by Ashley Jade
I look over at Hayley. “Let’s go. Now.”
Tears prickle my eyes as I march over to the white Acura with her and Zack in tow.
“Bianca, stop,” Jace barks. “Don’t let him ruin your day.”
It’s not just him. It’s everyone. Everything.
“Come on, Bianca,” Cole yells. “Don’t leave.”
“Get back here, young lady,” our father shouts. “I did not give you permission to leave.”
Oh, now he wants to pretend to be a dad.
“Neither did I,” Jace growls.
Raising my middle finger in the air, I kick the pink piece of shit before I climb into the passenger seat of Hayley’s car. “I’m eighteen, remember?”
Once again, my mother was right.
You can go through life being the most beautiful specimen on earth…yet feel completely unnoticed and alone.
People only see what they want to see.
And no one wants to see me.
Fuck them. Fuck this.
Fuck everything.
Chapter 7
Bianca
I ended up showing up late for class and missing my statistics quiz.
Fortunately, my professor was kind enough to let me stay after and take it, but I’m pretty sure I bombed it anyway.
“If you can’t remember who you were, how do you know what kind of person you used to be or what might have shaped you to be that way?”
Oakley’s words from yesterday echo through my head as I place my exam on the professor’s desk and gather my things.
I thought I had enough pieces to decode who I was, but as it turns out…I was wrong.
Blowing out a shaky breath, I recall what I learned about my former self last night.
The most surprising fact? I was a virgin.
Which obviously means the first time Stone and I had sex last year was my first time having sex…ever.
It’s something I should be happy about because he’s going to be my husband, but I can’t shake this weird feeling I have.
I wish it was special.
Not that it was bad by any means, but right before it happened all I could think about was how it wasn’t a big deal because I must have done it plenty of times before.
But it was a big deal.
So is finding out that I had some kind of sick, twisted obsession with this Oakley guy and pretty much stole his girlfriend.
Both of them.
My heart clenches.
Given Hayley died and he obviously cared about her…he has to be hurting.
I’m not sure why I was with him the night of the accident—because if the memory I had last night is anything to go on, he wanted nothing to do with me—but I really want to find out.
“Are you okay?” Stone questions.
A jolt runs through me when I look up. I was so out of it I didn’t even realize he was waiting for me outside of class.
“Yeah.” I force a smile. “I’m fine.”
He gives me a puzzled look. “Are you su—”
“Actually,” I interject, because I hate keeping stuff from him. “Not really. I had a memory last night.”
Taking me by the elbow, he leads me out to the courtyard. “What happened?”
“Well,” I begin. “It was my birthday.” A weird feeling prickles in my chest because talking about your past hookups with your fiancé is really awkward. “Long story short, Morgan and I hooked up and Oakley caught us—” It suddenly dawns on me that he might not know who Oakley is. “Oakley is—”
“I know who Oakley is,” he bites out with a scowl. “I also know the prick is here on campus.”
I blink in confusion. “How—”
“I ran into Cole this morning and he told me what happened.”
Well, shit.
“Oh.”
“I’m pissed you didn’t tell me yourself—”
“You’ve been really busy lately.”
It’s not like I intentionally kept it from him, there was just no time to fill him in on everything with his crazy schedule.
“I get that.” He cups my cheek. “But if he bothers you again, you better tell me—”
“He wasn’t bothering me,” I snap before I catch myself. “I mean, I understand why you’re concerned, but it wasn’t like that. He’s …”
Not the bad guy everyone keeps saying he is.
At least he didn’t appear that way yesterday.
“He’s what?” Stone presses.
“He was sitting by himself when I approached him. Not the other way around.”
Stone’s eyes darken. “What do you mean when you approached him? Are you talking to random dudes behind my back now?”
Jesus Christ. Of course, Stone would think that.
He has a jealous streak about a mile long.
“No,” I defend. “There was an open seat next to him on the bench when I went to eat lunch at the lake yesterday and I asked if I could sit down.”
I don’t know what to make of his expression, but it’s not a pleasant one. “Well, if that’s the case, I don’t want you eating lunch by yourself anymore.”
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. “You’re kidding, right?”
I’m nineteen for crying out loud. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself which means I’m allowed to eat lunch with whoever I damn well please.
He points to his face. “Do I look like I’m kidding?” He must sense my irritation because his expression softens. “I’m not trying to be an asshole here, Bianca, but put yourself in my position. This guy not only killed an innocent girl, he almost killed you and you expect me not to be concerned for your safety?”
I get what he’s saying, but I’m too hung up on what else he said. “You knew Oakley was driving the car when we got into the accident?”
Frustrated, he drags a hand through his hair. “Yeah, for about two whole hours now.”
Oh.
“I guess Cole must have told you?”
He nods. “I wish your brothers brought me in the loop earlier, but I get why they kept it a secret from you.” Rage twists his features. “You were better off not remembering that piece of shit.”
A mixture of anger and annoyance rolls through me.
“Let me get this straight. You think it’s okay that they kept something this important from me?”
Because I don’t.
He blows out a heavy breath. “Yeah…maybe. I don’t know, Bourne.” He shrugs. “I think they were in a difficult situation and they did what they thought was right, you know?”
I guess…but it still doesn’t sit well with me.
“I know you’re upset, but try to look at the positive.” Bringing my hand to his lips, he kisses the spot above my engagement ring. “If all that bad shit didn’t happen…we might not have found each other.” Tipping my chin, he kisses me softly. “But we did.”
My phone rings, but I make no move to pick it up because Stone’s tongue slips past my parted lips.
My body sags against him and I soak up every second of his kiss. It’s been so long since we’ve had time to be together and I miss it.
He chuckles softly against my lips when my phone rings again. “You gonna answer that?”
Past…
“You gonna answer that?” Hayley asks as my phone rings for what feels like the millionth time in the last four hours.
I hold down the button until Jace’s name disappears and the screen goes black. “Nope.”
We’re currently sitting on the hood of her car facing some gigantic hiking trail on the outskirts of a forest.
I’ve never been here before, but Zack said it was a chill place to hang and get wasted.
Not that I ever get wasted. Not only did I lose my mom in the car accident, I lost a functioning kidney.
Which means I don’t mess with alcohol.
Zack, who’s standing in front of us, takes a hit off the joint he’s holding. “I still don’t understand what the deal is. That car is sweet. I�
�d be kissing my dad’s ass if he ever bought me a Mercedes.”
I’ve only known him a few hours, but already I hate him.
Annoying prick.
“Her mom died in a car accident when she was a kid,” Hayley tells him, as if that explains everything.
It doesn’t. Not even close.
Nodding sympathetically, Zack gives my knee a squeeze.
Fortunately, Hayley had a denim mini skirt in her trunk along with a spare pair of flip-flops, so I slipped that on over my bathing suit.
I glare down at the hand that’s still squeezing my knee. “You want to lose that hand?”
He doesn’t look at all put off. “Come on. Don’t be shy, beautiful. Hayley already told me the deal.”
Slowly, his hand creeps up my thigh.
Crossing my legs, I lock his hand in place. “Care to enlighten me?”
Smirking, he says, “That you two like to mess around and—”
“Zack?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m gonna need you to shut up and do something more productive with your mouth.” I take the whiskey bottle Hayley’s holding. “Now.”
His eyes turn hooded. “Spread your legs, sexy.”
“Hard pass.” I look at Hayley. “But how about you lick her snatch…while I watch.”
Zack isn’t half as dumb as he looks because he doesn’t protest.
Shifting on her hood, Hayley tugs down her panties. “Finally.”
I watch as Zack’s head disappears between her legs. He’s eager to please, but the look on Hayley’s face tells me he’s not doing a very good job of it.
There was one time a guy—I think his name was DeShawn—made her come in under three minutes.
It looked like so much fun I had him test his oral skills out on me next.
Totally worth it.
But that was the one and only time I let one of our guys touch me. Usually, I just sit back and watch them screw Hayley.
But I’m not in the mood for any of that tonight.
I eye the half bottle of Jack Daniels in my hand.
I’ve never gotten drunk before but with the events that unfolded today, I’m thinking now might be a good time to try it.
“That’s it. Right there.” Hayley groans in frustration. “No. To the left.”
I stifle a laugh. “Maybe he needs a little incentive.”
“The other left,” Hayley all but whimpers.
Damn. This is pitiful.
“Make her come like a good boy and I’ll show you my pussy.” Winking, I look at Hayley. “And make her kiss it.”
That seems to do the trick because Zack goes at her like a champ.
Moments later she’s crying into the night sky and shaking so hard the entire car vibrates.
Zack’s hazy eyes zero in on me. “Your turn.”
I start to spread my legs but pause. “Is your dick hard?”
He grabs the outline of his unimpressive erection through his pants. “Hell yeah it is.”
“Show me.”
He unzips his pants, revealing a long and very skinny dick.
Reaching down, I move my bathing suit to the side, baring myself. “Like what you see?”
He licks his lips. “You gonna let me hit that?”
“Nope.” Reaching over, I grab the back of Hayley’s head. “This isn’t for you.” I bite my lip as she plants a soft kiss on my clit. “Just her.”
Hayley likes it when I make her feel special.
Zack looks like he’s going to pass out. “Man, that’s so fucking hot. You gonna give me a taste?”
I quickly fix my bathing suit and push Hayley’s head away. Show’s over. “Not in this lifetime.”
He’s visibly insulted. “Why are you being such a fucking tease?”
“Because I have something called standards.” I take a swig of the bottle and cough because it burns going down. “Now fuck my friend before we leave you and your pencil dick out in these woods.”
His mouth drops open. “What the fuck is your problem?”
“Right now? You. So I suggest you either do what I asked…or walk the fuck home.” I take another swig and it burns just like the first one did. “Choice is yours, asshole.”
Pants around his ankles, he looks between the both of us. “You bitches are fucked-up.”
That might be true, but at least I’m not a dumbass like he is.
“You have a hot girl ready and willing to fuck you and your pathetic cock and you’re standing here calling me a bitch.” I look at Hayley. “Call someone else. This loser and his stick dick don’t deserve what we’re offering.”
Hayley starts to get up, but Zack moves closer. “No.” In one fell swoop, he pries her thighs apart and thrusts inside her. “I’ll show you stick dick, you fucking cunt.”
I smirk as I take another sip. This time it goes down easier. “Is that all you got? If so that’s fucking sad, dude.”
He sputters another curse, his thrusts picking up speed.
“You’re welcome,” I mouth to Hayley, but she’s too busy getting plowed the way I’m craving to be fucked.
If I ever did ever let anyone fuck me that is.
Unfortunately, my pussy is as picky as I am and won’t settle for just anyone.
It’s why I let Hayley do all the dirty work for me.
She gets to have some fun, and I get the satisfaction of knowing she’s no longer Oakley’s pristine angel.
Picking up my phone, I snap a quick picture of them and add it to my blackmail folder.
Sighing, I take another sip of the amber liquid. “You’re gonna have to do better than that, Zackie.”
He fucks her so hard the car rocks.
Evidently, he does know how to work that thing after all. Good for him.
Head buzzing, I leave them to their fuckfest. “I have to pee.”
Neither of them say a word as I wander into the forest to find a place to pop a squat.
Using the flashlight on my phone, I locate one next to a tree.
After doing my business, I pull some hand sanitizer out of my purse and turn to walk back to the car.
Only, I can’t…because all I see are trees.
I have no idea where I am or how to get back.
No big deal. I’ll just call Hayley.
I dial her number and bring my cell to my ear, but it goes straight to voicemail.
I sit down on a nearby log so I can think, but it’s pointless. My head is buzzing and everything around me is moving in slow motion yet rushing past me at the same time.
“Guess it’s just you and me, buddy,” I declare to the bottle before I take a large gulp and place it down.
I peer at my surroundings. It’s not so scary out here. Kind of peaceful actually.
Hell, if I had a sleeping bag, I’d contemplate spending the night.
I go to reach for the bottle again, but it feels…scaly.
I scream, nearly jumping out of my skin when I see the small black snake coiled around it.
I bolt out of there, running as fast as my legs can carry me.
Which isn’t very fast because holy shit. Everything is spinning.
And…is that a cliff?
I bet if I walked to the edge of it…my death would be peaceful.
Unlike my mom and Liam who definitely didn’t go peacefully.
I stare down at all the jagged rocks I’d hit on the long way down.
I can’t even see the bottom. Not so peaceful after all.
Then again, maybe it’s what I deserve?
Jace and Cole are happy now. They have Dylan and Sawyer to take care of them.
I bet they’d hardly even miss me.
Not like I miss them.
“You promised,” I scream to the stars as tears lodge in my throat.
Liam swore he’d never leave me, and she vowed to take me to India for my eighteenth birthday for our mother-daughter trip…
But here I am…all alone.
“They broke their promises.�
�
“What?” a voice that sounds a whole lot like Oakley’s barks in my ear. “Who? What the hell are you talking about?”
I stare at my phone in confusion because I don’t remember calling him.
“They…I don’t—” my words come out so slurred I’m probably not making any sense. “It hurts.” I can taste the salt from my tears. “I can’t do it anymore, Oakley.”
“Where are you?”
“Standing on the edge of a cliff.”
Wondering if I’ll end up in heaven or hell.
If I’ll ever get to see them again.
“Jesus Christ.” Oakley exclaims. “What cliff? Where?”
It’s funny how he’s pretending to care when we both know he doesn’t.
“I don’t know.”
It’s the truth. This is Zack’s spot, not mine.
“I swear to God if you don’t tell me where the fuck you are—”
“I’m not sure. Near a forest somewhere. I think I passed a waterfall thing. But there was a snake wrapped around my bottle and I ended up running.” Another wave of dizziness washes over me. “Now leave me alone so I can find my bottle of snake, you fucking asshole.”
“Yeah, you’re definitely trashed.”
“Don’t tell my brothers.”
They’re overprotective enough and if they find out about this, they’ll no longer let me hang out with Hayley.
I have to keep scoring blackmail on her.
“I’m pretty sure I know where you are, but I’m gonna need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
I’d do anything for him. Anything in the whole wide world.
“I need you to get the fuck away from that cliff.”
“Why?”
I need to know he cares.
Or better yet…why he stopped caring.
“You’re not stupid. You know why, Bianca.”
He hasn’t called me by my real name in forever. Usually, he refers to me as Satan or Lucifer.
He used to call me his baby girl. Just like my mom.
“You called me Bianca.”
An irritated groan breaks free. “I’m on my way. Do me a solid and get the fuck off that cliff before something happens and Jace and Cole kill me.”
With that, he hangs up.
I fish around my purse for the mini bottle of Malibu rum Hayley asked me to hold earlier.
