“Because you completed your first dare. And I’m not gonna lie; you impressed me. Just like I knew you would.” He takes Becky’s cup and places it in his empty one, tilting it to me. “He doubted your potential.” Then he takes a drink. “I did not.”
She scoffs. “I’m insulted.”
Everyone laughs, including me. I lean down and kiss her hair, letting everyone out here know she’s still mine. For those who are here and don’t already know. “I was impressed. Pissed, but impressed nonetheless.”
“Yeah, pulling that fire alarm was not the smartest move.” Bennett laughs.
She shrugs awkwardly with my arm over her shoulders. “My only option was to do it during the day while he was at work.”
“And you took my car. I’m keeping my keys on me at all times from now on.”
“If you would let me drive myself, I wouldn’t have had to take yours.”
“Not gonna happen, sweetheart.”
_______________
We’ve been out here on the beach for two hours now. The guys and I stand by the bonfire. People litter the beach—some stumbling and some already passed out up by the tree line. No one talks to me because they know unless they’re my friends, I have nothing to say to them. Deke is a social butterfly online, but he, too, keeps to himself at school. Bennett and Shane are friends with everyone. Kellan stays to himself. He’s only been this way for the past six months. I think some of that had to do with the wreck. The other, with Celeste.
I look over my shoulder to see Austin and Becky standing by one of the folding tables, and Austin’s pouring herself another drink. It’s her fourth. I’ve kept count. And I also know that she keeps adding alcohol to the ones I’ve made her.
“I thought Kellan would come out tonight,” Shane says, getting my attention.
I knew he wouldn’t show up. I bet my ass he’s at Bruce’s house fucking Celeste. Bruce is out of town, and Austin is here. That’s what I would do, if I was him. “Maybe he didn’t feel like getting his ass kicked tonight,” I offer.
Shane sighs but doesn’t say anything. He knows I’m not in the mood to be tested.
“I said stop!”
I spin around at the sound of Austin’s voice. Their backs are to us as they face a guy. A guy who I fucking hate—Bryan!
“Go away, Bryan,” Becky snaps, and then she shoves him.
The girls spin around and start to walk toward us, and I don’t miss the way they link their arms together and stumble. They’re drunk.
All four of us reach them before they can even take another step.
He and his friend Christopher laugh.
“What the fuck was that about?” Deke demands, looking down at Becky.
Before she can answer, Bryan and Christopher join us. “Hey, Austin?” he looks at her, and her green, glassy eyes are narrowed on him. “Bryan dared me to fuck you.” He looks her up and down, smiling like the drunk he is. “Where do you want it …?”
My fist connecting with his face interrupts whatever he was about to say.
“Dude!” Bryan calls out, jumping back while Chris falls to the sand.
“You dared him to fuck her?” I shout at him.
He places his hands up in front of him and flinches. I wrap my hands around his wrists and yank him forward. Once his chest bumps mine, I head-butt him. He falls next to Christopher, and they both roll around moaning.
“Get your ass up,” I order, already feeling that adrenaline that comes with a fight. My head pounds, and I clench and unclench my throbbing fist.
“Cole?” Austin calls from behind me. I spin around to face her. Those green eyes are now wide with fear. She looks at the guys on the ground for a second and then at me. “Let’s just go.”
“Not yet.” I look at Shane. “Take the girls to Deke’s SUV.”
“No. Cole …” Bennett grabs Austin’s arm and pulls her away as Becky clings to Deke. He shoves her off to Shane, and she fights him as he takes her to Deke’s Range Rover.
Kids start to circle us, and I remove my black zip-up hoodie but leave my shirt on. Deke comes up beside me, and we turn around to look down at the bastards. “I’ll take Christopher,” he says.
“I got Bryan.” At the mention of his name, Bryan gets up on his hands and knees, trying to crawl away. I grab his ankle and yank, flipping him onto his back. I stand over him, reminding myself that I can’t kill him here with all the witnesses, and of course, they all have their phones out recording us.
“It was just a joke,” Bryan says as blood runs down his face. He jumps to his feet, lifting his hands.
Deke is already on top of Christopher, beating the hell out of him. I’m going to take my time with Bryan. He deserves that.
“Fucking with what is mine is no joke,” I tell him.
“Cole …” He growls my name as if his tone is going to get me to back down. I’ve beat his ass before, so you would think the bastard would have learned his lesson.
I lift my fisted hands and smile at him. “I’m gonna kick your ass, Bryan.” He swallows nervously. “I dare you to fight back.”
AUSTIN
Becky and I sit in the back seat of Deke’s Range Rover when we see the guys walking toward us. She opens the door and runs to him. I get out a little slower, knowing Cole and I aren’t like her and Deke.
“Baby,” she cries out, placing her hand on his face. He has a cut across his cheek, and his shirt is stretched out at the collar, but that’s all.
“I’m fine,” he assures her.
Cole’s eyes meet mine, and I glare at him. He ignores me as he climbs into the driver’s seat. I jump into the passenger side as Deke and Becky climb in behind us. They start panting as she crawls into his lap and straddles him while they make out.
I look straight ahead, trying to sober up. I drank too much. I added extra alcohol to every drink he made me plus took a few shots when he wasn’t looking. Now I’m regretting it.
I look at Cole’s hands as they grip the steering wheel. The skin broken and blood smeared on them. His black hoodie sits in his lap so I can see his toned forearms are also covered in blood.
“Did you kill him?” I can’t help but ask.
“What do you care?” he replies; his answer clipped.
“Why are you mad at me?” I demand.
He takes a quick look over at me. His eyes run over me before they go back to the dark road.
“It’s not my fault.” His hands fist the wheel, tightening his bloody knuckles. “I didn’t do anything …”
“I know,” he snaps. “I didn’t say you fucking did!”
“Then why the hell are you acting like it?”
Becky moans, and I don’t dare look in the back seat, afraid her jeans may be off.
“Just stop it,” he snaps.
“No. I won’t.” I turn in my seat, the seat belt making it hard, but I yank on it, giving me some slack. “Why did you hit him?” He ignores me as he drives down the dark, two-lane road. “Because you needed the fight?”
“Don’t,” he growls.
“I may be a little drunk—”
“That’s an understatement.”