by Rina Kent
“Hunter.”
“What?”
“He cares about Hunter.” I peered over her shoulder and sidestepped her to take a step toward my car.
“Where are you going?”
I glanced back at her. “To get ready for the dance. You’re right, we shouldn’t give them the satisfaction.”
A smile lit up her face. “Can I help you get ready?”
“Depends. Can you teach me how you did your eyes?” I gestured to the smoky overlaying of eyeshadow Paige wore.
My face fell as she frowned. “Actually, Leilani did it for me.”
I nodded, forcing the jealousy snaking through me to stay hidden. “That’s fine, I was just playing any—”
“I can help with that.”
Both of us slowly turned and locked eyes on Sherry. Paige looked between me and her, waiting for me to respond.
A smile crept over my face, and I gave a single nod.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cam
Leilani’s hands around my neck made my skin crawl. It was like poison seeped from the pores of her palm into my skin, and my cells died in every spot she touched. I couldn’t remember if I’d felt this way before Eden, but surely not, right? Leilani and I had sex on a semi-regular basis before. She couldn’t have repulsed me this much. Or maybe it wasn’t the hands on my neck that were poisonous. Maybe it was the entire bottle of perfume she’d dumped on herself before—
“You played really great tonight.”
Overhanging spotlights travelled the room, passing over us and lighting up Leilani’s face for a flash just as I peered down at her. “Thanks.”
I glanced down at my hands on her hips and raised them higher before going back to staring at the door. Eden hadn’t shown up. Part of me was beyond relieved when I didn’t see her after the first quarter, but an ache still throbbed my chest.
Did she hate me?
No, right? I hadn’t chosen to be homecoming king just as much as I hadn’t chosen Leilani to be queen. I couldn’t control that. It wasn’t a diss at her… but she’d wanted me to take her to the dance, hadn’t she? Fuck, I don’t even know. These plans had been made for me long before tonight. How would it look if I didn’t go with Leilani?
This wasn’t my fault.
But then why did I feel so fucking guilty about it?
I sighed and dropped my hands as the song ended. “Have you seen Hunter?”
She shrugged and loosened her arms from around my neck. “I think he’s with Jade.”
“Jade’s right there.” I pointed to my left where Jade was already swaying to the next song with Joshua.
She turned back to me. “He’s probably outside.”
I glanced around the crowded gym, looking for some sign that he was there. I’d been staring at the door for the past hour, and it just occurred to me that I hadn’t seen him come in.
“Do you want something to drink?”
“Cam, come on. You’ve danced with me to one song. I don’t want to go sit down again.”
I sighed and put my hands back on her waist, peering over at the door. At least it was another slow song.
“Are you looking for Hunter, or are you looking for the band geek?”
I glared down at her. “Do you remember what happened the last time you called her that?”
Leilani rolled her eyes. “Fine, Eden… She’s not coming, so you can stop watching the door like a creeper. This isn’t her scene.”
“She left the game early.”
“Because she hates football.”
“No.” I shook my head and let out another breath. “Something’s wrong.”
Leilani leaned into me, pressing herself to my chest as we rocked back and forth. I almost pushed her away, but a flash caught my attention. I blinked and focused on the camera before moving my hands lower and smiling down at Leilani. Another photo snapped and the yearbook photographer moved on to the next happy couple. When I went to pull away, Leilani’s arms around my neck locked tight to hold me in place.
“Can you just pretend for five minutes that you want to be here with me?”
Her lips pursed in a pout, and for a minute I actually felt sorry for her. She thought she wanted me, but all she wanted was the idea of me. She wanted the football star, but none of the rest. She let me treat her like shit while she begged for scraps, and it was kind of… sad.
I leaned down and pressed my lips to her ear, moving my hands over her back in a mock caress. “Sorry.”
Her lips curved into a smile on my neck and she kissed me there. “Much better.”
“Don’t push it,” I said with a chuckle, rocking to the music. I glanced up at the door, but then let my eyes drift to the floor. Leilani was right. Eden wasn’t coming.
“Can I ask you something?”
She wove her fingers through my hair and nodded. “What’s up?”
“Do you like coming to these things with me?”
Leilani burst into laughter and muffled it in my shoulder before pulling back to look at me. Her amused expression fell when I didn’t return it. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious.” I stood straighter and moved my hands down her sides.
“Cam, you just spent the last half hour staring at the door, hoping that the girl you had us all torment for two months would walk through. I gave up on you a really long time ago.”
“So, if I said right now that I wanted to be with you, you’d say no?”
“Honestly?” Leilani paused long enough to stare into space and sigh. As if she hadn’t already considered it. “I’d probably say yes because you’re Camden Knight, but then I’d cheat on you mercilessly until graduation and dump you as soon as we move the tassels.”
“Ouch.” I drew out the word and widened my eyes at the level of honesty. Shit, maybe I shouldn’t feel bad for Leilani after all.
She shrugged and smiled. “Truth hurts.”
Letting out a small laugh, I let my shoulders relax and leaned into her. I could see it so clearly, and for the millionth time, I wondered how others couldn’t see it. It’d been this way since freshman year, Leilani and I being pegged as the perfect couple. We were decent friends, but that’s where it ended. If we hadn’t been in the same circle, we wouldn’t have even been that.
Movement slowed around me, and a wave of whispers gradually came over the dance floor. I perked up and glanced around, following the curious gazes to the entrance.
My stomach dropped to the floor, and the weight in my chest grew, preventing me from taking a breath.
No.
“Is that Eden Thompson?” The question drifted to me from somewhere on the dancefloor. Leilani must’ve heard it too because she whipped her head around and loosened her hold on my neck.
My gaze locked onto Hunter’s smile for several moments. It was the gasoline that poured into my veins, but the arm he had locked around her… that was the match.
“What are you doing?” Leilani asked when I went to step that way. “You’re just gonna make a scene.”
“I don’t care.”
“Cam.” Her voice was low and venomous. Her pride was on the line, and if the situation were reversed, I would’ve been pissed as hell at Leilani for not keeping up the charade.
But Eden stood there in an ankle-length silver dress that sparkled with every slight movement. It gripped her hourglass figure and cut low at her chest, giving a glimpse to the entire room of what only I’d seen. Of what was mine. The worst part? The part that wrapped its hand around my neck and squeezed, was that it wasn’t my arm she was hanging off of. It was Hunter’s.
Fuck. That.
“Sorry.” I shrugged Leilani off me and stormed over to the table where they were headed. Hunter guided the scarf off her shoulders and laid it over the back of the chair he had pulled out for her. She turned to him and smiled, that smile falling when she spotted me.
“Something wrong, Camden?” she asked, her head tilting.
<
br /> About a gallon of makeup had been applied to her face, and when she pouted, I had to resist the urge to recoil. She looked way too much like Leilani… and Jade… and the rest of the girls in my circle.
I turned to Hunter and lifted my hands out. “What the fuck?”
He looked around like he didn’t know what I was talking about. “Something wrong?”
My arms dropped to my sides and I huffed, shaking my head in fucking disbelief. Had this been his play the whole time? Pretend he was happy for me and then steal my girl?
Leilani appeared beside me, shooting me a glare before training it on Eden. “Hmm. You actually clean up okay.”
Eden’s nostrils flared, but she plastered on a fake smile. “Gee, thanks.”
“Eden, do you want something to drink?” Hunter nonchalantly turned to her, and her smile turned genuine as she nodded.
I shot my arm out as Hunter started to walk away, halting him. “You are not getting her a drink, Hunter. She’s not your fucking date.”
“Is she yours?”
All eyes turned to me, but I said nothing. My scowl remained on Hunter. I clenched my jaw and it felt like it would crack from the pressure.
I turned to Eden and held out my hand. “Come on.”
“What?” she snorted, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “I’m not leaving with you.”
“Yeah, you fuckin’ are.”
I grabbed her wrist, but Hunter pushed me back and I stumbled into another table. Several heads turned our way, adding to the stares we’d already accumulated.
My hands balled into fists and eyes went wide as I stood up straight and took a step toward my best friend who was bowed up waiting for me.
“Jesus Christ, guys,” Leilani hissed, darting her eyes around us.
Eden stepped between us before either of us could make a move, and she lifted her hand up to me, her back pressed into Hunter. “Just go, Camden. I’m not your girlfriend, and you don’t own me. So just go enjoy your king and queen dance and leave us alone.”
“I didn’t choose to be homecoming king, Eden. Are you really going to break up with me over that?” I waved my hand between Leilani and me. “We’re just friends.”
“Break up with you? How can I break up with you if we’re not even dating?”
My mouth fell open and I froze like that. All my thoughts jumbled as I tried to find the right words to say. We had an understanding. We were exclusive. How was that not dating? I fucking told her to stay away from Hunter, and she shows up here with him. For what? To humiliate me, or because she’s actually with him? And if she is with him, how the fuck do I change that? How do I change any of this?
Leilani tugged on my jacket sleeve. “Let’s just go. This place is lame anyway.” She glanced around the room and put on a mask of indifference, but I could see the embarrassment underneath. Music was blaring and Cha Cha Slide had come on, so luckily, a lot of people had abandoned eavesdropping on our drama, but plenty still stared.
With one last look at Eden, I shook my head and allowed Leilani to pull me away. We were headed for the exit, but I tucked my hand around her waist and pulled her into me. We were on the side of the dance floor, and I tossed a glance over my shoulder at Eden and Hunter who were now seated at a table. Their mouths moved in what appeared to be serious conversation.
“I don’t want to leave yet,” I said, turning back to Leilani.
She nodded and together we walked over to a different table on the other side of the dance floor.
“Well, that was humiliating.”
I plopped down into the chair beside her and ran a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. You were right, I should’ve just let it go.”
Jade and Joshua stumbled up to the table, already tipsy on punch that was no doubt spiked. “This place is laaaame,” Jade said with a laugh. “I’m ready for the party.”
Leilani laughed and rolled her eyes, cupping a hand over Jade’s. “I love you so much, girl.”
A few other friends migrated to our table, and conversation broke out. I was facing away from Hunter and Eden, but the image of them together was burned into my memory.
If he wanted to fuck her, he would. People had sex with me because I was...well, me. Hunter had charm. He knew the things to say, the moves to make. That’s why she was here with him. Whatever he’d said, it’d been convincing.
And I wasn’t doing anything to stop it. I picked up the cup Leilani sat in front of me and downed the vodka tinted punch. It slid a smooth path down my throat, and when I slammed the cup back to the tabletop, I immediately needed more. If Hunter was fucking my girlfriend, then at least I wouldn’t remember it tomorrow.
Girlfriend. Was Eden my girlfriend?
Apparently not.
The chair legs scraped against the floor as I pushed it back and stood to get more punch.
I shuffled through the crowd, headed in the direction of Eden’s table.
Don’t look.
Some guy bumped my shoulder and lifted his hands in surrender, but I kept my gaze in front of me.
Do. Not. Look.
I scooped punch into a cup and filled up another to save a trip. Sparkling silver caught my eye, but I kept my stare on red punch.
Someone patted my back, and I snapped my attention their way.
“Whoa, sorry man,” Trey said, holding his hands up. He grabbed a cup and filled it.
Then… I looked.
Eden’s mouth was wide in a laugh, her hand to her chest. Hunter’s chair was pulled up close beside hers and, with the way his hands moved, I could tell he was telling her one of his stories. No doubt one I’d heard a dozen times.
Trey followed my gaze and leaned in with his arm around my shoulder. “Mm, that is one fine piece of geeky ass.” He pulled his arm from me and laughed. “And you guys all made fun of me for Paige. Told you they can be hot.”
“Would you shut the fuck up?” I shifted my gaze to him, taking in his wide eyes, before I set the cups back on the table. I turned and started walking back over to Leilani and my other friends. I guess you could call them that.
If I couldn’t call Hunter my friend, then I didn’t have any.
But did he really want to date Eden? No. If he had, then he would’ve told me. This was all a competition to him. Everything was a competition to him.
“Cam.” His familiar voice stopped me in my tracks, and I turned to face my best friend. Trey was at their table, staring over at us with his eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?”
He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pockets as he came closer. “Do you really think I’m trying to hurt you?”
“I don’t know what you’re doing, Hunter.”
“She was at my house after the game. My mom helped her get ready there, and Eden asked me if I’d take her to the dance.”
“Why would she do that?” I asked, my lips in a tight line.
“Because she knew you were taking Leilani.” He let out a deep breath and peered over my shoulder at my table. “It was humiliating for her. She thought you were together.”
“Eden and I are together. You know why I have to come to these things with Leilani. It’s not like—”
“No, Cam. I don’t know why. But that’s why I brought Eden… I’m not moving in on your girl, she’s just hurt, and she wants to make you jealous. Honestly, it sounded kind of fun, but was clearly a bad idea.”
My brain fogged over, robbing me of my next words.
Eden had humiliated me. I had humiliated Leilani. And apparently, it all started with me humiliating Eden. How many times had I done it over the last few months? Endless, but tonight hadn’t been on purpose.
When would it stop?
“She came here with you to make me jealous?”
Hunter nodded.
I peered over his shoulder at Eden. She was staring at me, her face tight with worry. Paige was by her side and averted her gaze when she saw me looking their way. Not Eden, though. We locked eyes, and a million thi
ngs were said between us in that gaze. It was always a battle between us. One of us was always retaliating. Most of the time I liked it that way, but I’d had enough. I wanted her.
Not as my enemy. Not as my hookup. Not as my prize.
I wanted her as the girl who liked me because of who I was. The girl who didn’t act like everyone else, didn’t try to blend in. The one who loved her little brother, her family, her shitty ass friends, and, yeah, maybe even me. I wanted her as my girlfriend. First and last. And I hoped with everything in me that she could see it in that gaze. No words necessary.
It wasn’t her that needed to hear the words anyway.
“Cam,” Hunter called to my back as I made my way to the DJ booth. The blood pumping through me caused a drumbeat to thump in my ears, drowning out the booming noise of the room. The microphone crackled as I gripped it with my sweaty palms, and I glared at the DJ when he tried to stop me. He slowly moved his hand to turn the music off, and I turned to address the room.
“Hey,” I said, more calmly than I thought possible. “Everyone having a good time?”
A few people cheered, while most looked around in confusion.
I cleared my throat. “Uh, I just wanted to let everyone know, there’s an after-party at Hunter’s house, and you’re all invited.”
The room erupted in a cheer, and my chest loosened. I considered handing the microphone back to the DJ and quitting while I was ahead, but Eden entered my line of sight. Her silver dress caught in the lights above her, and our eyes met. Her brows were knitted together.
“I, uh... I also wanted to confess something.” The cheering in the crowd died as everyone waited eagerly to hear my next hot piece of gossip. The microphone was slippery in my grasp, and my cough echoed along the walls. All eyes were on me, the real me. My armor was lying on the floor.
Fuck it.
“A couple months ago, I told everyone Eden and I slept together. I started rumors about her. I got the whole school to believe that she was a slut.” Coach moved toward me from the other side of the room, and I held up my hand to stop him. His face was hard, warning clear in his eyes. “None of that was true. None of it. Even the picture I sent around was photoshopped. I said those things because I thought it was fun to mess with her. She didn’t take my shit like everybody else.” I took a deep breath. “But I was an idiot, and the truth is, I really like Eden. And if she feels the same about me, and she’s willing to forgive me for being a complete dick the last few months, then I really hope she’ll consider me as her boyfriend.”
