by Dakota Lee
“No.” Digging my feet in, I say, “I think I’ll take another one of those and then we’ll see how long it takes to get my ass handed to me in one of these video games.” I crane my head looking behind me. “Hopefully longer than I think. I kinda like where it currently sits.” I ignore the obvious stares at said ass that I’m getting.
She smiles and walks over to the table with the drinks. “Jordanna Felding, I think you’ve got a death wish.”
I sure do, and she and her friends are the ones I’m wishing it on.
Twenty-One
Logan
I close my laptop and head to the lobby of my dorm to meet my guest. Simon strolls through the doors unbothered by the gold lettering on the floor or the candelabras on the walls. He spins in a slow circle as a group of girls walks by him and I imagine he’s debating if he has time to talk to them before he has to meet up with me.
He finally spots me waiting by the desk, “What’s up, man?” He asks, walking towards me as I sign him in.
I take in his hair. It’s a little longer on the top than he usually wears it, but other than that he looks the same. People’s first impression of Simon is that he’s safe and sweet, because he’s always so focused on software design and math, and he’s happy with letting them think that. But they soon learn that once he lifts his head up, there’s no pair of panties that are safe.
“You got me here, so I hope you’re not working all weekend at your studio.”
“We’re gonna drop your shit in my room. Go off campus to eat, and then we’re heading to a party.” I turn to look at him over my shoulder. “If you’re up for that.”
“You know I am.”
“You sure you don’t need a nap, old man?”
“Fuck you, I’m turning twenty-one just like you are. I’m just sorry I won’t be able to come down on our actual birthday.”
Simon and I were born on the same day, and we couldn’t be any closer than if we were actually twins. “You’re here now, man. That’s good enough.”
* * *
Simon lets out a low whistle when we enter the house. The great thing about he and I growing up together is I don’t have to pretend my life is all roses or that I’m only interested in vanilla shit. It would’ve been epic if tonight’s party was at The Rift. We showed up later than everyone else because we had a few drinks with our meal, and got to talking about school, our app and other shit that neither of us share with anyone but each other.
As we make our way across the living room, the bodies blocking the path to the couch part without me saying a word. People are staring and I know the looks are not all directed at me. A lock of Simon’s dark hair falls into his face and tonight he’s wearing contact lenses so his violet eyes aren’t tucked away behind his glasses. It’s a running joke that when he’s working, he’s Clark Kent and when he’s partying, he’s the Man of Steel. The steel being that thing between his legs. Everyone knows I’m bad, but sometimes I think Simon is worse.
“No. Nah ah. Someone please tell me I accidentally mixed my allergy meds with a Valium or something and that I’m hallucinating.” Tabitha says as we get closer.
“You’re totally lucid, kitty cat.” Simon says taking the seat next to her. He leans forward, kissing her cheek, and she immediately wipes her face.
“Ugh, where have your lips been?”
“Nowhere yet. Though I hear that shouldn’t be a problem for more than five minutes.”
“You’re gonna just fuck some girls you don’t know?”
“Don’t judge me. It’s my birthday and I can slut it up if I want to.”
“Your birthday is two weeks from now.”
“You’re keeping track kitty? I’m touched? What did you get me?”
“Nothing.”
“Good plan. Don’t waste your time buying anything. I like homemade gifts.”
“You mean hoe-made gifts and I’m not giving you one of those either.”
I turn to survey the crowd, tuning the two of them out. They’ve been bickering like this for years.
“Your head finally matches the size of your body, kitty, but when are your tits gonna grow in?”
“They already have, nerd, just ask Logan.”
My head whips around at the mention of my name. “Hey, don’t put me in the middle of this.”
Simon’s smirk slips. He stands, jaw clenched, and says, “I need a drink.” I watch him cut through the crowd, pushing people aside on his way to the kitchen.
Tabby bats her lashes, a satisfied smirk on her lips. “Think it was something I said?”
“He’s only here for a few days. Do you plan to argue with him the whole time?”
She opens her mouth to speak but closes it, as something on the other end of the room catches her attention. I turn and see Simon has his drink in one hand and a generous amount of ass in the other.
“You know, sometimes I think you’re the biggest hoe I’ve ever met, and then I remember your best friend Simon, is still walking the earth.” She sips her drink and says, “Hope you gave him some condoms before setting him loose in the wild.”
I didn’t because he carries his own, but the look on Tabby’s face says I probably shouldn’t mention it. We all used to be so close. I’m not sure when the two of them started hating each other, but I stopped trying to broker peace between them two years ago.
“I’m shocked Bella isn’t making you follow her around tonight.” I scan the crowd and spot Hal and Frankie over by the stairs. “Where is she, by the way?”
Tabby’s glare turns into a frown. “I don’t know.” Our eyes meet and a niggle of worry eats at me. If Tabitha doesn’t know, and Hal and Frankie aren’t with her, there’s no telling what she might be up to.
Jordanna
I wasn’t invited, but I let myself in the house anyway, dropping my coat in the closet across from the front door. Nobody pays me any attention as I walk through the house in search of the kitchen. The trail of bodies coming my way with drinks in their hands lets me know I’m heading in the right direction. I finally find it and mix myself a drink, having learned I draw less suspicion when I have a cup in my hand.
Logan will be wherever the action is. I go from room to room until I spot one of Frankie in a corner. He’s looking in my direction, and I’m sure he sees me, but doesn’t speak. It’s almost comical, the different levels of active dismal and outright ignoring I get whenever I walk into a space the BP’s are occupying. I’m spending time with four out of five, in one way or another, and yet they act like I don’t exist. I’m happy to keep up the pretense with Logan’s friends, but I need him to take a more public stance with us, which he’ll never do without the right motivation.
“Now aren’t you the hottest wall-flower I’ve ever seen.”
Looking to my right, I take in the guy standing next to me. I was so busy watching the first round of stupid party games that I didn’t hear anyone walking up to me. I’m not in the mood to entertain whoever he is. “Who says I’m a flower? Maybe I’m a creeping vine. Or a weed.” Instead of waiting for him to answer, I walk to the other end of the room, and climb the stairs to the loft area. There are games going on up here too. I head towards the corner, closest to the television, looking for a place to sit.
“Yeah. Like that.” Someone grunts, causing me to freeze in my tracks.
A hand grazes across the back of my neck, and soft lips tickle the shell of my ear as a deep voice says. “Now that’s not something you see every day.” I don’t know if he means the tramp stamp that looks like it was done by a two-year-old on the girl who just walked by, or the horrible dye job on the girl getting fingered up against the wall near the stairs.
“That, you don’t.” I agree, moving to my left to get a better look at the guy who just put his hands on me.
“Should you be up here?” He asks, but poses the question like he already knows the answer.
“Should you?”
He walks around to stand in front of me, blocking my view of th
e couple in the corner. His deep blue eyes take me in as he lifts his beer to his lips. A shock of hair falls in his face, just begging for a girl to brush it back. “Probably not, but then again, I’m used to all this. Something about the look on your face tells me you think you might’ve strayed too far.”
I nod, once, because he’s right. That doesn’t stop me from trying to look over his shoulder, to confront the question I’ve been wrestling with for weeks. “What if I want to go further?”
“How much further?” His eyes flick away from mine. He doesn’t have to say anything. I can tell by the tingle on the back of my neck and the charge in the air that someone else is at the top of the stairs, and I know that if I turn around, I’ll find Logan behind me.
“Am I interrupting?” Logan asks as he comes to stand beside me. The two enter a staring a contest, as if I’m not even here.
“Yes.” I say, drawing their attention to me. “Things were just about to get good.” It’s getting good for the pressed flesh crew too, their cries and moans are getting louder. The guy is still standing in my way, blocking my view, so my imagination fills in the blanks. I wipe the sweaty palm of my right hand against my jeans.
Logan steps closer, so my shoulder is pressed against his chest. When he speaks, his breath tickles the side of my face. “Are you talking about things with Simon, or with them?”
I keep my eyes trained on Simon, who’s clearly amused by Logan’s question. “Simon is it?” Sticking out my hand, I introduce myself. “Jordanna.”
He takes it, holding onto it, until Logan glares at him. Other people would run and try to avoid Logan’s wrath. Simon doesn’t. He lifts my hand to his mouth. The kiss he presses to the back of it has a little bite to it. Seriously. He nibbles on it and meets my gaze with an arched brow, as if he’s daring me to pull away. When I don’t, he steps closer, and my ex moves behind me, pulling me against his chest.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Jordanna.” Simon says, tipping my chin up to look at him. With that he walks off, clasping Logan on the shoulder as he goes, leaving me to face the guy who’s vibrating with anger behind me.
“Did you enjoy that?”
“What?”
“Watching with Simon.”
I couldn’t see anything with Simon standing in front of me, but my ears are attuned to the sounds and I smell sweat and sex in the air. Did I want to watch? I know Logan’s done it before, maybe… I turn in his arms, pressing my chest against him. “Why do you seem so upset about the idea?”
His eyes narrow on me. “Simon’s my best friend, and there’s not much we haven’t done together, but for the first time since I can remember, I wanted to punch him in the face for touching you and standing her with you while this shit is going on.”
“You didn’t seem to mind me standing around with Zathan, and watching you at The Rift.”
“That’s because your eyes were on me.”
“So it’s fine if I watch you fuck someone else but everyone else is off limits?” I step out of his embrace, heading towards the stairs. “Always with the rules that you don’t follow. Well, the hell with that, Logan. There are plenty of people down there that wouldn’t mind-”
He snatches me off my feet, pressing my face into the wall. “Go ahead, Jordy.” He growls against my ear. “Finish that sentence.”
Stubbornly, I say, “Watching with me.”
His voice gentles, and his breath floats over my cheek as he says, “Oh, baby. I’m all game for watching with you. But just know if that happens, I won’t stop there.” His erection presses against my ass. “We’ll be watching and then we’ll become part of the show. So keep that in mind, the next time you threaten me with a good time.”
“You’re trying to scare me.”
“No, I’m warning you that this time you’re getting the real me. God, Jordanna, the things I’m thinking about doing to you, now that it’s no longer a game.”
“Like what?” I cringe at the needy sound of my voice.
“Come to the studio tomorrow, and I’ll show you.”
“Why wait for tomorrow what you can do tonight?”
He chuckles darkly against my ear. “So curious. In that case, lets-” A shrill whistle cuts him off. The side of his cheek grazes my hair as he looks towards the stairs. “Dammit.”
He pushes away from me and I turn, leaning up against the wall, waiting for the shaking in my legs to subside. He stops at the top of the stairs, and he and Simon give me one last look before heading back down to the party.
Earlier, Simon asked me, “How much farther?” After the conversation I just had with Logan, there’s only one acceptable answer. All the way.
Twenty-Two
Logan
When I walk into the sitting area of my dorm room, I find Simon on the couch with his laptop, and some type of smoothie on the coffee table in front of him. Heading to the fridge to grab a bottle of water, I ask, “What time did you get back?”
“I don’t know. Maybe two hours ago.”
“And you’re working, instead of sleeping? Let me guess, they couldn’t keep up with you.”
He glances up at me and nods. “The girls here are soft. Easily breakable. How do you deal?”
I take a few swigs of water, enjoying the cold liquid against my dry throat. “I don’t, that’s why we find crazy shit to bet on, because the high from that mutes the inevitable letdown of afterwards.”
“Is Jordy a letdown?” He asks over the clicking of his keyboard.
“Why the fuck would you ask me that?”
“You just said high stakes are the only reason you feel satisfied anymore. So if she doesn’t do it for you without the risk/reward, I’d be-”
“Flat on your ass, and no longer my best friend if you go anywhere near her.”
He looks up, grinning at me, and I know I’ve stepped into it. “What the fuck, man?”
“You didn’t seem to mind the disruption last night when I pulled you away from Jordy, because your friends were getting suspicious about your whereabouts, so I’m just trying to see where your head is at.”
“I have to play the game and pretend to be uninterested.”
“I thought they wanted you to get close again, to get information.”
I shake my head, popping some aspirin in my mouth. “The only person who thinks that’s a viable course of action is Bella and it’s still too simple a solution, so I know she’s just waiting to spring some other shit on me.”
“Yeah, I got that feeling from her, too. She hates your girl.” Frowning at me, he says, “I thought I taught you better than to fuck crazy chicks.”
“Never have.”
“Then why does she act like Jordy stole you away or something? Or did she steal somebody else the bitch queen used to fuck with?”
“Nope. It’s all what Jordy represents.”
“Class, sexiness, intelligence and charm?”
“Don’t forget sweet, kind, virtuous, and middle class.”
“So basically everything Bella’s not.”
“Bingo. Besides, it was you that got too close to one of those Ridgeland Prep girls and got burned.” I say, reminding him of that fiasco from high school.
His eyes glint like cold steel. “Don’t remind me.”
It was years ago, around the same time he and Tabby first started butting heads. I never got the full details about what happened, because he never wanted to talk about it. I just know whatever it was involved someone from Bella’s high school.
The mood quickly passes, and he goes back to pounding out code on his keyboard. “What time are we meeting up with the old man?”
“Around one I think.”
“You bringing a date?”
“Why would I do that? It’s just drinks with my dad.”
“It’s a pre-celebration for your twenty-first birthday, and it’s never just drinks with your dad.”
* * *
Simon was right. The minute we cross the threshold of the country club,
I know we’ve walked into an ambush. I was hoping the fact that my birthday is still some weeks away, and the last minute decision for Simon to come to town would mean that our parents wouldn’t have had time to plot anything. I underestimated the coordination and delegation skills of a Kingsley Hollow wife.
I scan the crowd, noting the town’s wealthiest families and dad’s closest business associates are here, and they’ve brought their kids.
“Damn.” Simon sputters his drink, eyes focused ahead as he shakes the excess moisture off his hand. I spin around in time to see Tabitha, Kassidy, and Jordanna step through the door. Together. I swallow dust as my eyes drink her in. She’s wearing one of the dresses I brought for her last semester. It looks amazing, but all I can think about is how much I want to peel it off of her with my teeth.
Tabby, being one of my closest friends, would have gotten a personal invite from my dad, and Kassidy’s parents are in town so there’s little chance she would’ve declined to be here. But Jordanna? Her presence is unexpected and nerve inducing. My eyes flick over to Kassidy. Did she ask her to come? I put on my most gracious smile, crossing the room with Simon to greet our guests.
“Wow ladies, you look good enough to eat.” Simon says, biting down on his lower lip and walking around them to get a better look. “Kitty cat, are you wearing panties?”
Instead of the compliment swirling in my head, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
Tabitha rolls her eyes, walking away, and Kassidy frowns at me. Jordanna holds up her press pass and points to Drew, who’s standing behind her with the camera equipment. “Covering this event for The Guild. Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of everyone’s way.”
“Good luck with that,” Simon says, clasping me on my shoulder. He walks off leaving me alone with the person I’m supposed to be keeping my distance from. My dad’s always looking to expand his reach. Of course he’d ask the faculty advisor to send media personnel, to cover the party. The article will probably get picked up as a guest column in our paper. But how did Jordanna get assigned to cover it without me hearing about it?
