6
DELANEY
The yelling from downstairs is so loud, it practically echoes throughout the house. It’s two o’clock in the morning, and Dad caught Tessa sneaking back in again. A part of me considers coming to her rescue, but there’s nothing I could really do to help. If anything, it would just get both of us in trouble, and that wouldn’t do any good.
“What did I tell you about that boy?” he roars. “He’s no good for you!”
“You don’t even know him!” Tess snaps back.
The loud bang against the wall tells me someone threw something, and judging by the scream my sister lets out, it wasn’t her.
“I know enough! You are not to see him again, or I swear to God, I’ll ship your little ass off to boarding school! I don’t care how close you are to graduating!”
It’s not an empty threat—that I’m sure of. He’s been looking up the best places to send her for the past few weeks, ever since he found out she’s been hanging around Easton. Out of his three daughters, Tessa has always been the problem child. She’s the only one who doesn’t get good grades. The only one who has come home drunk. And the only one who doesn’t cower to his demands. To say she gives him a run for his money is a laughable understatement.
Mom tried to get through to her a few times, and when that didn’t work, she tried to get through to Dad—telling him that this is just a phase. Teenage rebellion at its finest. He refuses to let slide.
Tessa storms up the stairs and into her bedroom, slamming the door as soon as she’s inside. She screams into her pillow so loud I can hear it from across the hall, and trust me, this house is anything but small. I grab my phone and send her a text, letting her know I’m awake and here if she needs to talk. Within seconds, she’s sneaking into my room and slipping into bed with me.
“Are you okay?” I whisper.
She sighs. “Yeah. He’s just an asshole.”
We cuddle close, like we used to do when we were younger and heard our parents fighting. No matter how old we get or how different we become, this will always stay the same.
THE NEXT MORNING, TESSA is complaining about how Dad took her car keys. I roll my eyes. I mean, what did she expect? He literally caught her climbing through a window when she was supposed to be sound asleep in bed.
“I should have Easton pick me up for school. Really stick it to Dad.”
Brushing my hair, I chuckle. “As amusing as that may be to watch, I really don’t recommend it. He’ll send you away, and, while you may not care, I do. I’ve seen his search history, Tess. He’s been looking at schools.” I look myself over in the mirror and then turn to face her. “Come on. My car is back from the shop. I’ll drive you.”
Despite her obvious frustrations with the whole situation, she takes my advice and follows me outside. Throughout the ten-minute drive to Haven Grace Prep, I’m pretty sure she only stops talking to take a breath twice. The rest of the time is filled with her ranting about what an asshole our father is, and how our mother lacks a backbone because she never stands up to him. She’s not exactly wrong, but being on the bad side of the people who support us financially just doesn’t sound like a great idea to me.
“All right, I’m going across the street,” she says, as soon as I put the car in park.
“Tess,” I groan. “Can’t you lay low for at least a day? If you’re late to school again, Dad will find out and know exactly where you were.”
“He doesn’t scare me.”
It takes all the patience I have not to try to shake some sense into her. Instead, I put one hand on her shoulder. “All-girl boarding schools don’t have guys. With your overactive sex life, you’d literally have to become a lesbian.”
She cringes. “Gross. Pussy freaks me out.”
“Exactly.” I smile triumphantly. “So, will you just come inside with me?”
Pondering it for a moment, I think she’s about to agree when she shakes her head. “No, I’m going across the street. But you should come with me.”
“Absolutely not. Why would I do that?”
“To make sure I get to school on time. You can tell me when we have to go, and I promise to listen.”
I toss my keys into my purse and open the door. “No. Not happening.”
She meets me at the trunk. “Please? I just want to see him for a second.”
Her bottom lip juts out, and I hate her for pulling that move. Under no circumstances do I want to see Knox again—not after he humiliated me at the diner, only to act like less of an ass later that night. Okay, maybe I lied, and maybe I do want to see him again, but that’s exactly the problem. Out of all the lies he spews, only one is true. I don’t belong anywhere near him. Still, the thing I want least in this world is losing Tessa to boarding school.
“Okay, but only for a minute.”
“Yay!” She cheers. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Looping her arm in mine, the two of us head across the street and behind the public school. It only takes a second before I spot him—leaning up against the brick wall, looking like the pure definition of a bad boy. A cloud of smoke flows from his mouth as he laughs at something Zayn said, and I could easily find myself getting lost in that smile. Hating him would be so much easier if he wasn’t obnoxiously good looking.
“Laney.” Tess gets my attention. I’ve stopped in my tracks. “What are you doing? Let’s go.”
“R-right. Sorry.”
As soon as we’re steps away, my sister releases my arm and cuddles into her boyfriend. I roll my eyes playfully, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I don’t intend on trying to fit in here. Knox has made it crystal clear that I shouldn’t be hanging around them. I’m just giving Tessa a few minutes with Easton while making sure she gets to school on time. That’s all.
“What, no hi?” a familiar, yet cocky, voice asks.
I look up to find Knox giving me one of his smoldering looks. It’s impossible to turn away from, and I need to remind myself to breath as I try to maintain my composure.
“Hi.”
He snickers under his breath, but it’s loud enough for me to hear. “So, are you making this a new habit of yours?”
“What?”
“Tagging along with Tessa wherever she goes?”
It’s only been a couple minutes and he’s already on my nerves. “No.”
Looking me up and down once, he locks his gaze with mine. “That’s too bad.”
It takes everything I have not to react as a feeling I’m not used to flutters inside my stomach. Letting myself be even the slightest bit swayed by him is a bad idea, yet I’m pulled in two different directions. One part of me wants to stay as far away as I can. Forget his name and act like he doesn’t exist. Another, however, craves his presence like a drug. It wants to spend every waking moment learning all there is to know about him. His happy memories. His every insecurity. His favorite things. I want it all.
“Well, maybe if you weren’t such a jerk all the time, I could stand to be around you.”
He places his hand on his chest and feigns hurt. “Ouch. You wound me.”
The sarcasm drips from his lips like a poison, taunting and threatening to cause damage if I let it. His goal is to pull me down to his level, and I’m up too high to fall that far.
“Knox, can’t you be nice for once in your life?” Tess questions, attempting to come to my defense.
He chuckles. “What would be the fun in that? Besides, if Little Laney can’t handle it, she should stay away—like I told her to Friday night.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I snap, fury building over at the fact that he thinks he has any say over what I do.
His brows raise. “Damn Bambi, those are some harsh words. Where’d you learn those?”
It’s too much. No matter how calm I try to stay, he weasels his way under my skin and nips at every nerve I have. It’s been all of five minutes, and he already has me ready to explode.
“Tess, don’t be late for school. I’ll meet y
ou there.”
With that, I turn around and walk away, in an attempt to leave the anger and rage behind me. Knox is an asshole. The worst of the worst. He knows how to get a rise out of me, and he feeds on that. I’ve always tried to make it a point to be kind to others, but with him, it’s like I just want to punch his gorgeous face.
I’m halfway back to HGP when a hand wraps around my wrist. Judging by the way my skin burns at the contact, I don’t even have to look to know who it is. What I don’t expect, however, is to see the vulnerable look in Knox’s eyes as I turn around.
“What do you want?”
He sighs and releases me. “I’m sorry, okay? I thought we were playing around.”
I shake my head. “You weren’t. You’ve been treating me like a pariah since the second we met, telling me to go away and that I shouldn’t be anywhere near you or your friends.”
“Well, you shouldn’t.” As soon as the words leave his mouth, I go to walk away again but he stops me. “I’m not saying it as a bad thing. You have your life together. You deserve more than to get wrapped up in our shit.”
“Isn’t that for me to decide?”
He shrugs. “If I thought you’d make the right choice, sure. But I see that look in your eyes, the way fire mixes with fear, and I don’t think you’d choose correctly.”
“Again, fuck you.”
“See? Like that. I’m already poisoning your sunny disposition.” He reaches forward and rubs his knuckle down my cheek. “Don’t go all hard on me now. Soft looks beautiful on you.”
Just like that, he turns around and leaves me frozen where I’m standing. I swear, the mood swings on that one is going to give me whiplash.
I’M SITTING IN MY room with Savannah, listening to her tell me about how she caught Jace and Paige hooking up. It doesn’t surprise me. Paige is always looking for a way to feel more in charge, and Jace could have practically anyone he wants. What catches me off guard more is when she mentions that Carter hasn’t messed around with anyone since New Year’s.
“I don’t know, Lane. I think he may actually be serious about this thing for you.”
I shake my head. “There’s no way. That boy is the definition of a player. The only thing keeping his interest on me right now is the fact that I’m not in his bed.”
She smiles. “And if it’s not?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what if it’s not just the chase he’s after? What if you’re the one he actually wants to throw out his playboy ways for?”
It’s not a question I’ve let myself entertain very often. Carter can be a sweetheart, when he wants to be, but I’ve also heard the rumors and the things that come out of his mouth. I’d be a fool to allow myself to think anything could become of him and me.
Just as I’m about to change the subject, Tessa barges in and does it for me—only not to one I’d like to discuss.
“What’s going on between you and Knox?”
My eyes widen as Savannah chokes on air. “Knox Vaughn?”
“Do you know any others?” Tessa dismisses her and then turns back to me. “Seriously. What’s up? I’ve never seen him chase after anyone like that before.”
“It’s nothing. He just wanted to apologize for being a douche.”
“He apologized?” The two of them gawk in unison.
“Yes?”
Tessa seems too shocked to say anything else, but Savannah moves to the end of my bed. “Delaney, trust me when I say this, you can’t get involved with him. He’s bad news. Him and his brigade of tyrants.”
“Hey!” Tess barks.
Savannah changes the focus of her attention. “What? You know it’s true, and besides, Delaney is entirely way too good for him.”
My sister relaxes as she sees her point. “Maybe Sav is right.”
“You know,” I begin, “I’m really tired of everyone telling me what to do. Who I should and shouldn’t talk to. Where I do and don’t belong. I’m not a child.”
“We know, and we’re not trying to control you.” Savannah keeps her tone calm. “It’s just, he’s trouble and you’re…pure. His world will chew you up and spit you out.”
I roll my eyes. “Tessa handles them just fine.”
Sav chuckles. “Tessa is just as bad as they are.” When Tess opens her mouth to say something, Savannah levels her with a look. “Don’t even start. You’ve been a little rebel since you were five.” She turns back to me. “I’m trying to protect you here, Lane. Stay away from him, okay?”
I don’t want to agree, especially after the way he made me feel today with the simplest touch. However, I know if I don’t, she’ll never let it go—so I nod, making a promise I’m already half certain I’m going to break.
THE RESTAURANT IS FANCY, requiring Tessa and I to both be wearing dresses—matching ones, thanks to my parents’ belief that being twins means looking the same in all aspects. I can tell it’s driving her insane, since she’s not the type to dress up in something so formal, but I don’t necessarily mind it.
Our aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents all fill the very large table while Tessa and I sit across from each other in the middle. Celebrating our birthday a week early makes me feel older than I actually am. After tonight, I’ll probably be convinced I’m already eighteen, even though I’m not. Still, it’s always nice to see family.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Dad says as he stands with his glass. “To my two beautiful baby girls. I can’t believe you’re both becoming adults. It feels like just yesterday I was trying to juggle you in my arms. I hope your birthday is everything you’ve always imagined. I love you.”
Tess subtly rolls her eyes while we all drink—champagne for the adults and sprite for us. However, I don’t miss the way Uncle Dom sneaks some of his alcohol into her glass with a wink. He’s always been the funcle of the family.
I spend the next few hours eating delicious food, answering questions about what university I’m learning toward, and blowing out candles on our shared birthday cake. By the time we go to leave, I’m exhausted. I climb into the back of the limo my father hired and rest my head on my sister’s shoulder. I don’t even realize I’ve fallen asleep until a loud squeal wakes me up.
“Laney! Laney, look!” she screams, and I tiredly gaze out the window.
Two Lamborghini Aventadors, one white and one black, sit in our driveway, with big red bows on them. Tess and I jump out of the limo with huge smiles on our faces, running over to look at the best presents known to man. My name in cursive is written on the bow for the white one, and Tessa’s is on the black—telling us exactly which is whose.
“Do you like them?” our dad asks, and for the first time in years, Tess smiles at him genuinely.
“Yes!” We both shout at the same time, running up to give both our parents hugs and kisses.
Dad smiles happily and hands us each a set of keys. “They’re very fast, very powerful, and very expensive cars. Drive them carefully.”
Everything out of his mouth after that is a blur as we check out our new cars.
Eighteen isn’t looking so bad.
7
KNOX
Being on the football team, I’ve been through my fair share of heavy workouts. Hell, there have been times I’ve thrown up from being worked so hard. And yet, nothing has knocked me on my ass as much as training for The Underground. Grayson and I have only been working with Jackson for the past week, but fuck am I sore. I’ve even gone as far as taking an ice bath to try to ease the pain in my muscles. The only thing that did was make my dick so small it practically tried to crawl up inside me.
“I can’t believe that bitch of a teacher called my dad,” Stone continues to rant. “I changed the report card from an F to a B perfectly. It was fucking flawless, and then she went and ruined it. I mean, it’s only woodshop. What kind of woman teaches woodshop anyway?”
“The bitchiest of them all,” Gage eggs him on.
He throws his arms in the air. “That’
s what I’m saying! Such a fucking cunt, I swear. Now my prick of a father is talking about sending my ass to summer school to make it up. It’s woodshop! It’s not even required!”
Zayn groans and throws his lighter at Stone. “You complain like a whiny little girl, you know that? Be a goddamn man about it. Do something to get revenge and move the fuck on.”
“You’re right.” Stone nods. “Let’s jump her!”
“Okay, Rambo, a little less reprehensible.”
“Egg her house?” Easton suggests.
Stone thinks about it for a second then shakes his head. “Not enough.”
“Graffiti her house.”
The idea comes from Gage, and Stone instantly jumps into his lap. “I knew there was a reason I love you.”
We all laugh as Gage pushes Stone off him and onto the floor. Still, while spray-painting a teacher’s house wasn’t on my agenda for the day, it’s not something I’m against doing. I’ve met the woman he’s complaining about, and he’s right—she’s a total bitch.
“All right, are we doing this shit?” I ask, getting up from my couch.
Everyone else follows while Easton looks at his phone. “Can we wait for Tess? She’ll be here in a second.”
“I thought you two were just fucking around?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “We are. Why?”
I shrug. “It doesn’t seem that way. You two are together more than you’re not.”
“She’s a good lay. Don’t get your panties in a twist. Besides, I think her sister has the hots for you.”
Thoughts of Delaney instantly fill my mind. It’s not the first time, either. The fact that I’ve dreamed of her beneath me is something I’ll forever keep to myself. Her hair fanned out on the pillow. Her innocence tainted with every inward thrust I make. The images are burned into my brain, and it didn’t even happen. I can only imagine what the real thing would do to me.
The Saint: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Haven Grace Prep Book 2) Page 5
