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I roll my eyes and walk back to my towel. I'm not sure why Cash is friends with Wilder. I mean, they've been inseparable since kindergarten. Todd Chester dumped his chocolate milk on Cash, and Wilder gave Todd a bloody nose in retaliation. That single experience bonded them for life.
Cash is the nice guy, and Wilder is... well, wild.
At some point, don't we outgrow our friends? Or, at the very least, friends that don't have the same morals and values we do? Cash spends every Sunday morning sitting in a front-row church pew with his parents. Wilder spends Sunday mornings trying to find his jeans off the floor of some random girl's bedroom. They have nothing in common. They don't even like the same music or partake in the same hobbies. So, why is Wilder always around? And why is Cash fine with it?
"Don't think too hard, Blondie," Wilder clears his throat as he reaches for his towel next to me. "Wouldn't want you to use the last of your brain cells wondering why Cash would rather spend all his free time with me and not you."
Blondie. I hate that nickname. Wilder told Cash I was nothing more than a blond bimbo hoping to cash in on the Allred fortune when we started dating. He shortened it to Blondie when Cash defended me. Four years later, I'm still here. And so, unfortunately, is Wilder.
"At least I have brain cells," I quip. "You drink all yours away every weekend. Is that because your dad left you for his second family? Must suck to know you weren't worth sticking around for."
"I may have daddy issues, but at least I get laid," he retorts as he flashes his dark eyebrows at me. "When's the last time Cash fucked you? What month are we on now? Two? Or is it three? I've lost count."
"You're a disgusting pig," I sneer. "Who keeps track of their friend's sex life?"
"Me," Wilder gives me a shit-eating grin. "Do you think he's punishing you for not going to Baltimore with him? Instead, you decided to stay here for college. Does he know it's because your dad lost his job and your parents are about to lose the house, too?"
Red. All I see is red.
"I hate you," I seethe. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you."
Wilder smirks. "Don't worry, Blondie, the feeling is mutual."
"You better not go around spreading rumors," I warn.
Wilder wipes his tanned chest off with his towel. "Oh, those aren't rumors. Your sister told me all about your family woes last night."
I swallow hard. "Isla wouldn't."
"Tell me, Blondie, do you also have a birthmark on your ass?" Wilder licks his lips.
My heart begins pounding in my chest. Isla has a birthmark on her right butt cheek. "You slept with my sister?"
"Oh, no," Wilder crouches down, glancing at Cash still swimming in the creek. "I fucked your sister in the backseat of my mom's car. Did you know doggy style is her favorite position?"
"Stop," I say. "Isla wouldn't sleep with you. She's dating Frank."
"Is she?" Wilder tilts his head to the side, his hazel eyes full of mischief. "She never mentioned him. The only thing she kept saying was, 'Harder, Wilder. Harder.'"
"You're lying," I say as I shake my head. I know my sister. She wouldn't cheat on Frank. But then, how does Wilder know about Dad's job? And the house?
"Don't worry, I'll keep your secrets," Wilder winks as he stands. "For now."
He tosses his towel at me as Cash walks over to us. I instantly throw it back at him.
"You sure you don't want to jump out of the tree?" Wilder slaps Cash's back.
"I'm good," Cash answers him.
Cash dries off as I tug at the corner of my towel, tension building in my chest. If Wilder tells Cash about my parents, it'll be one more thing Cash's parents hate about me. Sure, they're nice to my face, but Cash tells me what they say behind closed doors. We're too young to be this serious. I'm from a middle-class family so I can't possibly understand their world. If I really loved Cash, I'd pack my bags and move with him. I should get better grades. I shouldn't try so hard to impress them. I should drive a nicer car.
I don't realize I'm gnawing on my lower lip until Cash's fingers find my chin. "You okay?"
"She's good," Wilder answers for me.
"Why are you even here?" I snap at him.
Wilder holds his hands up in defense. "Woah. Must be that time of the month."
