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Nira nudges me in the elbow, cutting a quick glance around, but I don’t have to look to know what she’s stressed over.
This is the downtown strip, and during off-campus hours, it’s overtaken by students, specifically the picnic area, where we are now, where two of the three Brayshaw boys have just been spotted.
Of course they’re staring.
They haven’t laid eyes on the boys of Brayshaw in weeks, and their blue-blooded selves could hardly take it, so this? Confirmation with their own eyes when all they’ve had was word of mouth and speculation?
This is golden.
Long live their kings.
“Watch ‘em flock, like the starved ducklings they are.” Royce scans the area using his peripheral sight, not once moving his eyes from mine. “Ten minutes and there won’t be an empty seat near this bitch.”
Right as he says it, a guy comes from behind me, adding three more chairs to my—our, I guess—table.
Nira wastes not a second, hops to her feet and rushes off. “See you around, Tor.”
I frown after her, nodding even though she’s not looking at me.
“Yeah.” Royce chuckles, pulling his phone from his pocket. “We have that effect on people.”
I roll my eyes, my head snapping left when the back door of the SUV suddenly opens, and a smiling Raven climbs out, tugging on her man’s hand.
She laughs loudly when he growls, glaring at her.
“See that, VicVee,” Royce starts. “That’s the face of a half-cocked fucker.”
“What does that even mean?”
“That means he only got half of what his cock wanted, which was to fuck her. Get it?” He grins.
A light laugh escapes right as Captain makes his way outside, a tray in each hand.
He glares at his brother but quickly drops it to the drinks he’s slowly setting on the tabletop.
He, of course, chooses the seat a space away from me, leaving Nira’s vacated one empty.
Raven lowers into one on my left as Maddoc takes her free side.
“Hey.” She briefly meets my eyes and then looks to a grinning Royce. She leans back in her chair. “What?”
“Little Big Man gettin’ in the way of the real one? No more backseat lovin’?”
She fights a grin while Maddoc shoves at Royce’s chair, making him laugh.
“Shut up, fucker,” Maddoc tells him quietly. “She’s wearing my hoodie for a reason.”
My eyes fall to her stomach.
That’s right.
They haven’t shared she’s pregnant with the town yet.
I guess the hoodie helps, but not by much.
“Man, word spread quick.”
We look over to find Mac and his girlfriend, Chloe, heading our way.
Great.
A huge smile takes over Chloe’s face as she advances, her five-inch heels clinking with each step.
“Holy shit!” Chloe rushes toward Raven. “You’re show—”
“Shut up,” I cut her off right as Raven does.
Chloe’s glare meets mine, and I grin as Raven smacks her hand away the second it reaches for her stomach.
Chloe’s eyes widen and she lifts her palms, whispering, “Sorry. No one from here has left and came back carrying a mini watermelon.”
“She likes to call it a basketball,” Royce throws out.
“It’s not an it.” Maddoc glares.
“You just said it,” Chloe sasses, crossing her arms. “And what did you expect, Rae? I won’t be the only one attempting to, you know, so maybe be better prepared for that.”
“You need to chill.”
Chloe’s blue eyes fly to mine, and her lips form a bitchy smile. “Nobody was talking to you.”
“And nobody asked for your opinion.” The words fly from my mouth and I lean forward in my chair. “You think because you weaseled your way to the wedding because of who your man is and added a Brayshaw to your bedroom afterparty that suddenly you’re allowed to tell her what she should and shouldn’t do? It was only months ago you were trying to turn your little entourage against her and she gave you that fancy little hair cut you’ve now got goin’ on. You’re lucky anyone at this table even speaks to you.”
Chloe was Brayshaw High’s queen bee before Raven got here and took this place by storm. Two months ago, Chloe hated Raven for stealing her spotlight while Raven didn’t give a shit about any of her petty games. She isn’t one for trusting but has given Chloe a break, one I don’t think she’s deserved.
Her eyes narrow. “Water under the bridge.”
“Because it’s that easy, isn’t it?”
Raven’s eyes meet mine, but I only briefly look away from the girl who thinks she’s going to slither into a spot she has no idea I slipped out of. Sure, it was Royce she had a three-way with, not Captain, but still.
No.
And then Raven speaks.
“Vee’s right, Chloe,” she says, her head still angled toward me before she looks up at her. “I couldn’t handle your shit before, so I sure as fuck can’t handle it while I’m permanently irritated.”
“Hate to break it to you, Rae, but that’s nothing new.” She shrugs, then her eyes widen and she laughs it off. “Sorry. I’m working on the whole bitch thing.”
