Her eyes close as she nods. It takes everything in me to leave her alone in that bed. To stop myself from climbing back in and chancing her mother’s wrath if she checks on Harper. A notification buzzes on my phone.
One of my programs found something... or rather, someone.
Eli
I stand outside the school doors, leaning against the brick exterior with my head down, waiting. I could be out on the bleachers with our girl and my friends, but I need to do this. Harper offered to come with, but nah. This is my crap to sort out.
The door pushes open and I raise my head. Ashley doesn’t look as perky as usual. She’ll be more forthcoming without Harper with us. Harper told us about the locker room. How she played what Luke recorded about Sidney’s “friends” and what Sidney really thinks of them.
It won’t matter. Those four are locked in for high school. Whether they are besties or frenemies. They’ll go their separate ways for college, but until then, they belong together.
“Hey.” Ashley looks around.
“Harper isn’t here. Come on. We’ll talk while we eat.” I walk toward my car, knowing she’ll follow. She’s not one of those girls who needs smooth words or even a gentle touch. She also doesn’t expect it.
For me, Ashley was easy and a release. She needed what I could give her, and I could let down my public persona and unleash the darkness building inside. Of course, I’ll never use her for that again. There’s no desire in me for it. Not with her.
I unlock my car and get in the driver’s side. She gets in and I drive. When I park at the restaurant, she doesn’t say anything. I get out and walk in. It’s one of those seat-yourselves type places, so I pick a table and sit.
She takes the other chair and drops into it with her arms crossed. Already on the defensive. I wouldn’t expect anything less.
This is a delicate chess game. I can’t let her know my end game until I have her backed into a corner. I pick up my menu. The server stops by with a smile on her face.
“What can I get you today?”
“Coke with a burger and fries.” I hand her the menu and nod at Ashley.
“Chicken fingers, fries, and a diet Coke.” She doesn’t look at the server or lift the menu. Her brown eyes never leave mine.
The server grabs the menu from the table. “I’ll have that right out for you.”
Leaning back in my chair with one foot stretched in front of me, I know I’m invading Ashley’s space. I don’t say anything. Don’t change my expression. She’ll be the first to break. She always is.
Her eyes narrow. “So is this where you tell me to go fuck myself? But I get lunch out of it?”
“No. This is where we start negotiating for what you want and what I want and how we can help each other.”
Her eyes widen, but she carefully masks her eagerness. Yeah, she needs this enough to take my deal. That little hint of need always gives her away.
“To be clear, there will be no you and me playtime.” I don’t blink or change my expression. “With or without Harper.”
“Then you have nothing to offer me.” Ashley’s lips purse and she looks about ten seconds from calling an Uber.
“I have something comparable to offer you.” I glance around the diner. It’s fairly empty. It’s not somewhere most students would go for lunch. That’s why I picked it.
“Comparable?” Ashley’s eyes narrow again.
“I know someone who would be willing to give you exactly what you need. No strings attached. And I’d even be willing to set it up for you.”
“Who?”
I smirk. “That’s not part of the deal. He’ll treat you like the whore you are, exactly the way you want it. But you give him everything.”
She wets her lips and I can almost see the gears turning in her mind. “But it’s someone I know?”
I nod. “He’ll wear a mask. So you won’t know who he is. It’s a one-time deal. Take it or leave it. I’m sure you could get Trace Masters to spank you if you need it.”
He’s on the basketball team and has been hanging all over Ashley at lunches. He’s also weak as fuck.
