AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, babe. I think it is.”
I stomp my foot. “What the hell! I am three minutes older than him!”
Murphy and Bash walk up laughing. “Aww. Who pissed in Tinker Bell’s fairy dust?”
I turn around and try to give Murphy the nastiest look I have. “I hate you right now, Aiden Murphy.”
Murphy puts his arm around my shoulders. “You love me, and you know it.”
“Is the whole team going to call me Little Sinclair?”
Murphy looks to Brady, having no idea what I’m talking about.
Brady meets my eyes and smiles. “Pretty much. But that just means you’re one of ours now. Come on. Let’s get inside.”
I turn my glare to Murphy. “You started this stupid nickname, and I will get you back for it when you least expect it. Be afraid, Murphy. Be very afraid.”
“I’m shaking in my tights, Tink.”
* * *
Afew hours later, people are spilling out of every room on the first floor of my house and yard. I can’t believe that the cops haven’t been called, but apparently, Landon’s dad is the chief of police, and this is normal in Kroydon Hills. We locked all of the bedrooms so no one could get in any of them. Hopefully, that works.
Chloe, Sabrina, and I sit outside with our jeans rolled up and our feet in the pool. It’s still relatively warm for early September.
Brady might not have been next to me this whole time, but I could feel his eyes on me wherever I went, and it’s amped me up all night. I can’t wait until everyone leaves. I wanted to ask him earlier if he wanted to go somewhere else and skip the party but didn’t want him to miss out on celebrating his victory with his team.
Sabrina pulls me from my thoughts. “I’ve got to get going, Natalie. If I’m not home by midnight, my mom will freak.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize it was that late. Thanks for coming, Sabrina.”
Chloe looks to Sabrina. “You can sleep at my house if you want, Brina. You know my parents don’t pay any attention to what time Brady and I come home. I don’t even know if they were supposed to be coming home tonight. Dad had some benefit event in the city.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got to get going. I have an early game tomorrow, and you know my parents don’t let me get away with half the stuff you guys get away with. Text me if you need help cleaning up tomorrow, and I’ll come by after my game.” She stands up, and just as Chloe and I go to stand up, I get knocked from behind and end up in the pool.
What the hell?
As I break through to the surface of the water, I see Aria laughing with a few other girls.
These girls think that they just ruined my night, but they are seriously mistaken if they think they are the first mean girls I’ve encountered. I learned how to deal with this shit a long time ago. My father’s a famous coach, my mother is a former supermodel. Being in the spotlight is part of the package, and when you’re in the spotlight, the mean girls and trolls come out in droves.
As I pull myself out of the pool, I hear Chloe ripping into Aria.
“Are you serious right now? What the hell is your problem?”
“I don’t have a problem, Chloe. Maybe Natalie should pay closer attention to what she’s doing.”
One of her minions behind her covers a fake cough and says, “Orwhoshe’s doing.”
Chloe shoves the girl. “What did you just say?”
I grab Chloe’s hand. Turning to Chloe and Aria, I smile my best stage smile.
Aria looks at me with just as fake a smile. “Oh, my, Natalie. I really should be more careful. I didn’t see you.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about it, Aria. It’s really isn’t a big deal at all.” I smile sugary sweet at this little twit. Then I look at Brady, who has come over to see what the hell is happening, and my smile turns genuine. “What do you say, QB? Do you want to come with me? I need to go to my room and get out of these wet clothes. I’m getting kinda tired, too. Wanna help?”
Brady’s face morphs from annoyance to elation. “Night, Chloe. See you later, guys.” Brady grabs my hand and starts to pull me away from the group.
