“Don’t try to get in with those girls then.” I think of Harper. “Keep your nose down. Get good grades. Get the fuck out of there in three years.”
“Easy for you to say.” She stands and paces in front of the couch. She’s lost weight. “You’ve always been popular. Always had your guys to stand by you. I have no one there. I can’t even go home at night, where I’d be safe.”
She spins and scowls at me. “That girl was sleeping and they decided to put bars of soap in socks and beat her with them.”
“Why didn’t they get caught?”
“You, of all people, should know how they got away with it. Everyone’s too afraid to be a fucking nark. Even the girl whogot attacked. It’s not fucking safe there.” She sinks down on the couch. “I have people here.”
“Tanner—”
“Has been dealt with. He’s a fucking asshole who deserves to have his cock sliced off.” Her fierce eyes meet mine. “If he so much as talks to me, I’ll grab his cock and balls and squeeze it fucking off.”
I give her a small smile. That’s a tactic Harper wouldn’t use. “Maybe save the ball bruising for later. There’s shit going down at school right now. Scary shit.”
Ava cocks her head to the side. “Like what?”
“I’ve got a girl.”
“Please don’t tell me you claimed someone and have to make her submit to you.” Ava rolls her eyes. “You guys need a new hobby.”
I smirk. “She’s my girlfriend.”
Ava’s eyes widen and her lips curve into a grin. “Wait. A girlfriend?”
Before I can say more, she holds up her hand.
“Like a girlfriend. Someone you go out on dates with?” Ava leans forward and rests her elbow on the arm of the couch and her fist in her cheek. “Like just one girl. For how long?”
“We’ve been together since the beginning of the school year.” I really don’t want to explain everything to Ava.
“Wait.” Her eyes widen as she straightens. “Was she here this morning?”
I nod.
“Caden has a girlfriend.” Her tone is awed, but also a little mocking.
“Fuck off. Yes, I have a girlfriend.” Is it too early to tell her I share Harper with the guys?
“What do the guys think about it?” Curiosity blazes in her eyes.
Fuck it. Best to get that out if Ava’s really staying. “She’s theirs too.”
“Excuse me?” She rears back, but grins with her hand against her heart. “Wait. Are you in a throuple? No, wait, there are four of you.”
“Five. Nico’s back.” I wait for the explosion.
She covers her mouth with her hand. “Really? Why didn’t Cassidy tell me about that?”
I shrug. I don’t know much about what her friends have been up to. We used Cassidy and Beth in our plan. My eyes narrow on her.
“When did you last talk to Cassidy?”
Her mouth forms a little o before she recovers and leans back with a shrug. “We text.”
“This isn’t a fucking coincidence, is it?” Fuck. I never should have pulled in her friends. But they were the only ones who wouldn’t try to turn it into something it wasn’t. Her friends aren’t interested in us like that. I lean forward. “Did you get kicked out on purpose?”
“I wouldn’t say on purpose.” Ava checks her fingernails. “Maggie did have it coming, and it felt really good when her nose gave under my fist.”
