The cabinet above the coffeemaker was where the cups were.
Nothing matched either.
The cups were old, the text on them faded, but… a cup was a cup.
I lifted the coffeepot and smelled it.
“It’s fresh.”
I gasped and looked back. “Morning, Emily.”
“Winter,” she said.
She wore a torn up oversized BFH hoodie.
Her hair was a mess.
She smelled like a fresh cigarette.
“Want some too?” I asked.
“I’m good for now. I already had three cups.”
“Whoa. You don’t sleep?”
“Not usually,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Just don’t,” she said. “I nap here and there. Just the way I am. I’m a night owl.”
I nodded.
I poured myself some coffee and leaned against the counter.
“So what’s your deal here?” Emily asked. “I mean, you’re all secretive and shit…”
“It’s just me and Talon hanging,” I said.
“No, it’s not,” Emily said. “He’s not fucking you. I can see that from a mile away. Actually, I’ve never seen him act like this before. Taking care of someone. A Bump? You must have some serious dirt on him.”
“Or maybe I’m just paying him a lot of money.”
“True,” Emily said. “Are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Emily laughed. “Fucking Bumps. You’re all bitches.”
“At least we know how to clean ourselves up,” I said. “You look like you rolled out of a dumpster.”
“Trashy and cheap is a way of life,” Emily said with a wink. “Seriously though, you’re not all that bad. I figured worse.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I heard a noise and turned my head to see Brock entering the kitchen.
The left side of his jaw was swollen and bruised.
“Hey, it’s the knockout asshole,” Emily said.
“Eat shit, Emily,” Brock said. “Who’d you sleep with last night? Kace or Crew? Or doesn’t it matter anymore? You just get passed around like a plate of stuffing at Thanksgiving.”
“Aw, poor Brock. He’s just jealous I wouldn’t finish him that one night…”
I stepped away from the counter so he could get a coffee cup.
“Want to hear about it, Winter?” Emily asked.
“No,” I said.
“I told Brock I’d hook him up,” Emily said. “It was his turn for some fooling around. Just a hand… you know?” Emily shrugged her shoulders. “So I was doing what I do best and nothing happened…”
Brock looked back. “Try to look hotter next time. That whole smelling like stale cigarettes and not showering for days doesn’t do much for me.”
“You’re not working with much to begin with, Brock,” Emily said. “So you should take what you can get.”
I felt uncomfortable.
Emily waved for me to follow her.
I had no problem with that.
When I got close to her, I could smell the cigarette smoke, last night’s alcohol, and just the smell of dirtiness.
“Follow me,” she said.
“Where?” I asked.
“We’re going to have a cigarette.”
I didn’t have a cigarette.
Emily smoked two.
Back to back.
No break in between.
Honestly, she looked strung out and stressed. And I felt bad for her.
I kind of felt bad for all the Trocs.
They could call me anything they wanted for how I lived, but I knew no other way. I didn’t know what it was like to not know where my next meal was coming from. Or to have to worry about money.
The Trocs did.
A lot.
“Don’t think I’m a slut,” Emily said.
“I don’t judge anyone.”
“I mean, I fool around with a lot of people,” she said. “Well, not a lot. Some. A handful. I mean, I know what I like, you know? What’s the difference, right? These dumbass guys do it. Why can’t I?”
“True,” I said.
“So tell me… you and Talon. Did you get it?”
My face turned red. “Uh, no.”
“You’re blushing. So something happened. He and I? Never. Not once. I tried too. So many times. I would ride his-”
“I don’t want to talk about this,” I said.
“Shit. Are you a virgin? Tell me you’re some rich, good girl Bump virgin.”
“No,” I said. “Not even close.”
“Whew, good. I couldn’t talk to someone our age who hasn’t fucked someone. I mean, come on, right?”
“Yeah,” I said.
I heard the front door to the old house open and Talon came outside.
Wearing the same clothes as the night before.
Looking tall, strong, with a little bit of morning grumpiness written across his face.
“I was looking for you, darling,” he said in a groggy voice.
“For me?” Emily asked. “Oh, finally. Want to meet in the bathroom?”
“I was talking to Winter,” Talon said.
Emily laughed. She flicked her cigarette away. “You two enjoy the morning. It was nice getting to know you, Winter.”
“Yeah, you too,” I said.
Emily walked into the house but not before clawing at Talon’s shoulder.
I looked at him. “She wants you.”
“She wants anything with a pulse. Guy or girl. Be careful with her.”
“What? Really?”
“Emily has her own way of finding comfort,” Talon said. “She uses her body for it.”
“Then why hang around with her?” I asked.
“Why not? Everyone has their issues. You fucking Bumps think everything has to be perfect all the time.”
“Perfect?” I asked. “Do you not realize how messed up all the Bumps are?”
Talon nodded. “Oh, I know. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You weren’t in bed. I was looking for you.”
“For what?” I asked.
I smiled.
Shit. I was flirting.
Talon closed in on me. He touched my chin. “What do you think I wanted?”
I blushed again.
Talon always made comments like that to me.
But nothing ever happened.
He never actually made a move.
And even if he did…
What? What would happen? Would you turn him down? Would you let him… you know…
I sucked in a breath and held it to calm my nerves.
“It’s almost time for breakfast,” he said.
“You mean lining up the boxes of cereals?”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Talon said.
“You know cereal is not healthy for you, right?”
“Sorry we can’t afford farm fresh organic eggs with some fucking kale and goat cheese…”
I laughed. “Trocs… so jealous. That’s why nothing happens between us in bed, Talon. You’d get jealous about never having it again.”
I started to walk around him and he stopped me. “Let’s clear the air. If I wanted it, I’d get it. And you’d be the one forever ruined. Now, with that said, you owe me some money.”
I looked up at Talon and curled my lip. “I know.”
“I saved your ass last night from Brock. And I saved you from Emily. It’s time to pay up.”
“I can’t go back there yet,” I said. “They know…”
“This is the part where I tell you it’s not my problem.”
I swallowed hard.
I hated all the Trocs.
Chapter 2
The old story
Gia.
When I saw her little, yellow car, my eyes filled with tears.
I stood on the porch with Talon, Emily, and Kace.
I had to watch Emily smoke like a chimney while Kace’s hands w
ere all over her. He stood behind her and had no problems groping her ass, working up her side, and even cupping her chest.
Emily loved the attention.
She would groan and lean back against Kace and wiggle her body against him.
It made me blush because I wasn’t sure if that’s what Talon and I should have been doing…
“Everyone inside,” Talon ordered. “Leave Winter alone with her friend.”
“Oh, another Bump,” Emily said. “Is she as pretty as you, Winter?”
I looked at Emily.
Emily blinked.
I blushed even harder.
Talon got everyone inside and paused at the front door.
“See what I do for you?” he asked.
“My hero,” I said.
“Get the cash, darling.”
He slammed the door shut.
I didn’t care about him being an ass to me.
I jumped off the porch and ran toward the yellow car.
As Gia climbed out of the car, tears started to roll down my cheeks.
I felt so dumb for it, but I couldn’t control it.
It was like I hadn’t seen Gia in six months.
She hurried around her open door and we jumped at each other.
We hugged and fell to the ground.
Literally.
One of us was supposed to keep our feet on the ground, but we didn’t.
We collapsed to the ground, hugging and laughing.
With me crying.
“It’s really you,” Gia said.
“It’s really me,” I said. “Look at me…”
“You smell like a Troc.”
“I feel like one,” I said. “Save me.”
“Come home,” she said. “Please…”
“Gia,” I said. I looked around. “Did you bring the money?”
“Yeah,” she said. “Want it now?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I have to get Talon off my back. Then we can talk. Okay?”
“Here?”
“Maybe we’ll go for a ride. But you have to stay local. Noah, Easton, and Xavier… fuck. What if they followed you here?”
“You’re being paranoid.”
“I’m not,” I said. “They know we’re friends. Your car is bright yellow.”
“Okay, now you’re freaking me out,” Gia said.
“Did you notice anyone following you or anything?” I asked.
“No,” she said. “I wasn’t looking…”
I hurried to my feet. “Your car is hidden here. We better stay.”
Talon’s house was hidden by overgrown shrubs and bushes.
It looked like crap but it was actually a good thing.
Then again, if anyone followed Gia, it didn’t matter.
I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like it at all.
My tears were instantly dried. Replaced by the old feeling of paranoia.
Welcome to the world of Winter.
“Do I need to count this?” Talon asked as he stood over Gia and I.
We sat on the top step.
He stood on the porch.
“Do you think I would cheat you?” I asked.
“What about you?” Talon asked Gia.
Her face turned red. “I grabbed what Winter told me to grab.”
“Okay,” Talon said.
He went back into the house.
“Sorry about that,” I said. “He’s such an ass.”
“I can see that,” Gia said. “At least he’s helping.”
“He’s getting paid to help.”
“I can’t believe this, Winter.”
“I know,” I said.
“Just… tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “That’s the worst part.”
“Well, tell me what you know then.”
“We were at the ball. And it was going okay. It was what they said it would be. There were a few situations, but nothing too crazy. They took care of me, Gia. They protected me. I felt close to them. Like really close. I felt so close that I started wondering what I wanted to do. What I was actually doing.”
“Oh, Winter,” Gia said. “You fell for them?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way. I kind of understand them.”
“They wanted to kill to you. They tried to kill you.”
“I know, Gia,” I said. “That’s what makes it so confusing for me. I don’t get it. They’re all broken. Just like us. The Bumps are so fake. At least being here, the Trocs are real.”
“Seriously?” Gia asked.
“I mean it. They’re dirty and poor. They smoke. Drink. Fuck. They have no problem with it. There’s nothing to hide. It’s kind of freeing. It’s hard to get used to, but just being here…”
“Tell me you don’t want to be a Troc,” Gia said.
“What? No. I want to go home.” I smiled. “I’m just making a point. Getting close to Noah, Easton, and Xavier showed me who they were. Who they really are. It’s… sad. That’s the word I’m looking for. It’s sad. Their lives. Their parents. The money and power. They have that, but they have to work so hard to keep it and manage it. It’s exhausting.”
“Yet their money and power has you hiding here,” Gia said.
“For now.”
“For how long?” Gia asked.
“I don’t know yet.”
Gia shook her head. “I hate this.”
“Me too. It came out of nowhere. I went to sleep and felt good. I felt great. Other than being confused.”
“Because you stupidly got your heart involved.”
“Please don’t attack me,” I said. “I know how much I messed this up.”
“Fine. Go on.”
“I woke up the next morning and some guy showed up with a tray. I thought he was bringing me food. I thought the guys were off doing whatever. You know, Xavier working out. Noah dealing with his parents. Easton having a cigarette. That kind of stuff. But they were already gone. They left me a note on that tray. It said that they knew. I panicked. That’s when I called you crying.”
“I was shocked too,” Gia said. “I started to cry. I still think you should tell the cops or something. There has to be someone we can talk to.”
“There’s not,” I said. “They’re too powerful, Gia. I’m telling you… that detective I talked to… it was weird. It was like he knew more than he said he did. Like he was waiting for me to admit something.”
“And you still think someone was following you?”
“Think? I know so, Gia.”
“Sorry. Right. I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s just… everything right now, okay? I have to be here and think. They know I lied. They know I know about the accident and what they did. They haven’t tried to contact me either. That’s scaring the hell out of me.”
“Wow,” Gia said. “Well, if it matters at all, I haven’t seen them. They haven’t tried to talk to me or anything.”
“Doesn’t mean someone isn’t following you.”
“Yeah, just what I need to think about,” Gia said. “Tell the girl with anxiety that someone is following her.”
“I am so sorry, Gia,” I said. “I dragged you into this…”
“I dragged myself into it,” she said. “You know, there is one thing I can do.”
I shook my head. “You’re not getting deeper into it.”
Gia grabbed my hands. “Shut up and let me tell you my plan.”
Gia paced.
I listened.
Then I stood up and grabbed her shoulders.
“No,” I said.
“Why?” Gia asked. “Xavier is my brother. I can blow the whole thing up.”
“That would put you at risk,” I said. “And your mother.”
“Good,” she said. “It’s time for this to be known. It’s a wild secret. It’ll hurt him. It’ll slow him down. It’ll make him question everything. Remember what happened when Noah got scared? They all started fig
hting.”
“Gia, that’s too personal,” I said. “It means a lot you’d do that for me.”
“I’m going to do it anyway,” she said.
“Please… not yet. Okay?”
“Then how long?” Gia asked. “Look at this place. Look at what you’re doing.”
“I know,” I said. “Believe me, I know.”
“This is killing me,” Gia said. “I know that sounds greedy. But it’s killing me. I miss you. I miss hanging out with you.”
“I miss it too,” I said. “It won’t be for much longer. I just need to think about what to do. How to do it. How to face them. What to say.”
“You know things about them,” Gia said. “So use it. I’ll keep my mouth shut about Xavier for now. But you use it. Show strength and make them back off. That was the plan all along, right?”
I nodded. “Exactly.”
“So instead of hiding, own it,” Gia said.
“I will.”
“Right now.”
“Gia…”
“Fine,” she said.
She walked away toward her car.
I gave her a few seconds and took a deep breath.
Gia was probably the best friend I ever had in my life. And I used to treat her like crap. Because I thought as a Bump I was better than everyone else.
The accident changed that.
I approached Gia carefully. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Sure,” Gia said. “Darcy thought she was pregnant.”
“What?” I asked.
Gia turned and smiled. “Yeah. There was a big rumor about it.”
“She’s not pregnant?”
“No,” Gia said. “She finally got her period. But then everyone started talking about who she was fooling around with.”
“And who was it?” I asked.
“She got busted for fooling around with some loser from HCH,” Gia said.
I clapped my hands together. “No way.”
“Yeah.”
“So the princess bitch was in bed with some HCH guy,” I said. “Wow. That’s amazing.”
“It’s something,” Gia said.
“I can’t believe I’m thinking this… but I wish Evie and Darcy were my biggest problems in life.”
“I know. Soon enough. You just have to get out of here, Winter.”
“I’m telling you though, it’s not all that bad. They know who they are.”
“You keep saying that,” Gia said. “You should be a Troc then.”
Devious Love (Bay Falls High NEXT Book 3) Page 2
