Page 34 of Wallflower No More

“All right, I'll get with Toby tonight, and we'll figure out how best to move forward. Thank you for not arguing with me, Axel. It's clear you don't like this, and I know that an argument is coming, but thanks for not letting it be tonight.”

Damn right, it's going to be a fight. I shrug. “Well, one thing for sure, Brody better not come within 10 yards of you now.”

She rubs my back with her palms. “Agreed.”

Chapter 21

Invitations

Everything Fearless 24/7

Rumors are flying that a big story is about to break on the Longhorn Nations website. Axel Creed’s hot new girlfriend is the Boss Bitch in charge over there. We heard that it's something dealing with an incident that happened on Halloween night last year at Baseball House. But what?

Scarlett

Getting Toby to agree with my evil plan is easy enough. He is going to try and infiltrate Jenson's group of friends. There is a party happening at the Baseball House this coming weekend. I'm off work, so Toby’s going to try and secure us an invite. I can be his plus one. Axel knows nothing about this plan, nor will I tell him anything until I'm ready for him to know.

Axel can't come with us because he won't allow me to do what needs to be done. I've looked into Jenson some this week, and he has a thing for redheads, but funny enough, all his girlfriends have been brunettes. Maybe there's something to the redheads. Has he assaulted any of them like he did London? I have a list of girls, but I'm not ready to show my hand by looking into any of them. Jenson and Brody must be kept in the dark for as long as possible.

Toby texts me and lets me know it's a go. Jenson has personally invited him to the back-to-school bash. How did Tobes do it? Nervous energy spreads up and down my body. I'm not exactly sure how we'll pull this off or what my escape plan is to get away from Axel on Friday night, but we have no other options. This has to work.

Axel has been clingy all week and has not let me out of his sight. He’s even gone so far as to study at Java Jerry's the two days I had to work. My big bad wolf is not dumb. He knows I'm up to something. Maybe I can enlist one of my new friends to distract him on Friday. Picking up my phone, I shoot Jared a text to come over when he gets done studying.

Jared texts me back quickly.

Not a Basic Bitch: Bitch, I've been done.

Me: Well, come over now, dick face!

Not a Basic Bitch: You had me at Dick.

I laugh because he's an idiot, but he's my idiot. The best thing about my new apartment is that Jared lives four doors down the hall from me now, and just like magic, he barrels through without knocking. “I told you before, and I'll tell you again, I could've been naked.”

He shrugs. “I've seen you naked, Scarlett. It hasn't scared me away yet. Although you could use a shave down there.”

I throw my book at his head. “I will have you know my vagina is trimmed just the way I like it. Thank you.”

“Sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but bare is better.” He gives me the side eye.

“Yeah, whatever. But let's come back to the point of the conversation, which is I need your help.” I smile when he flips me off.

However, he lifts his eyebrow in intrigue. “And how may I be of service, Scarlett Quinn?”

Putting my feet in his lap and making him swear secrecy, I tell him London's story. “Basically, I need an idea of how to distract Axel for my getaway on Friday. He would flip his shit if he knew what me and Toby are about to do.”

He shakes his head. “Scarlett, that man is so intense. Losing his shit is not the right description for what will happen if you guys get caught. We're talking about something of atomic portions.”

“Tell me something I don't know, Jared. My nerves have been officially severed from my body. This is one of those times when I need you to lie to me and tell me I'm making the right decision.”

Jared rolls his eyes. “Scarlett, you are making the best damn decision of your life. Everything will go perfectly, and nothing will go wrong. Because if it does, Axel is bound to kill somebody for you. He could pull the color orange off, though, so it's okay.”

Jared is probably right. Axel did say he knew people. All I had to do was say the words. “Jenson's not going to go after me. He likes petite redheads. Carly, my Sports Editor, fits the bill. She's agreed to try to get an interview with him.”

A concerned expression covers his face. “Does she know the whole story about Jenson?”

“Of course. The whole thing makes me nauseated to even think about it, but we all agree this is for London.”

Jared agrees. “As for Axel, I have a plan.” We smile at each other with an understanding.