

  “You two need to figure this shit out!” Baz shouts, pointing between the two of us before landing back on Ry. “I’ll hack the fucking BMV and revoke your license if you don’t stop acting like such a selfish asshole.”

  I fight back a smile until Baz rounds on me.

  “And don’t forget what you need, Ever.”

  I sober instantly.

  “Don’t come home until you can be civil to each other or you’ll both be sorry.”

  He glares at us one more time than storms off toward the truck. I stand awkwardly, wondering what Riot’s going to do. X finishes the race and heads our way, but must see something on my face because he glances at Riot and keeps going.

  Luc stops ten feet away and shoves his visor up. Concern mars his features, but I can see it’s directed at Riot. Everyone is worried about him, and tonight’s performance is obviously not normal.

  I hear some of the other riders complaining about how dangerous Riot is getting. His actions endanger more than just himself out there. Maybe I should talk to him. I don’t want him getting hurt because of me.