Page 37 of Under the Influence

A familiar voice cuts the silence as I turn to face it, “¿Está todo bien?”

Wait, Carson speaks Spanish?

I turn around and drink him in, his dark hair, his perfect skin, his pitcher’s forearms.

I try to remember all the classes I took, and I’m by no means fluent in Spanish, but I’m decent. So I translate what he said in my head. Is everything alright?

I cram the thoughts of Aspen to the back of my head, “Sí, solo un día de mierda.” Yeah, just a shit day.

“You speak Spanish?” he asks, stepping closer to me as I back away.

“Oh, not really. I’m better with French.”

He laughs, “You got me there. I’m lost with French.”

I nervously shuffle my feet, searching through the sea of kids for stares. The last thing I need is a target on my back from Legacy’s very own Regina George.

He lowers his voice just above a whisper, “About last night...”

“No,” I quip. “Nothing happened.”

“I just...I didn’t mean to... you know,” he fumbles his words.

“Shhh,” I demand. “Stop before someone hears you.”

He looks around, noticing the eyes starting to linger on us, “I just wanted to apologize because I shouldn’t have...”

I hold my hand up to silence him, “Apology accepted, will you just shut up?”

He nods, a bright grin taking over his sharp features, “Yeah, I will. I’ll see you around.” He grabs my hand, kissing it with a silly bow, “Merci.”

Thank you in French.

I can’t help but melt a little, completely swooning. No wonder all the girls in this place are crazy about him. He’s a real charmer, and it turns out I am not immune.

No one is immune to Carson.

The two boys that run this place are night and day. Best friends that I can’t stop thinking about. One soft and inviting, already making me lose my mind, and the other dark and broody.

A daydream and a nightmare.

Everything in my mind is muddled, but I am absolutely sure of one thing. Corinne Clark is either going to sink or swim here at Legacy, and I refuse to let Nash or Carson drown what’s left of me.

Lucky for me, I know exactly where to go for swimming lessons.

Madden.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

NASH

I hate that she’s here.

It’s like she’s being dangled in front of me, unaware of how bad I want her. Oblivious to how much I’ve hated her for the past two years. It’s tantalizing, and it’s driving me insane.

I know I shouldn’t have even approached her, but I want to ensure she knows she isn’t welcome here. Not at my school, not with my friends, and not with Carson.