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“Excuse me?” I sputtered. “I don’t think aboutanything. I —” I stopped abruptly at more laughter from Vincent and Jason, realizing exactly what I’d said. I was really doing a fantastic job of appearing calm and collected. “I don’t think about it, Manson. Why would I still be dwelling on something that happened years ago?”
He looked so damn pleased with himself. He thought he was sosmart, didn’t he? As if he had it all figured out, as if he hadmefigured out.
“Don’t worry, Jess, it’s not only you.” Vincent shot Manson a mischievous look. “Manson thinks about it too. He still has your panties in his drawer.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. The satisfaction of seeing Manson Reed’s face turn the slightest shade of pink instantly put me in a better mood. He glanced over at Vincent and said flatly, “I really am going to beat your ass later.”
All right, time to get it together.
“Well, as much fun as this has been, you’re still in my way,” I said, sighing. “Congratulations, yes, you all got a piece. Woooo, I sucked your dicks!” I gave a mocking pom-pom shake with my hands. “I can tell that it was, like, a really big deal for all of you. Sorry about the lack of action in your lives, but...” I shrugged. “A dick is a dick, and you’re all just four on the list.”
I jumped as Lucas growled in my ear, “Tell me how many of the dicks on your list were pierced, then?”
Of course he had to bring that up. I already couldn’t look at him without my brain becoming a giant marquee that flashed:Pierced Dick, One Night Only, Get Your Fill of Some Prime Pierced Dick!
Lucas nodded as if my silence proved his point. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Can’t forget that so easily, can you?”
I needed all of them to get away from me before I fell down into another orgy rabbit hole. Arguing with them wasn’t only making me flustered — it was turning me on. Every biting word they said made me a little more excited.
How far could I push them? How far would they pushme? I liked a challenge, but these men managed to shake the very foundations of my confidence. Not knowing if I could win made it that much more thrilling.
“Is there a problem here?”
All the boys turned. Alex stood behind Manson, with Nate and Matthew behind him. Their expressions were grim, their stances tense. This party was about to have much bigger problems than some petty teasing.
To say these men had a problem with each other was an understatement. Alex, Nate, and Matthew had all backed up my ex when he’d gone after Manson, but Alex and Lucas had beef of their own too.
Junior year, Lucas had smashed a glass bottle on Alex’s head and knocked him out cold in the middle of the cafeteria. Fivestitches and a short hospital stay later, Alex came back with a scar and Lucas never returned. Expelled.
I could still see that scar on Alex’s forehead, partially covered by his hair. People said Lucas had tried to kill him, but honestly? I didn’t believe it.
If Lucas had tried to kill him, Alex would be dead.
I should have walked the hell away from that mess. But my first instinct was to step between Alex and Manson, smile sweetly, and say, “No problems. We’re good.”
Alex looked like I’d slapped him. Then fury overtook his face, his jaw clenching so tight that a blue vein swelled near his temple. He was wrong if he’d thought he could swoop in and rescue me, as if I was some damsel in distress. This wasmyconfrontation. I didn’t need him bringing his own grievances into it.
“We’re just catching up,” Manson said. I was so close to him that when he shifted, he brushed against my back. “How’ve you been, Alex?”
I didn’t understand how he could be so calm talking to the very man who’d been violent toward him on more than one occasion. But this wasn’t the first time Manson’s self-control had taken me by surprise.
“Can’t complain.” Alex said. “I saw y’all pull in. Noticed you didn’t bring the El Camino tonight.” He smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “Shame about whoever keyed it.”
“You still owe me for that,” Lucas said darkly. He’d stepped closer so he was right at Manson’s side, cold hatred written all over his face.
“Chill out, Bent,” Alex said. “I didn’t touch your goddamn car. But even if I did, it’s only fair. You cut up my head, I cut up your ride.” He shrugged. “That would make us almost even.”
There was a shuffle and Manson bumped against me. Iglanced back to see he had whipped out his arm to stop Lucas from charging forward. He was braced against Lucas’s chest, Vincent’s hand was gripping Lucas’s shoulder, and Jason, from behind him, said softly, “Let it go, bro.”
But Lucas looked far beyond simply letting it go. Matthew’s fists were clenched and Nate cracked his knuckles, the tension thickening with every audible pop.
“Would you allquitit?” I snapped. “Jesus Christ, what are we, sixteen?”
“Never knew you to be such a pacifist, Jess,” Alex said. At least he finally dragged his eyes away from Lucas. “You suddenly think they’re good guys now that you fucked one of them?”
I swallowed thickly, folding my arms. I hadn’t told anyone except my best friend, Ashley, about hooking up with Manson. But apparently, the rumor had still gotten around.
I lifted my chin, knowing confidence was worth more than any petty insults. “Oh my God, Alex, get over it. Seriously, stop being a dick. Do you want to end up with the cops called and this whole thing shut down early?”
