Rival

by Penelope Douglas

  I quickly glanced at Jared again, wondering if Madoc ever told him about us, but he wasn’t paying attention.

  “We just never hit it off.” I shrugged to Tate, keeping my voice light. “With the way these two behaved around you the last time I was in town,” I joked, gesturing to Jared and Madoc, “I’m sure you understand where I’m coming from.”

  She grinned and twisted her head to the side, looking up at her boyfriend. “Yeah, I guess I do.” And then she fixed me with a stern expression. “But I also know there’s two sides to every story. You two should talk.”

  “We can barely stand to be in the same room together.”

  Madoc was still across the fire, eyes shifting between Tate and me, and there was no mistaking it. He was pissed. Maybe he wondered what we were talking about, or maybe he just didn’t want me here.

  Hell, I knew he didn’t want me here—which was why I was here.

  Clipped voices to my left caught my attention, and I dragged my gaze away from Madoc.

  “I would think that if you don’t have the balls to get on the track yourself, then you can shut up.” The guy next to Madoc was barking at Jax, who still sat next to me.

  “And race who?” Jax sneered. “You? Yeah, that’ll get me off. I’ll race when it’s a challenge.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you want from me, Jax, but I’m sick of—”

  “You want to know what I want?” Jax interrupted, keeping his voice cocky. “I want your girlfriend to wipe off her poseur pink lip gloss and get in my car. That’s what I want.”

  I darted my eyes to all of the snorts going off around the fire. Madoc laughed silently, shaking his head, while Jared’s body shook as he buried his laughter in Tate’s neck.

  Tate saw my confused look and explained. “That’s Liam,” she whispered. “He’s K.C.’s boyfriend.” She pointed to the beautiful dark-haired girl sitting next to Liam, who stared at her lap, stunned. “He cheated on her last year, but they got back together. Jax hasn’t said anything, but I think he . . .”

  Wants her. I finished her thought in my head. Well, if he wants her, then why wasn’t he going after her? Clearly, her winner of a boyfriend had nothing on him.

  Liam’s jaw turned hard as his gaze trailed between Jax and his shocked girlfriend, who looked like she wanted to crawl inside of her shell. “Is something going on between you two?” he asked her.

  She pursed her lips and swallowed, averting everyone’s eyes. “Of course not,” she said quietly.

  Everyone watched as Jax and Liam went at it, and Jared, Tate, and Madoc all either smiled, laughed, or stiffened as Jax cracked jokes or suffered an insult. I realized how much of a unit they all were, and how they all stuck together. Madoc had a smile of pride in his eyes when he looked at Jax like a brother, and he had such an ease with Tate. He had a family in them.

  Well, aside from Liam and K.C., anyway. She stayed quiet, clearly embarrassed, but her quick glances at Jax didn’t escape my notice, either. She looked breakable. Kind of like I was once.

  But breaking was beautiful. It hurt, and it was an uphill climb back to sanity, but you came back stronger, fiercer, and more solid than you were before.

  I waved my hands in front of me and shook my head at Liam, finally having enough of the idiocy. “Whoa,” I interrupted whatever asinine comment he was making. “So you cheated on your girlfriend last year.” I stopped and waved at K.C. “Hi, K.C. I’m Fallon, by the way.” And then I shot my attention back over to Liam. “And you’re worried about her cheating on you? I’d say you got a better girl than you deserve.” Snorts sounded around the fire, and K.C. shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable.

  With her eyebrows narrowed, she stood up and hesitated as if she wasn’t sure what move to make without instructions. My eyes dropped to her thumbnail that she kept dragging across the wrist of her other hand.

  “I’m heading home.” She grabbed her T-shirt and pulled it over her bikini top. “See you all later.”

  She walked down the stone steps to the pool deck, and I saw Jax’s fists tighten when Liam got up and approached him.

  He leaned down, hovering over Jax, whose forearms rested on his knees, and he did nothing more than cock his head, welcoming whatever Liam was bringing.

  “Leave him alone, Liam.” K.C.’s deep command surprised me, and I peered around her boyfriend to see a fire in her eyes that wasn’t there before.

  Liam ignored her and threatened Jax under his breath. “She’s mine.”

  “Only until I start trying,” Jax shot back.

  And we all did a piss-poor job hiding our smiles as Liam marched off the patio, following K.C.

  One thing I knew right then and there. I might hate Madoc, but I loved his friends.

  CHAPTER 7

  MADOC

  I was going to throttle her.

  Not the girl at my feet whose neck I imagined was Fallon’s as I tried not to strangle it but Fallon herself.

  The chick walked around my party as if this was her house, and she had friends here. She and Tate were acting like they were besties already, and Jax was smiling and chatting her up. Next thing I knew Jared was going to be talking shop about her motorbike or some shit.

  What was her game? Why come home willingly after so long when she practically ran from here two years ago? She was only going to be here a week. What was she doing?

  “Who is that?”

  Taylor, the girl sitting between my legs, had turned around and was questioning me. She looked over at Fallon and then back at me, and I realized that I’d been staring.

  Not good.

  I flashed a smile, trying to appear cocky. “Someone who likes to watch, I guess.”

  Fallon had been staring, too. We’d been locked in for who knew how long, and I was hoping no one had noticed.

  I did a quick sideways glance around the fire. Jared was whispering in Tate’s ear, while she nuzzled into him, and everyone else was deep in conversation.

  “Get lost, honey.” My date, Taylor, snickered in Fallon’s direction.

  “You’re in the middle of a party, honey.” Fallon mimicked Taylor’s fake sweetness. “Get a room.”

  Taylor made a move to get up, but I put my hands on her shoulders, gently pushing her back down.

  Taylor wasn’t a wallflower. She acted catty, but she had the guts to back it up, too.

  “It’s okay.” The rumble of a laugh began in my throat, but my tone rang true. “Fallon likes to cause trouble. Don’t let her draw you in.”

  Fallon’s green eyes burned across the fire, and I waited for a reaction I thought for sure would come. She always spat something back.

  “You should watch who you invite to your parties, Madoc.” Taylor leaned her back into the seat of the chair, relaxing again.

  “I didn’t invite her,” I replied. “I feel sorry for her, though. She doesn’t have many friends.”

  Taylor laughed. “Yeah, her clothes will only get her enemies.”

  “Madoc, what the hell—” Tate started but got cut off.

  “It’s okay, Tate.” Fallon sat up straight and pushed her glasses to the top of her head. The audience around the fire pit had grown as quiet as a graveyard.

  Fallon continued. “We learned in school that bullies abuse others because they feel bad about themselves. They’re hurting.” She brought up her knees and locked her arms around them, her tone light and taunting. “We shouldn’t be mad. We should pity them. Madoc has never had to make a real decision in his entire life, which means he’s never had anything real. This house, the cars, the money. It’s all an illusion. It’s like parading a victory when you missed the war.” She took a breath and whispered slowly. “Madoc has no idea who he is.”

  Something gripped my heart, and it felt like it was spreading across my chest and down my arms. I let the fake amusement in my eyes seep out toward her, but I didn’t feel the humor.

  Fallon had always been so stubborn. Always. She spouted off and said shit that she
didn’t think about all in an effort to look tough.

  But now it was different. More calculated. She’d thought about me. Assessed me. And anticipated my reactions.

  “You’re right, Fallon.” I looked down at the beer in my hand, swirling the brown liquid in the cup. Letting out a condescending sigh, I took out my phone, gesturing. “But I also know that if I call my parents right now, they’ll both answer. My mom would fly here on a moment’s notice if I needed her, and my dad isn’t hiding from wiretaps or indictments. I also have friends I wouldn’t trade for any of this shit.” I waved my hand, referring to the estate. “And I do have something else going for me.”

  I grinned as big as my face would allow and popped up, draining my beer. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone, knowing they were all watching anyway.

  Don’t do it.

  Tossing my cup to the side, I ran down the stone steps to the lower-level deck and circled the pool to where the music was playing near the patio doors to the house. “I can sing.” The sky flashed with lightning as I got ready.

  Clicking to one of my workout playlists, I opened an Offspring song—perfect for this occasion—and grabbed a water bottle to use as a microphone.

  The lyrics started before the music, and I was ready. With a couple of small changes, of course. Offspring’s “Why Don’t You Get a Job?” gave me only a second to catch my breath, because the lyrics started before the music.

  “My dad’s got a wife!” I belted, standing up on the edge of the Jacuzzi. “Man, he hates that bitch!” Everyone spun around to face me.

  I gripped the water bottle and when the drums started, I bobbed my head in rhythm to the beat, letting the crowd feed off my attitude.

  My attitude. It’s what I fed off of as well. It’s what made people like me.

  I continued the song, smiling as the crowd started singing and laughing, too. Beers sloshed as people held up their cups, dancing and hollering their approval.

  A hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking me off the ledge.

  “What the hell’s the matter with you?” Jared asked.

  I couldn’t keep my amusement in check. Everyone was dancing and belting out the lyrics, clearly drunker than I was.

  I snorted. “Wait.” I held up a hand. “You’re going to give me tips on how to treat a woman? Wait while I take notes.”

  “She’s your family, dickhead. And she just ran out of here in embarrassment!”

  She left?

  I stepped around Jared, making for the house, but was cut off.

  “I think she’s had enough.” His voice was softer but still firm.

  I didn’t know where he got off being so self-righteous. How many times had he tormented Tate—and now he was pulling the reins on me?

  “Do you remember the time I wanted to help you, and you told me to keep my mouth shut?” I bared my teeth. “Time to take your own advice.”

  Whatever. Maybe he thought I was drunk, or maybe he was trying to calm a situation he didn’t understand, but I didn’t like how he immediately went to protecting her.

  Fallon didn’t get to have my friends.

  I threw open the sliding-glass door and charged inside, steering around people loitering in the kitchen and down the hall into the marble-tiled foyer.

  Swinging myself around the thick banister, I started taking stairs two at a time.

  “You’re not looking for your sister, are you?” my friend Sam called behind me, and I rocked back on the step. He had door duty, checking people’s keys on the way in and sobriety on the way out.

  I turned around, not liking the way he’d asked that. “My stepsister,” I clarified. “Yeah, I’m looking for her. Why?”

  He jerked his thumb to the front door. “She just took your car.”

  My eyes widened. Son of a bitch!

  “You gave her my keys?” I yelled, pounding down the stairs.

  He straightened his back, pushing himself against the wall from the stool where he sat.

  “She’s your sister,” he said as if that was explanation enough.

  I held out my hand. “Give me Jared’s keys,” I barked.

  “He and Tate keep theirs in their room. They weren’t going anywhere tonight, anyway.”

  “Then give me Jax’s!”

  Sam’s mouth dropped open, and he fumbled as he dug through the bowl of keys.

  Leave it alone.

  Go to bed.

  Or better yet, go get Taylor and go to bed.

  Sometimes I wondered if the angels talked to get me to behave or to entice the devil to come out to play.

  I grabbed the keys out of Sam’s hand and bolted out the door.

  CHAPTER 8

  FALLON

  I’d snatched Madoc’s keys and run out of the house, but it wasn’t until I got on the road that I realized I didn’t have any fucking clue where I was going. This town had no friends for me, no family, and there was really nowhere I could run to regroup.

  At least at St. Joseph’s I’d found solace in the chapel. I didn’t go to pray, and I barely participated in the masses even though they were required for students. But I liked the chapel. It was beautiful and quiet. Pray or not, it was a good place to think.

  To plan.

  No such luck right now, though. It was too dark for the quarry, and pretty soon it was going to be too wet for any outdoor space. As it was almost midnight, it was also too late for any public indoor escape, as well.

  Thunder cracked nearby, echoing across the black sky, and I applied the brakes when rain started to splatter the windshield. I’d noticed the lightning and thunder at the party, which was why I’d borrowed Madoc’s car. Didn’t want to get pummeled with rain on my bike.

  When the prince found out, it was going to take them a week to unbunch the panties up his ass. Guys didn’t like their cars messed with.

  And I didn’t like being messed with, so I guessed we were even. I punched the stick shift into fifth gear and hit the gas.

  Slow down and get it together, Fallon.

  I already had what I needed on my mom and Mr. Caruthers. I just needed Madoc.

  But I hadn’t known it was going to be this hard. Seeing him. Knowing that what he said was true. I tried to act like I was stronger. I mean, after everything that had happened, I should be, right?

  Tears burned my eyes, threatening to spill, but I forced down the golf ball–sized ache in my throat.

  As I traveled down the deserted highway, I zoned in on the sound of the spray being kicked up by my tires and the headlights reflected off the black road. Up ahead the lights from the town glowed bright, and I spotted a familiar sign off to the side.

  IROQUOIS MENDOZA PARK.

  Tons of afternoons and weekends spent there flashed through my mind.

  It was where I used to hang out with the few friends I did have when I attended high school here. I shook my head and almost laughed. The park had an awesome skating area.

  Nostalgia pulled me into a left turn, and I drove into the park, coming to a stop right in front of one of the many bowls. Overhead lighting was usually available when events were going on in the park, but tonight everything was eerily dark. I left the car running and the headlights on to illuminate the area.

  Stepping out of the car, I blinked against the light but steady fall of rain. My feet squeaked in my wet flip-flops as I walked to the edge of the deserted bowl and peered down into the smooth, shallow depth. Slipping my shoes off my feet and shivering in my now damp clothes, I sat and then slid down into the bowl, feeling the velvety cement on my toes.

  A shiver ran through my body again, but I wasn’t cold. The night was warm, and although the rain made the air chillier, it was a comfortable temperature. I took a step, breathing hard, feeling too damn closed in by the steep walls around me. They never used to scare me. I used to charge down the vert, relishing how my heart pumped faster as I raced at top speed toward the next incline.

  This was where I used to breathe easier. But now . . .


  I spun around, the low growl of an engine digging through the thick air. The peel of tires pierced the calm as a black Mustang screeched to a halt next to Madoc’s GTO.

  Straightening my shoulders, I tipped my chin up and prepared to face what I knew was coming.

  Madoc jumped out of the car, not even caring to close the door behind him. “You stole my car?!” he shouted, peering down into the bowl.

  With the headlights behind him, the area was well lit, and I tried to breathe against the flutter in my chest.

  He was here. We were alone. We were angry.

  Déjà vu.

  This is what I wanted. It’s what I’d planned.

  But I turned my back on him, anyway.

  I’d told myself time and again that I didn’t care what he thought of me. I didn’t want his heart, after all. It wasn’t part of the equation. He didn’t need to love me or respect me for this to work. I would get what I wanted without worrying about whatever was in his head. It. Did. Not. Matter.

  So why couldn’t I just draw him in like I’d planned? Why did I want to spit back?

  “I didn’t steal it. I borrowed it, princess,” I shot back.

  He jumped down into the bowl, his flip-flops slapping against the wet cement as he drew closer to me. “Don’t touch my shit, Fallon!”

  “Oh, but you got to come into my room last night and touch me? You don’t get to have everything, Madoc.”

  He stopped a few feet from me, and I felt the walls of the bowl close in as he stared. I expected more yelling and insults, but he just stood there, looking like everything that could destroy me without even speaking a word. Looking like everything that nearly did destroy me.

  He was still dressed in only his board shorts and flip-flops. No shirt. I guess he would’ve left the house in a hurry if he was coming after me. He’d changed so much in the years I’d been gone. Now his shoulders and arms were works of art. Madoc had always liked to work out, and it paid off. He was built like a quarterback, and he was tall. I wished I didn’t feel the invisible cord pulling me to him, wanting to touch him again, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. We always want what’s bad for us.