The time with her went by too quickly, and afterward, we took her back and dropped her off. Once again, Cole didn’t try to speak to me.
As soon as we got back home, we started decorating the house. I had finally accepted Deke’s friend request weeks ago, and I saw his invite to my party. More people than I could count said they were coming. Deke loaded Becky’s car with alcohol the day before, so we set up everything in the kitchen and then went upstairs to start getting ready.
Just as I was putting on my heels, my mother called me. I stared at it for a few rings and then sent her to voicemail. She immediately sent me a text.
Mom: Have your father call me.
That was all it said.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
COLE
I PULL UP to Bruce’s house. The party isn’t supposed to start for another hour, but the driveway is already packed full of cars. I’m not surprised.
Kids litter the front yard and porch. They nod their head to me and call out my name. Like always, I ignore them.
The past couple of weeks have had me on edge. I’ve been in a pissy mood because Austin has been ignoring me. And because I’ve been too busy with swim meets to try to spend extra time with her. But yesterday was Friday, officially kicking off spring break. I have no obligations this weekend and no school next week. So tonight I plan to corner her and talk to her. Make her talk to me. She can cuss, she can yell, and hell, she can even slap me. We are getting to the bottom of this shit tonight.
I don’t care if it’s her birthday. I have waited long enough.
I enter the house and make my way down the hallway. People move out of my way. I enter the kitchen, expecting her to be in here, but she’s not.
“You looking for Austin?”
I turn around at a male’s voice and come face to face with Bryan. I fist my hands.
He takes a step back, raising his, not wanting me to beat his ass like I did at the beach. “I don’t want trouble. It was just a question.”
I unclench them. “Where is she?” I ask, cutting to the chase.
“Last I saw her, she was in the game room playing beer pong.”
I shoulder past him and move farther down the hallway. I keep an eye out for Deke because I saw his SUV parked in the driveway.
I round the back corner and open the door that I know is their game room. “Bite Your Kiss” by Diamante blares through the speakers. I spot her immediately. She’s standing at the end of the ping pong table. The guy opposite of her makes his shot, and everyone cheers as she throws back whatever was in the cup.
She smashes the now empty cup on the table, and her eyes meet mine. “Cole,” she shouts excitedly, and my jaw tightens.
She’s fucking trashed. Her party hasn’t even started yet, which tells me that she’s been drinking for a while.
Everyone turns to look at me, and the guy across from her steps back from the table. “Here you go, man,” he says, offering up his spot.
She waves him off. “He doesn’t drink, Myers.” She hiccups and then laughs at herself.
“You obviously have had enough for the both of us,” I state.
“It’s my birthday.” She holds her hands out wide before they fall to her sides, slapping her bare thighs. “I can do whatever the fuck I want.”
I don’t like the way she says it. As if she could kiss any guy in here. Fuck any guy in here. “Austin,” I growl.
She narrows her eyes on me, then looks around at everyone in the room like she is sizing them up. I notice the way a girl by the name of Amanda looks me up and down before giving me a big smile. Austin sees it, and she rolls her eyes before they come back to me. “I’m curious … how many girls in here have fucked Cole Reynolds?” she asks as if reading my mind. Deke stands off to her right with Becky, and his brows rise. Everyone stares at her, wondering what the hell is going on. “Come on. This is just for fun,” she says, encouraging them.
One by one, the girls slowly start to raise their hands. Including Amanda. All but a few, Becky included, keep their hands down. I never slept with her. I would have, but she was always Deke’s. We all knew that.
Austin spins around, looking at all of them, and then smiles at me. “Pick someone else, Cole. Because I’m done being yours.”
My hands fist down by my sides.
“Okay, I think we should—”
“Play strip beer pong,” she interrupts Deke. “For every one you miss, I’ll take something off.” She tosses the ball to me. I catch it midair. “What do you say?”
“Don’t,” I growl in warning.
She tilts her head to the side. “Don’t wanna play my game, Cole?”
“Austin!”
“How about …” She leans over the table. “I dare you.”
“Not gonna work, sweetheart.” I give her a threatening smile.
She looks at the guy she called Myers and smiles at him. “You’ll play with me, right?” she asks, placing her hands on her hips.
She looks like a fucking doll dressed in a short, black tulle skirt and black t-shirt that reads BIRTHDAY across her chest in gold letters with her favorite pair of black heels. She’s worn them before while I fucked her. Her long hair is down and straight, and her eyes are lined with black. And red fucking lipstick.
I promise, there’s not a guy in this house who doesn’t want to play with her—my toy.
He takes a step back up to the table. I grip his shoulder and yank him back. “Everybody out!” I shout.
They all turn toward the door and run out. All but Deke and Becky.
Austin pushes her right hip out and picks up another red Solo cup. She drinks it.
“Just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snap.
“Why are you even here, Cole?” she asks, ignoring my question.
I step to her, and she tilts her head back to look up at me. “Was I not invited?” I ask, arching a brow.
Her green eyes hold mine for a long second before a drunken smile grows across her face. “I already told you once, Cole. I no longer care what you do.”
The door opens, and I spin around to yell at them to leave, but Bennett and Shane walk in. Then Kellan.
She picks up another Solo cup and begins to drink it as well.
“You’ve had enough,” I snap and yank it from her hand.
Her green eyes narrow on me. “That’s it,” she snaps. “I’ve tried to be nice …”
Kellan’s laughter cuts her off.
She glares at him and then returns her attention to me. “I’m done. Done letting you all boss me around like I don’t have a say. Being told what to do and how things are going to be. And all these secrets. Well, guess what? I have secrets of my own.” She smiles at me. It’s not soft or inviting. “I’ve got insurance too, Cole.”
“What are you talking about?” Kellan asks nervously.
“Every time we’ve been sitting at the clubhouse and you all thought I was playing around on my phone, I was really recording you.”
“Shit.” Deke chuckles impressed.
“So go ahead, push me a little more and see what I do with all that information.” She shoves me out of the way and goes to storm out, but I grab her upper arm.