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“We don’t have a choice. Nut up and stop acting like pussies,” East snaps before storming from the room. The back door slams and I sigh. “I guess he’s back to smoking again?” I glance over at Jase but he seems in his own mind.
“Maybe we don’t have to destroy her. Just push her to leave? I bet there is a way we could convince her that this isn’t the place for her, without making her suicidal like Penny wants?” I say, and Jase groans.
“This shit was so much easier until I saw her face. Do you believe in love at first sight, man?” he says, surprising me. I snort and shake my head. “When did you meet her?”
He looks down at the ground then runs his hand through his messy blond hair. Shrugging he says, “I didn’t meet her per se, but she waved to me.” He jumps from the couch and runs to the kitchen. I stand as well, and follow at a slower pace.
“After everything that we’ve been through. I just can’t hurt someone innocent. The last time—” He pauses but I know what he was going to say. The last mark wasn’t sweet or innocent. She was the devil in disguise. Made Penny look like a saint in comparison.
“Rika is no longer around man. She graduated. Thank fuck,” J mutters. Yeah, those six months were some of the worst of my life and that’s saying something after that night.
I shudder and try to remove her face from my mind. Her sandy eyes haunt my dreams. One mistake that will never leave me. It changed me. It changed us all.
“Babe, don’t. I know where your head is going. Stop. We didn’t know. It’s not your fault.” J says, seeing my dilemma.
Coming closer he pulls me into a hug. I wrap my arms around him and breathe into his neck. He sighs then kisses the top of my head and I cuddle closer.
“Will I ever get those images from my mind, J?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“I don’t know man. I try not to think of that night, and the fact that Penny fucking taped it haunts me more than what occured.” I groan and lean back pressing my lips to his in a quick kiss. “At least I have you,” I whisper, getting lost in his hazel eyes for a moment. They look troubled. He shoves me back and laughs. “Yeah man. You’ll always have me.”
I move around the counter and sit on the bench. Placing my head in my hands, I moan.
“Fuck, what are we going to do?” I ask, glancing his way. He shrugs his shoulders then inches closer, stepping between my spread thighs, “We do what we have to. We play the game, but we don’t have to be as cruel as Penny wants.” There’s no space between us now. He lifts my head and grips the short strands in his fingers, tugging. I groan and he smiles. “We can do this, Lay. We have no other choice.” He whispers before kissing my forehead, slowly moving lower until he reaches my mouth. I groan into the kiss and grip his face pressing my lips harder to his.
I’ve loved Jase Hawthorne since we were freshmen in high school. We may play for both sides, but when it comes to us, no matter what's going on or who we’re seeing, they all know the score. He will always be in my life in some way. I can’t ever picture a life without him beside me.
The back door slams open, breaking our bubble.
“So we need a plan,” East says, ignoring our embrace. He no longer bats an eye when it comes to me and his brother. I guess catching us as many times as he has made him immune. Jase steps back and takes the seat next to me. He turns to face me and I know from that look in his eye we’ll be continuing this later. I shiver and bite my lip, watching as his eyes heat. East coughs and we break our stare off, giving him our full attention.
“Well since I don’t have a smoothie, how about we order some pizza?” he says, glaring my way.
“Seriously? After everything Penny just said you can eat right now?” I snap, and he raises a brow at me.
“Yeah man, I can because I’m not acting like a little pussy, like the two of you. We knew from the start that we had to do this. What the fuck changed in the last twenty-four hours?” he growls before storming to the living room.
“I met an angel,” I whisper, and Jase looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind.Who knows maybe I have?
Nine
Carson
“You got this, my little star. These girls will be some of your best friends, and I am there holding your hand always.” I look up at Mama and give her a bright smile, licking my ice cream cone once more before it drips all over my hand. Sticky fingers are the worst. “What if they don’t like me? They all seem so beautiful and high class. I’m just a rancher’s daughter from Kansas.”
“Carson Star Matthews! ” she snaps looking at me aghast, “You’re not too old for soap in that pretty mouth, young lady. You are brilliant, compassionate, and beautiful inside and out. Don’t ever let someone make you think you don’t belong among the pretty people.”
I roll my eyes, but nod my head. “I miss you Mama.” I sniffle looking at the horizon, knowing this is just another amazing dream that's about to end.
“I miss you too baby, but we will see each other again. Keep the faith, my little Star.” I lean over to give her a hug, as she's slowly disappearing.
My eyes flutter, and I groan at the bright light shining through my window.Note to self: buy blackout curtains.I don’t usually sleep in this late, but since I have no pressing chores to do this morning, I indulged. I grab my phone from under my pillow and open up my messages. Connor sent me a ‘good morning beautiful’ message, and it makes me feel all fluttery. Gah, that boy is too perfect sometimes. I sit up against my pillows and scroll through social media like usual. Shouting sounds from the courtyard outside, and I snicker. Seems someone is arguing about having to carry their own luggage and the other person is saying, “I’m not your slave. I’m your brother.”
I roll my eyes and go back to my phone. The life of the elite and privileged I guess. After twenty minutes of watching mindless videos of people making fools of themselves, or before I can get caught in any more thirst traps, I roll out of bed and grab my shower caddy. In all my excitement yesterday I never did find where the showers are. I open the door to my room and peek outside. It's still empty. I guess Sadie will be here later. I pad over to the bathroom and do my morning routine, before leaving the dorm completely and finding the showers. I walk into the marble tiled room to a whole lot of nudity. Girls running around topless, and guys in their tight boxers. I may be a virgin, but I have eyes, and these guys are way too hot to be walking around like that. Maybe this is a guys only area. No, there’s a co-ed sign.Oh that’s just great.I hesitantly walk back in and keep my eyes straight ahead to the stall all the way at the end. Someone moans from the shower next to me, and I sigh. Welcome to college I guess. The fun is only just beginning.
e
I walk out of the co-ed bathrooms, drying my hair, and shivering as I hustle back to my room. With all the pomp they put into the dorms and common rooms, you would think they could upgrade the showers. I barely rinsed all the conditioner from my hair, and the water turned ice cold. Someone got a laugh from the high pitch squeal I made. Thankfully, it’s just down the hall, so I don’t have to do the ‘oh don’t look at me, I’m just walking to my room in a towel. Nothing to see here people’ thing. The door to my room is wide open.Shoot!Did I not shut it all the way? I peek my head in, and a girl with short blonde hair, and purple streaks is standing unsteadily on the sofa.
