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“Chill out, man. It slipped my mind. But I’ll talk to her tonight.”
“Don’t bother. It’s time I talk to her myself.”
I tsk. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Is that funny to you?” His voice rises a few octaves. “You think it’s funny that I haven’t talked to her yet? That Ican’ttalk to her?”
“Chill the fuck out. Never said it was funny. Just find it hard to believe after all this time you’re suddenly going to talk to her.”
The door comes open and Lev steps inside, his damp hair proof that he just got out of the shower. With his hand held to the frame, he observes the tense situation. “You two at it again?”
“No,” I lie. “You ready?”
Ridge does a double take between Lev and me before stomping his feet to the mini fridge. Crouched down, he takes out his flask and sticks it in the inside pocket of his jacket. “Ready for what?”
“The party. I’m going with you guys,” Lev tells him, his lack of enthusiasm apparent.
The shift in Ridge’s mood is immediate. The scowl on his face is replaced with a wide grin. “Hell yes!”
Ridge, Lev, and I have a lot of differences, but one thing we have in common is our determination to be there for one another. No matter what happens, or who comes into our lives, or even who leaves—we’ve always got each other’s backs.
Which is exactly why I need to do everything I can to protect my boy. Even if it means hurting him a little in the process.
CHAPTER15
RILEY
After getting stoodup by Maddox earlier, my mind is on one track—get fucked up tonight.
It’s so hard always being the odd one out. Scar with Crew, Jagger, and Neo. Hell, even Cade has Melody and Hannah. I’m not asking for a relationship. A girl just needs a little attention every now and then from someone who is not a deranged stalker or a rapist.
Speaking of… “Still back there?” I ask Scar, as we walk down the beaten trail to the hot springs. It’s a short distance from campus. Not nearly as far as the hot springs were from The Academy we attended last year.
Scar retorts with, “Yup.”
“How many of them?”
She makes no attempt to be inconspicuous as she turns around, now walking backward. “Three. The crazy one. The cute one. And the weird one.”
It’s funny that I know exactly who she’s talking about and in which order—Ridge, Maddox, and Lev. Although, they’re all cute, in their own way.
“Who’s the cute one?” Jagger asks, walking with us on the other side of Scar.
“Maddox,” she tells him. “But don’t worry, babe. You’re much cuter.”
Jagger grabs Scar by the waist and spins her around. A humorous yelp escapes her as she crashes into his side. “You want me to take care of them?” Jagger asks. “I’ve got no problem putting those fuckers in their place.”
“No,” I blurt out. “The last thing I want is for any of you guys to get in trouble because of me. It’s fine. Ridge doesn’t bother me…much.” The last word came out in a whisper, meant only for me, but Scar heard it. I’m warranted with a look of disappointment because, up until now, I’ve made it known that I don’t view Ridge as a threat to me. Now, I’m not sure what to think of him.
“You and Scar are always together,” Jagger says, a seriousness to his tone. “Not to mention you live together. Not so sure I like these freaks hanging around. If anything happens to my girl—”
“Nothing’s gonna happen,” Scar cuts in. “Not to me and not to Riley,” Scar assures him. “Right, Ry?”
My girl.Is it terrible of me to want someone to refer to me as their girl?
For the love of God. I need to get out of my own head. If I’m not a downer in the dark over the past, then I’m a whiny ass who’s over feeling unloved. But is it so bad to just want someone to love me? Does Ridge love me? Sometimes I think maybe he does, but that guy is so damn intense. I can’t imagine him ever being the type of guy I want. I want someone who will get excited for the holidays with me. Watch movies in bed. Laugh at my stupid jokes. And hold me when I feel like I’m going to fall apart.
Scar snaps her fingers directly in front of my face, causing me to go cross-eyed. “Earth to Riley.”
