“Everything I’ve told you is true. But it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Dad works with some very bad people.”
“Like gangs?” I ask.
“Yeah, that kind of thing. He—I—pretty much have access to anything we could want or need at any hour of the day. But sadly, that means I don’t get him all that often. He’s always away, probably scouting out our next location, I don’t know,” she mutters with a shrug.
“That sucks.” Mom works a lot but at least she’s in the house doing so most of the time. “It must be lonely.”
“Yeah, then add in being scared to make friends because I know I’ll just leave them in a few months. It really sucks.”
“We should do something fun this week,” I suggest.
“I thought you wanted to do homework.”
“Yeah, but it sounds a little too depressing after everything, don’t you think?”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
She pulls her cell from her purse and starts tapping away.
“I just need to go and speak to your mom,” Stella says, hopping up and running from my room before I have a chance to ask what the hell is going on.
Only ten minutes pass before she comes flouncing back in.
“Okay all sorted,” she sings, hopping back up on my bed like nothing just happened.
“Uh… care to explain?”
“Nope. It’s a surprise.”
“Hmph. I don’t see how that is fair.” I cross my arms over my chest and pout.
“It’ll be worth it, I promise.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“The girl who’s pretty hot with a gun? Can I say anything other than yes right now?”
She barks out a laugh and pulls her textbook back onto her lap. “Get as much done as you can, after today, homework is banned.”
“Now that sounds like a plan I can get on board with.”
With music playing in the background, we spend the day working, stopping for drinks and snacks every couple of hours. Mom pops in to check on us a few times and delivers more food. All things considered, it’s a good day. I mean, I’m not in a mansion in the mountains with my friends, but I’m happy. Kind of.
“Ugh, I hate this,” I complain, throwing my pen across the room in frustration.
“Can I help?” Stella asks, looking at the book on my lap and pulling a face when she spots my math equations.
I sigh. “It’s okay. It just drives me crazy.” I refrain from pointing out that for some fucked-up reason, the only person I want to help me with my math is Kyle, but after sending him away yesterday, I’m pretty sure I’ve put an end to all of that.
“Missing your tutor?” she asks, a smile twitching at her lips that she’s found a way to make me talk about him without mentioning his name again. She got shot down earlier when she tried.
“No,” I spit out way too quickly for it to actually be true.
“It’s okay, you know. You can miss him.”
“Well, I don’t. He lied to me and because of it I found myself in that monster’s clutches. He can rot in hell for all I care.” She stares at me, her eyes softening as my voice cracks and I blink back the tears that threaten to fall.
“Harley, I really think—”
“No,” I say, putting my hand up and cutting off whatever it is she feels the need to say. “I don’t want to hear it. We are done. Not that we were ever anything more than a bad decision in the first place.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“Yeah, actually, I do. I never should have gone anywhere near him, let alone allow him into my bed. What was I even thinking? It was all a game of revenge for him. He doesn’t care about me, he never did.”
“Harley,” she breathes. “Have you seen the way he looks at you? That boy more than cares about you, and I think he always has.”
“No, no,” I say, shaking my head, refusing to allow her words into my brain otherwise they’ll just fester and cause me to start doubting myself.
“Okay,” she concedes before placing her own homework to the side and insisting on helping me with mine. She’s a good teacher, although not quite as skillful as Kyle, but I’ll take all the help I can get right now.
It’s almost midnight when she finally gets up to leave.
“You could just stay the night,” I offer.
“I need to go home to pack anyway, so I may as well go now.”
“Pack? I thought you were hanging around Rosewood all week?” I ask, trying not to sound too disappointed because the thought of being alone terrifies me. I know she’s promised that her dad has taken care of Gray, and I believe her, but that’s not going to stop me looking over my shoulder for a while expecting him to reappear.
“I know, but I’ve made other plans.”
“Oh… okay. Anything fun?”
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” she says with a smirk.
“We?”
“Yep, pack a bag, girl. We’re heading out of town for a few days.”
“Oh my God, are you serious?” I ask, the prospect of leaving this place behind is almost too much to wish for.
“Yep. Just me, you, and a whole lot of nothing else. Pretty sure there’s no cell service or anything so we’ll get complete peace.”
“That sounds incredible.”
“I’m glad you agree. I’ll be back at eight in the morning. Make sure you’re ready.”
I nod eagerly. “Anything I need to pack?”
“Your bikini.”
“Done.” I squeal. “I’m so excited. Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome. I need this almost as much as you do.”
36
Kyle
“Get in the fucking car, Ky.”
“No.” I stand my ground on the porch of mine and Kane’s house while I have a stare-off with Ashton and Zayn.
“Stop being such a pussy, man.” Ash shoulder barges me, storming into the house and soon after my bedroom.
“What the fuck?” I bark. By the time I get to him, he’s already stuffing items of clothing into my duffel bag.
“You’re coming. You need to get out of town and get her out of your head for a few days.”
“She’s not in my—” He turns and pins me with a look. “You’re a pain in my ass, Fury.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’ll be thanking me when you sink your ass into the hot tub I’ve seen pictures of.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sure you’ll be sinking into more than just your tub this weekend.”
A smug smirk covers his face and I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“Sorry, man. This is exactly why you should come.”
“So I can watch all you cozy couples getting it on? Oh yeah, sounds like a winning plan,” I sulk.
“Not everyone will be coupled up,” he argues. “You need to relax, man. Come on, agree already. I’m not really in the mood for abduction.”
My face drops at his words.
“Shit, no. I didn’t mean… fuck.”
“It’s fine. Forget it.”
Knowing I have no chance of winning this argument with both Ash and Zayn on the opposing team, I take over my own packing and in less than five minutes, I’m throwing my duffel over my shoulders and striding from the room, much to Ash’s delight.
“Don’t make me regret this,” I mutter to Zayn, who irritatingly just smiles at me in accomplishment.
“Would I?” he asks innocently.
I stare at him for a beat, registering the tension that’s still evident in his features. He still wants to hurt me for going after Harley. I get it. I kinda wanna hurt myself for it too, hence why I was more than happy to be alone this week and drown in my own misery while hoping she might reach out but knowing she won’t.
He blinks, breaking our silent conversation, and I throw my bag into his trunk before pulling open the back door and sitting my ass down before I change my mind.
“Alright?�
�� I ask Ruby who’s patiently waited this whole time in the middle seat. “Poppy.” I nod at Zayn’s girl when I find her eyes on me in the mirror.
Both girls stare at me, tension oozing from them.
“I’m sor—” My apology is cut off when the doors open once more and both Ash and Zayn climb in. “Where exactly are we going?” I ask once we’re heading out of Rosewood, the atmosphere in the car getting heavier by the second.
It’s obvious that it was the guy’s idea for me to tag along because clearly the girls are still firmly on Harley’s side and would happily throw me out of the moving car at any moment.
“The mountains.”
“That’s fucking hours away.”
“Yup. Get comfortable, man.” Zayn’s eyes find mine for a beat before he focuses back on the road.
Great.
Zayn and Poppy take charge of the music while the couple beside me whisper fuck knows what to each other. All I do know is that Ash’s hand has been getting higher and higher up Ruby’s skirt the longer we’ve been sitting here.
“Ash,” Ruby gasps, her hand wrapping around his wrist to stop him. “Kyle’s right there.”
“Kyle’s also not deaf,” I mutter, shifting over so there’s as much space between Ruby and me as possible.
“Jealous, man?”
“Fuck off,” I grumble, wondering why I let them force me into this.
Thankfully, he takes a hint and doesn’t say any more, unfortunately, that’s only because he’s otherwise engaged with his tongue down Ruby’s throat. The sound of their lip-smacking is louder than the music thumping through the speakers.
His hand pushes higher and she squirms.
“Just climb on his lap and let him fuck you. It’ll put us all out of our misery quicker,” I snap when a moan rips up Ruby’s throat.
“No sex in my car,” Zayn snaps. “The only girl who gets fucked in here is Poppy.”
“Fucking hell,” I mutter, twisting away from the horny couple beside me and allowing them to continue doing their thing. It’s not like they’re going to stop anytime soon.
I stare at the passing scenery and the low groans continue, my cock hard as I imagine being here right now with Harley like that.
Shifting in my seat, I pull my cell from the pocket and pull up our conversation.
It’s not the first time since she sent me away that I’ve caved and sent her a message. I scroll up through my unread apologies.
I blow out a breath, my chest deflating in disappointment.
I’m not disappointed with her. She’s acting as she should. Cutting me out of her life as she should. I’m disappointed in myself for thinking that the best way to handle Gray was to keep his threats a secret.
I don’t know what else to say to her to prove how much I regret it. To tell her how I really feel and how much this is ripping me apart.
I hate that we’re driving farther away from her, that my all-consuming need to drive to her house and demand she speaks to me is going to be impossible.
I guess that was Zayn’s intention. Take me with them and keep me away from her.
Can’t say I blame him. If I had a little sister, I’d want her away from me too.
We stop a couple of times and each time I race from the car like my ass is on fire in my need to get away from the happy couples and tense atmosphere for a few minutes.
My cell vibrates in my pocket as I walk out of the men’s restroom. My heart jumps into my throat thinking that it could be Harley, even though I know it’s not.
Disappointment still floods me when I look at the screen, although I can’t deny that the person’s name staring back at me is the next best thing right now.
“How is she?”
“She’s okay. Sad.”
Pain grips my chest at her words. Hurting Harley was the last thing I wanted in all of this.
“I’ve messaged her.”
“She’s refusing to check her cell.” I’m not surprised by this, seeing as all the messages have gone unread.
“Can you try to get her to read them?”
“I can’t make any promises, Ky.”
“I know.”
“Ky, I—” she says, but quickly cuts herself off.
“Yes, what is it?”
“It’s… it’s nothing. Forget it.”
“No, Stella. Whatever it is, yes. Whatever I can do to make this better, I’m all ears.”
“Did Zayn and Ash convince you to go with them?” she asks, her subject change giving me whiplash.
“Yeah, we’re currently…” I look around at the gas station we’ve stopped at. “Fuck knows where.”
She chuckles.
“Try to enjoy yourself, yeah. I’ve got your girl. You don’t need to worry about her.”
“No shit, she’s got Little Miss Rambo as her personal protection.”
“You’re just scared I could beat your ass.”
“Uh… yeah, that’s it,” I mutter, but I fear she could be right.
“Anyway… I’ll call you if anything changes—”
“What’s likely to change? She is okay, right? The drugs he slipped her are they—”
“Yes, Kyle. She’s fine. She admitted that she didn’t have much. They’ll be out of her system by now, and yes, he’s being dealt with, I promise you.”
“Okay.”
“Please, just try to enjoy yourself.”
“Unlikely.”
“Well, try. Speak soon.”
She hangs up on me before I get to say goodbye and I pull my cell from my ear and stare at it in disbelief.
“Everything okay?” Ruby asks, finally unattached from Ash’s side.
“Yeah. How much do you know about Stella?”
“Her name,” she deadpans.
“I think she’s got an interesting story.”
“You think?” Ruby asks sarcastically, looking over at me and raising a brow. “I doubt we’ll ever find out. She’ll be gone before we get a chance to dig too deep.”
“She’s leaving?”
“I think so. Much like everything else, I don’t really know. Come on, the guys are waiting.”
“Oh goodie, back to the front row seat of my very own porno,” I mutter, trailing behind her.
“We’re not that bad.”
“I guess I deserve the torture after everything.”
“For hurting my girl? You sure fucking do.” She pins me with a look that tells me she’s still not all that happy about me being here.
I shoot her the best smile I can muster before we climb into the back of the car for the final leg of our long-ass journey. This place had better be fucking worth it.
It’s almost three hours later—thanks to Zayn taking a wrong turn—when we finally pull up to a massive cabin.
It looks like something off a postcard. And it’s by far the most expensive place I’ve ever stepped foot inside, let alone stayed.
“This is beautiful,” Poppy breathes as the car comes to a stop.
“Makes the drive almost worth it,” I mutter.
“Oh, it was very worth it.”
“Says the one who spent most of the time with his finger inside his girl’s—”
“O-okay,” Zayn interrupts, killing the engine and swinging his door open.
As I follow his lead, the front door to the place opens, and Jake, Mason, and Ethan spill out, all dressed in board shorts and already looking three sheets to the wind.
“About time motherfuckers,” Ethan barks.
“Blame the driver,” Ruby shouts as she helps Ash to pull the bags out of the trunk.
“Not my fucking fault,” Zayn sulks.
“We all told you to turn left.”
“I didn’t see the turnoff.” He drags his and Poppy’s bags from the gravel driveway, throws them over his shoulder, and stalks toward the cabin.
“I should probably go cheer him up.”
“I’m sure it won’t take much,” Ash calls suggestively.
“Point me i
n the direction of an empty bedroom, I need some peace,” I say to Amalie when she emerges.
“Follow me,” she says with a chuckle.
“Rubes, you wanna see your room too?”
“Damn right we do.”
“Fucking sex addict,” I mutter, loud enough for him to hear.
“Aw, little Legend is jealous.”
“Leave him alone,” Amalie snaps, pinning him with a warning look.
It’s easy to think that Amalie could be vulnerable and weak with her tall, slim body and soft English accent but I dare anyone to cross the woman who’s tamed Jake Thorn. There can’t be anything weak about her. I might not know Jake all that well but I know enough to know it must take one hell of a strong woman to keep him in line.
“Jake,” she calls, spinning on her heels and walking backward toward the front door. “You coming to show the guys their rooms?”
“Uh… I was gonna…” She raises a brow at him. “Again?” he asks, the delight is clear in his tone. “Coming.”
I chuckle at the pair of them as he sweeps her off her feet and jogs with her up the stairs.
“Legend,” he says, pointing to another set of stairs. Right at the top, the final door on your left.
“Ruby, you and Fury are there,” he says, pointing to a door on this floor. Thank fuck. “If you need anything, ask the others, we’re going to be busy for a while.” They disappear through another door before Amalie’s squeal pierces the air.
Great, just what I feared. A house full of loved up, sexed-up couples. This week shouldn’t be frustrating at all.
Following instruction, I find a small room with a twin bed at the top floor of the house. The bed is tucked into the eaves and I have to damn near bend in half to get into it without taking my head off, but at least it’s quiet.
I kick my sneakers off and crawl onto it, desperate for a few hours of peace before I go and find the others.
“Tell me you snuck in a few single chicks,” Rich calls to me when I walk through the living area later that night with a beer in hand.
“Sorry, I was stuck with Ash fingering Ruby the whole way here.”
The guys snort a laugh while Ash’s face lights up in delight.
“Yeah, what of it? Don’t tell me you weren’t getting hard listening to my girl get off.”
LEGEND: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rosewood High Book 7) Page 33
