“You going somewhere?” Mom asks, pushing my door open, without invitation, later that night. I’m currently standing in my underwear in front of my bed with the entire contents of my closet spread out on the comforter.
“Heath invited me to a party.” I tell the truth, expecting her to ground me, and then I’ll have a perfect excuse not to go, but she surprises the hell out of me.
“Good. I’m glad you’re making new friends.”
My jaw slackens as I stare at her. “But I’m suspended from school. Shouldn’t you ground me?”
She purses her lips as she eyeballs me. “Maybe, but I want you to be happy here, sweetheart.” She crosses the room, tilting my chin up with one finger. “That’s more important. Go out and have some fun. God knows you deserve it.” She presses a kiss to my forehead, and I’m wondering if aliens have secretly abducted my mom and some extraterrestrial imposter is pretending to be her. I blink profusely as I watch her saunter to the doorway. “And you should wear the purple dress. I always loved it on you. It really brings out the color in your eyes.” She quietly closes the door, leaving me in shock.
I don’t wear the purple dress. Or any dress. It’s not in keeping with the whole inconspicuous look I’m going for. Instead, I’m wearing black skinny jeans, a beaded, lace-trimmed black tank top, and Ethan’s faded gray leather jacket. It’s too big on me, but I like wearing it, and I’d challenge anyone to make me part with it. My boots have a little bit of a lift, thanks to the wedge heel, making me taller than my five feet nine inches. A light layer of makeup is my only armor as I wave at Mom before snatching my woolen scarf and bailing out the front door. I practically sprint toward Heath’s SUV, scrambling in the back before Mom can make an appearance and embarrass me.
“Hey, babe.” Skeet leans over and kisses my cheek, immediately threading his fingers through mine. He definitely gives new meaning to touchy-feely, but I genuinely don’t mind. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” I smile sweetly at him before glancing at Heath and Axel in the front.
“So, your parents didn’t ground you after all?” Heath inquires as he drives off.
“No. Mom basically shoved me out the door with the biggest grin on her face.”
“I like her already,” Skeet jokes, tugging me into his side. He nuzzles his nose in my neck, audibly inhaling. “You smell divine,” he murmurs, and my heart flutters behind my ribcage.
“Boundaries.” Axel’s one-word warning has Skeet flipping him the bird. “And I saw that.” Axel returns the gesture from the front without even glancing back, and I can’t stop the giggle from escaping my lips.
Skeet grins, repositioning us a little so we’re half-facing one another. “Doucheface has a point, I suppose. My family is pretty free with the love and affection”—Heath almost chokes on his laughter and Axel snorts—“and I’m demonstrative with those I care about, but I know it’s not exactly normal. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, so if I overstep, just point it out and I’ll back off.”
“Okay.” I drag my lower lip between my teeth as I briefly consider it. “But I’m fine with it.”
His answering smile is so wide it threatens to split his face in two. “Cool.” He waggles his brows, slinging his arm around my shoulder while smacking a loud kiss off my cheek. “And just so we’re clear,” he adds, pressing his mouth to my ear and whispering seductively. “I care about you.”
His emerald green eyes twinkle with mischief, and there’s something so refreshingly different about Skeet that I’m drawn to. He’s blunt but never in a malicious way. He’s honest and not afraid of expressing himself, and that’s a big turn-on. “I care about you too,” I whisper, and he tweaks my nose, settling us back into the seat as Heath drives us to the party.
“Wow, this place is something else,” I admit, gawking at the magnificent mansion up ahead as Heath navigates the long driveway behind a line of other cars. “Who is this Lance guy? Does he go to our school?”
“We met Lance at Little League when we were three,” Skeet starts explaining. “That’s how we all became friends. We used to be the awesome foursome, but now we’re the awesome threesome because Lance’s parents put him into boarding school overseas and we don’t get to see much of him anymore.”
“But his parents are on a cruise for the next few weeks, and he got suspended for a month, so he’s making the most of the opportunity,” Heath confirms, before I can even pose the question, parking the car and killing the engine.
“What’d he do to get suspended for a month?” I inquire, watching a bunch of boys and girls exit neighboring cars, making their way around the back of the house.
Axel turns around to face me for the first time with a half-smirk on his face. “You sure you want to know?”
“Now I definitely want to know,” I say, unbuckling my belt and sitting up straighter.
“He smuggled some girls into his room and was caught in a compromising position,” Heath says, hijacking the conversation before Axel has time to reply.
Skeet roars with laugher, slapping a hand on his thigh. “Dude! Who shoved a stick up your prissy ass?!” He slaps his thigh again. “Compromising position,” he murmurs in between chuckling and shaking his head.
Axel’s eyes smolder as he fixes me with a heated stare. “Lance was caught fucking one girl while fingering another. The other two girls were fucking each other when the night supervisor walked in on them.” He continues staring at me, and I know he’s baiting me, waiting to see how I’ll react. He thinks he knows me, but he doesn’t know everything.
My lips kick up at the corners. “Yep, that’d do it all right.” I deliberately wet my lips, still locked in a battle of wills with Axel. “And now I’m really looking forward to meeting Lance.”
“Oh, hell to the no,” Skeet says, instantly sobering up. “I don’t like the idea of you anywhere near that dirtbag.”
Axel quirks a brow, breaking eye contact with me to send an amused grin at his friend. “Double standards much, dude?”
“Screw off, Thorp. I love sex, but I’m not fucking around with different girls every day of the week like Gibbons.”
“You know it’s a fuck you to the rents,” Heath says, opening my door and offering me his hand.
Axel thumps him in the arm when we round the front of the car. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s all Lance’s getting out of it.”
Heath scowls at Axel before looping my arm in his. “Stay close to one of us at all times. Lance is a crazy motherfucker, and this party will definitely be wild.”
“Sure.” My voice sounds calm even if I’m quaking on the inside. I don’t want to admit that my anxiety level is off the charts and I’ve no intention of going anywhere inside that house without one of them by my side.
“What’s your poison?” Skeet asks when we make our way into the pool house which has been transformed into party central for the night. Although, calling it a pool house seems ridiculous based on the sheer size of the place. It must have at least four or five bedrooms if the vast living room and opulent kitchen are any indication. There’s even a game room with a large pool table and several gaming consoles. Heath made a beeline for it the second we stepped foot in the space.
“I’ll have a Coke.”
“You don’t drink?” he asks, grabbing a chilled can from the refrigerator for me and a couple beers for himself and Axel. The kitchen is teeming with people, most I don’t recognize but that’s not unusual. I’m still trying to memorize faces and names at school.
“Alcohol doesn’t agree with me.” I pop the lid on the can and take a few sips, hoping he doesn’t pry anymore. He doesn’t, but Axel turns that penetrative lens on me, and I can tell he understands there’s more to it than my simple statement.
“Rat bastards!” A tall guy with reddish-blond hair shouts over the noise, stalking in our direction. He performs some elaborate man-shak
e with Skeet before thumping Axel in the shoulder. “S’up asshats?” He grins at them before draining the remnants from his beer and tossing the empty bottle at the sink. His aim is off, and the bottle drops to the floor, smashing into smithereens. People dart out of the way, girls shrieking as little splatters of beer land on them.
“Still can’t shoot for shit,” Skeet teases, pulling me in close to his side. The stranger notices, and it’s almost comical how fast his whole demeanor changes. “Well, hello there, beautiful. Who are you, and where have you been my entire life?”
“Does that line usually work for you, Lance?” I ask with a teasing grin. I’m guessing he’s our host although it’ll be embarrassing if he’s not.
“Like a charm,” he acknowledges with a wink.
I laugh, extending my hand. “I’m Blaire. Nice to meet you.”
He lifts my hand to his mouth, pressing a wet kiss on my skin. “The pleasure is all mine.” He makes no effort to conceal his blatant perusal of my body. “Definitely, all mine,” he adds, licking his lips in a suggestive manner as his gaze sticks to my chest. I’m wearing a push-up bra tonight, and the swell of my breasts is visible behind the lace trim of my top. Lance isn’t the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen, but he has a certain charisma and a whole lot of personality which more than makes up for it. With anyone else, I’d call him out for the suggestive comments and sleazy looks, but I just find it funny. I figure he’s exaggerating to wind the guys up, and it’s not as sinister as it seems on the surface.
So, I’m hugely surprised when Axel gets all offended on my behalf.
Chapter Nine
“Back the fuck down.” Axel steps in front of me, pushing his chest into Lance’s. Axel has a couple inches in height on Lance, but Lance is carrying at least an extra twenty pounds in weight, and I’m sure he could take Axel if he wanted to. “And apologize.”
Lance holds up his palms, grinning like a lunatic. “My girl Blaire knows I’m just messing around.”
“I’m warning you now, Gibbons,” Axel growls. “Keep your fucking hands, and other parts of your anatomy, away from Blaire.” Skeet shoots a loaded look at Lance for added effect.
Lance chuckles. “It’s too fucking easy to do this. Chill the fuck out. I’m only fucking with ya. And I’ll be the perfect gentleman.” Shoving Axel aside, he takes my hand again. “I apologize if I caused any offense.”
“I’m cool.”
“I’m getting that, but these two.” He shakes his head, his gaze bouncing between the boys. “Never thought I’d see the day, but, yeah, I think the Taylor influence is definitely at play here.”
The Taylor influence? I frown a little, confused and unsure what he’s inferring. Axel locks up tight, glaring at Lance. “You’re talking out your ass, and now I’m pissed.” Grabbing another beer, he stomps off to the front room without another word.
“Oh, was it something I said?” Lance feigns innocence.
“Something tells me you can’t help stirring shit,” I say, sipping my soda.
“I’ve got to do something to ease the boredom at school,” he admits.
“It didn’t sound like school was all that boring for you,” I retort, unable to smother my grin.
Lance slaps Skeet around the head. “Thanks for ruining my chances before I even met her.”
“Don’t blame me. I never said a word.” Skeet tightens his arm around my waist, and I lean into him. “And Blaire is capable of making her own choices. If she wants a ride on your disease-ridden dick, who am I to stop her?”
I burst out laughing.
“I’m not infectious, I swear,” Lance rushes to reassure me. “I get tested every quarter. I can show you.” He reaches into the back pocket of his jeans, extracting a crumpled piece of paper and thrusting it at me. Skeet and I crack up laughing, and then someone hollers for Lance from outside, and he dashes off, shouting back at me as he blows kisses my direction. “We’re not finished this conversation, gorgeous. Later.” He winks, and I have to clutch my stomach I’m laughing so hard.
“Oh my God,” I say when I finally compose myself. “Did that just happen?”
“Dude’s crazy, but he’s actually a good guy underneath the persona he wears.”
“Let’s be serious,” a new voice says, and I spin around the same time Skeet does, coming face to face with a very pretty girl with strawberry-blonde hair hanging in wavy lines to her waist. “Dude’s got issues, but he knows how to throw a rocking party.”
“Shaznay.” Skeet grabs the girl into his arms, lifting her clear off the floor. A pang of jealousy hits me as I watch them hug it out. She’s squealing, pleading with him to let her down, and by the way she’s looking at him, she clearly things he hung the moon. I look around for any sign of Heath or Axel, but Axel has disappeared completely, and Heath is in what looks like a tense stand-off with Cassie over in the corner. As if I’ve called her out, she picks her head up and glares at me.
“Blaire,” Skeet says, tugging on my elbow and reclaiming my attention. “I’d like you to meet my little sister. Shaznay, Blaire. Blaire, Shaznay.”
“Your sister?” I stupidly blurt, relief flowing over me like a waterfall.
“My sister.” He enunciates the word, grinning and letting me know he understands exactly where my head went.
“You weren’t kidding. She’s stunning,” Shaznay says, giving her brother a thumbs-up before lunging at me, and folding me into the tightest hug imaginable.
“I told you it runs in the family.” Skeet smiles at the startled expression on my face.
“Oh, sorry!” Shaznay releases me, standing back to examine my face. “I’ve just been super excited to meet you. It’s been so long since Skeet has gushed about any girl.”
“Wow, thanks for that, sis.” His eyes pop wide as he levels a chastising look at his sister.
“Just keeping it real, bro.” She grabs him into another quick hug. “And I really did miss your annoying, ugly face.”
“And the compliments keep on coming,” Skeet deadpans, reaching out for me. He tucks me into his side again, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Shaz has been galivanting around Europe with her godmother the last few weeks,” he explains, putting on a fake posh upper-crust English accent that is halfway decent. “They were trapped by Storm Frank and had to wait almost a week to catch a flight out of the UK.”
“It was dreadfully tragic,” Shaznay says, also adopting a mock-English accent, one that is vastly superior to Skeet’s attempt. She pretends to fan her face. “And I hated missing the first week back at school.”
“Sounds horrid,” I agree with a grin.
She pats her chest dramatically. “I’m not sure I’ll ever recover.”
“Why does shit like that never happen to me?” Skeet bemoans. “And how come you got the awesome godmother and I’m stuck with Liam’s conservative sister who would rather walk over hot coals than spend any time with me?”
“Jealousy isn’t very becoming, brother dearest,” Shaznay reprimands him before nudging him in the ribs with her elbow. “Get over yourself!”
“I need a fucking beer or ten,” Heath spews, barging his way into the conversation like a speeding train.
“Have at it.” Skeet thrusts a bottle into Heath’s hand.
“Let me guess,” Shaznay says. “The queen bee is laying down the law again.”
“I can’t even …” He shakes his head, exhaling loudly as he squeezes his eyes shut. Skeet and Shaznay trade knowing looks. Heath’s eyes reopen, and he gives Shaznay a big hug. “Good to have you back, baby Taylor.” He messes up the hair on top of her head, and she shoves him off.
“I see you haven’t gotten any less irritating while I’ve been away. And quit with the baby Taylor nickname. That shit was cute when I was, like, five.” She narrows her eyes at him.
“Get out. I know you secretly love it,” Heath q
uips. “Makes you feel all special and shit.”
“Boys.” She rolls her eyes dramatically before pinning me with a conspiratorial grin. “They are completely clueless.”
“Heath!” A high-pitched voice shouts across the room, and I don’t need to look to know it’s Cassie. Her nasally tone is forever imprinted on my brain.
“I can’t take any more of her shit tonight.” Heath sets his beer down and takes my hand, pulling me away from Skeet. Shaznay looks between her brother and Heath, a look of avid curiosity crossing her face. “Come with me.”
I don’t appear to have much of a choice as he hauls me across the kitchen and outside. I shiver as a blast of cold air slaps me in the face, and he stops on the patio, removing his jacket and sweater. “Here, put this on.” He thrusts his sweater at me. I remove my jacket, bristling as large goose bumps sprout along my skin before the warmth of Heath’s sweater glides over my arms, protecting me. It’s way too big, but I’m not complaining. His scent swirls around me, and I drink it in as he helps me back into Ethan’s old jacket. Taking my hand in his much larger one, he guides me to the edge of the property, and we walk to the end of the small boating deck.
Heath drops down first, a few feet from the edge, crossing his legs and motioning for me to sit on his lap. I comply, without question, resting my head on his shoulder as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“What’s the deal with you and Cassie?” I ask as his arms encircle me.
“My mom and her mom have been best friends since high school, and I’ve practically grown up with her. Hell, I think our moms had our wedding all planned when we were still in diapers.” A shiver works its way through him, sending vibrating tremors rolling through me.
“You deserve so much better than that bitch.”
“Don’t I know it.” He slips one hand under my jacket and starts running it up and down the length of my spine, over his sweater.
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