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Me: Next time? How very presumptuous of you.
I was grinning now.
Toby: Is that a yes?
Me: I’ll think about it
As I hit send my cell began to ring. “Hey,” I said to Flick, my voice still thick with sleep.
“Hey. So... last night was interesting.”
“Ugh. Don’t.” I groaned, throwing my arm over my face. “I can’t believe they showed up there.”
“I can’t believe I thought we were in the middle of a shootout. My heart didn’t stop pounding all night.”
“Yeah, it was crazy. But guess who just texted me?”
“He did? That’s funny because Jude texted me too.” Her voice lifted.
“Oh.” Suddenly I didn’t feel so special. “Do you think they planned it that way?”
“Does it matter?” Flick scoffed. “They’re hot and nice and they want us. Even after finding out who your brother is.”
“Step-brother,” I corrected her.
“Like that matters. Jason marched you out of that party like he was your dad.”
“Please don’t remind me.” I’d get him back for that.
One day.
Pushing back the covers, I climbed out of bed, listening to Flick as she told me the ins and outs of her texts back and forth with Jude. Apparently, they had shared a secret kiss at the party and if I didn’t know better, it sounded like my best friend had a serious crush.
Inside my bathroom, I listened for any signs of life from Jason’s room. When there was none, I slipped out into the hall and downstairs. I loved Sunday mornings. Kent and Mom always left the house early to go play couples golf with our neighbors; and if Jason was home, he rarely surfaced before ten and then he usually headed straight over to Asher’s house. But when I hit the bottom step and heard the low rumble of voices coming from the kitchen, I paused. Cupping my hand around my phone, I whispered, “Flick, I need to go.”
“Go? But I was just about to tell you—”
“I think Jason and the guys are here. I’ll call you later.”
“Oh, okay.”
We said goodbye and hung up, and I tiptoed down the hall. Jason was talking to Asher, but I couldn’t hear anyone else. I hovered, straining to listen.
“He could use her against you,” Asher said, and I heard Jason sneer.
“Like anything he could do to her would bother me.”
“Dude, you might hate her, but she’s still family. If your dad or her mom found out...” Asher’s voice trailed off, and my spine went rigid as it dawned on me; they were talking about last night.
About me.
Without thinking, I stormed into the kitchen, my eyes immediately landing on Jason and Asher... and Cameron, sitting at the breakfast counter. Jason groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face, while Cameron grew tense. Ignoring him to focus on my step-brother, I said, “Why would they use me against you?”
“Hailee...” It was a warning, his voice low and cold. But screw that. They played enough with my life without dragging me into their rivalry with Rixon East.
“Fuck you,” I spat, frustration and fury licking the inside of my stomach. “I didn’t ask you to turn up at that party last night and ruin everything.” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Cameron’s expression harden, his fingers curl around the edge of the counter.
And then I realized I was only wearing my thin tank top and boy-short pajamas.
