Page 70 of That Pucking New Girl

My mom had really interesting superstitions that never made sense to me and still don’t.

Every item smashes, breaks, and explodes differently. I categorize each sound, weighing it against the other as I switch to a bat. I love the way it swings, how my arms ache each time the bat makes contact, and how my body feels like it’s buzzing each time I use it.

I’m breathing hard as I finish, and I find that I’m also grinning from ear to ear. Jared comes out to survey our progress, nodding as he sees that everything is properly smashed. I seem to be the only one out here now, and I didn’t even notice.

“How are your energy levels?” he asks.

“I still feel like I have too much,” I admit. “You’re not going to make me run, are you?”

“No,” he chuckles. “You have a few bathing suits that Lili bought you in your room. I want you to jump in the pool for a bit. Get used to treading water, see how much help you need swimming. With all the shit going on, I want to make sure that you can swim.”

“Okay,” I say, biting my lip as I look around at the wreckage.

“Don’t worry about this,” he says. “Ignacio and Theo went to grab the garbage bags to start picking things up. The girls are home and asking for you.”

That more than anything gets me moving, and I ignore Jared’s chuckle.

“So I hear that we’re putting you to work this weekend,” he teases as we walk back to the house.

“You are,” I say with a nod. “I have to admit Alastair, Draven, and Ciaran are starting to wear me down. This shit is non-stop.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to just make them disappear?” he asks. “I heard Theo told you about part of the family business.”

“He did, and that’s not necessary,” I say, blowing out a breath. It’s so dumb. It would be so much easier if I wanted them dead. Why can’t I want that?

I make sure to say hello to the girls and give them hugs before I head to my bedroom to change.

A part of me wants to stand up to the Devils. Show them that they can’t break me. I may have a bad day or bend to their cruelty, but they can’t make me break. I’m stronger than they think.

Maybe that’s why they push so hard.

I decide to completely ignore the part of me that’s attracted to the Devils. It’s a stupid biological response to guys who are too hot for their own good. My stomach flip-flops around them when they aren’t busy trying to kill me, and sometimes I dream of them kissing me.

I need to drive all of those thoughts from my mind. They aren’t good for me, and they muddy my resolve.

I spend the next hour treading water, practicing my kick while holding onto the side of the pool, and doing whatever Jared tells me to do. He's determined to make sure I can swim.

There’s too much water in Santa Barbara for me to be able to pretend swimming isn’t necessary. I’ll be damned if a body of water takes me down.

Not today or any day, Satan.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

NOOR

I feel like a Mack truck ran over me a few times. Groaning, I stumble out of my room after a shower. I’ve been in the throes of a migraine for two days straight. I’ve slept most of the time and Rachelle bought me a skull cap I could wear to escape the pain.

I took my emergency medication both days because of rebound pain, and like everything else lately in my life, I blame the Devils.

I’m wearing my pajamas, and I don’t want to go to school. I’m prepared to state my case as to why I shouldn’t as I step into the kitchen, wincing at how bright it is. Theo grabs the blind and closes one, while Rachelle and Liliana pull the second and third. While it’s nice that there’s so much natural light, my head is having a hard time appreciating the allure.

All the adults are here, and as I glance at the time, I see that it’s already ten in the morning.

“What do you need?” Theo asks.

“Coffee,” I rasp. “Please.”