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I scoff. “I’d rather put my dick in a meat grinder.” He makes a painful grimace as I laugh, smacking him on the back. “Come on, bro. Let’s go party.”
I put my arm across his shoulders as we walk together up the stairs to the kitchen where everyone is hanging out. There is a broomball game going on in the dining room, beer pong in the kitchen, and dancing in the living room. Outside, we have a fire going and people are everywhere. The Bullies throw the best parties and everyone shows up. Tonight is no different. With the last day of camp Monday, we plan to live it up. And man, looking around, the girls couldn’t get hotter.
But I’m only looking for one.
“I’m so getting laid tonight,” Jace says, pumping his fist in the air. Often, I think he belongs in an episode of Jersey Shore. He’s a total meathead sometimes, but then other times, he’s a kid. A good kid, my kid brother.
“Wrap it up,” I remind him, and he nods.
“For sure.”
“I wonder where Baylor is?”
“She isn’t coming,” he says, taking a beer from Shane.
“Yeah, she is. I told her she is,” I say, and Shane laughs.
“You two are weird. I can’t decide if I think y’all are hot for each other or ready to murder each other,” he says and I shrug.
“Or both,” Jace says, and I roll my eyes.
“None of the above. We are a team; we should all be here together.”
“True, but she is a bitch, dude. No one likes her,” he says, and I know this. That’s why I had to get her here. Get some Jack in her, and she’ll be Baylor from the beach. I know it. And then everyone will love her. I just wish she’d let go a bit and enjoy life. She’s so obsessed with winning, it’s insane.
“Give her a chance. She’s just driven, that’s all,” I say before taking a pull of my beer. “She’s a good person.”
He looks at me like I’m crazy and asks, “How do you know?”
“Well, we—”
Before Jace can finish, I punch him in the arm as I say, “I just do.”
“Whatever, dude,” Shane laughs. “But you’re my cap, so I’ll take your word on it.”
“Not yet,” I remind him. “Find out Monday.”
“It’s in the bag, Jay. You know that,” he says, and I smile.
I like that they all think it’s mine. It actually cures my uneasiness about it all. Baylor can beat me, but I’ve been working my ass off to make sure that doesn’t happen. I nod as he walks away, and when I glance over at Jace, he’s glaring at me as he rubs his arm. “You’ve got to quit hitting me, man.”
“Keep your mouth shut then.”
“Whatever.”
And then he’s gone.
His arm is forgotten because he found some girl to fuss over him. I wouldn’t expect anything else; he’s a cute little shit. Looking out at the party, I lean back against the sink while I nurse my beer. From where I am standing, I can see every entrance, so I’ll know when she gets here. I haven’t been able to shake the image of those short shorts all day. She is so determined and so fucking stubborn. It was insane and pathetic watching her trudge up and down that hill today. She was obviously dying, but she wasn’t going to let anyone else know that. She was resilient and beautiful and didn’t quit. She ran the whole time. Yes, she was slower than a herd of turtles through peanut butter, but she ran and I was bursting with pride.
As much as I wanted to wrap my arms around her and kiss her once we got back to the top with Shane and Justin, I also wanted to scream at her. As soon as we reached the top, she started puking, along with Justin and Shane. Shaking my head, I could only watch and pass out more water. If she weren’t so fucking stubborn, she wouldn’t have pushed herself, but I’m noticing that she is dead set on beating me.
Not sure how she is going to take it when I get my position on Monday.
Might have to sleep with one eye open.
As the night goes on, I don’t move from my spot, and I find myself looking at my phone every ten minutes or so, checking the time. I don’t know where she is, and a part of me thinks she’s bailed. She may be hell-bent on beating me, but she is also hell-bent on not getting to know anyone and keeping everyone behind the wall that she’s built around herself. I don’t understand it, and I want to know why she does that. I want to know everything. She intrigues me but also drives me wild.
That’s why I have to know her. That’s why I keep pushing and hoping that maybe she’ll open up a bit. I pray I didn’t glue that door shut with what I said. I just really need her to forgive me and for us to get along. It would be so much easier. But with Baylor, I don’t think there is any other way but hard. Which will make getting inside her head so much sweeter once
