His fingers tighten on my thigh and alert me to pay attention.
I lift my gaze to the door as Penny and Natalie walk in. They both look super cute today with short skirts and tight tops. Guys’ heads turn to watch them walk our way. But not my guys’ heads.
Penny and Nat slide into the booth across from us. Penny smiles sadly and reaches out her hand for mine.
“How are you, Harper?” She tips her head and wiggles her fingers when I don’t immediately take her hand. She really seems like the genuine article, but the timing of her starting to talk to me still makes me wary.
I take her hand and she squeezes mine. “I’m fine.”
Nothing happened to me. Well, except my guys hunting me down last night, but that was a very good time.
“Good.” She draws her hand back and her brown eyes nervously flick to Luke for a minute before she focuses on Eli. “I take it you caught the show last night?”
Eli nods. We reviewed the footage again this morning.
“Tanner’s a dick.” Penny shakes her head. “It didn’t even make sense. He showed up and sat with us and started telling us his sob story.”
Her brown eyes find mine. “He tried to sell us on his sister being used, but he forgot Mia and I used to be friends. She told everyone who would listen how she got Caden and Jack to rail her at the same time.”
I pull my hand back to rub at the little ache in my chest. It’s the past, but I don’t have to like how many girls have been with my guys. Or hear about them. Though we probably need to look into those girls to make sure none of them are out to get me.
Luke’s hand tightens on my thigh and Eli’s fingers brush my bare skin, like they know I need a little something more right now.
“What happened when Cassidy came out?” Eli asks.
Penny grins. “She called him an asshole and slapped him so hard his cheek turned red. He walked out of there with her handprint on his face. It was awesome!”
“Zach and Sidney weren’t as exciting.” Nat picks up a napkin and folds it in half. “We thought they might come over to talk to us, but they never did.”
“The party?” Luke is pressed against my whole side.
Sidney’s house party. They were supposed to figure out who was working with whom if possible.
Nat leans forward, but before she can say anything, the server stops by and gets their orders. When she walks away, Nat’s brown eyes light up.
“I used the code you gave me. You were right. She hasn’t changed it.” Nat smiles. “The camera is planted and the backup too.”
“Good.” Eli pinches my skin slightly and a little rush of sparks tingles through me. “Anything odd happen at the party?”
Penny shakes her head. “Zach and Sidney spent most of the night on the couch making out. Ashley, Hannah, and Emma each had guys they seemed to be hooking up with from the basketball team.”
“Did Tanner show?” Eli smooths his fingers over the sting, making my lips part.
“No.” Nat leans back and glances around the room. “Grant Perkins didn’t make an appearance either. Most of the football team were there.”
Luke nods. “Anything odd?”
“Not really.” Penny tucks her blond hair behind her ear. “We sat with the cheerleaders for a little while. We planted what you wanted us to about Harper.”
I sit up straighter, but no one fills in the blanks as Penny keeps on. The guys have a plan that I’m not privy to, but is that for my own good?
“They don’t think we have enough in with Harper to really help them.” Penny gives me a little smile.
“We need you guys to hang out more visibly this week.” Eli takes a drink of his coffee before continuing, “While we’re at football practice, we want you out with Harper for real. Either at the coffee shop or Crusty’s or the library. We need you guys to seem like better friends.”
Penny nods and Nat glances at me with a small smile. This part of the plan I’m not sure about. What if the reason all the places were compromised isbecauseof these girls and not the football guys?
The temptation to curl up with my guys and just forget the rest of the world exists is so fucking appealing.
