“Careful, Hails, you’re starting to sound like a romantic, and I know you know better than to think life is one big ole fairy tale and everyone gets their happily-ever-after.”
“Agh,” she threw up her hands, “You’re so frustrating. I give up.” Hailee stomped out of the room and I couldn’t help but smirk. Getting under my step-sister’s skin had once been one of my favorite pastimes, but now I saw it for what it was; juvenile sibling rivalry that had crossed a line.
I downed the rest of my shake and grabbed my keys.
“Jason,” Denise’s voice grated across my skin like nails on a chalkboard. “I was hoping to catch you before you left.”
“I need to go, or I’ll be—”
“This won’t take a minute.” She gave me a strained smile. “It’s Hailee, she still won’t talk to me.”
“Not my problem.”
“I know the two of you still don’t see eye to eye, but I thought... well, I thought after everything, you might talk to her for me?”
“You want me to talk to Hailee about how you what? Ruined my family? Lied to her all this time? Stood by and did nothing while we terrorized each other? Tell me, Denise, what exactly should I talk to her about?”
Shame burned her cheeks as she spluttered, desperately trying to take control back of the conversation. I might have tolerated Hailee now because of Cameron and our shared hatred for our parent’s deceit, but I didn’t owe Denise anything. She represented everything I despised.
“Jason,” she sniffled barely holding back the tears, “that’s not fair. Me and your father never meant to hurt anyone.”
“That’s just it though, Denise, isn’t it? No one is ever supposed to get hurt but they always do.” The words hit me square in the chest.
It was the truth. People always found a way to hurt one another. Screw each other over in the name of love… greed… jealousy.
“I can see this was a bad idea; forget I said anything.” She hurried out of the kitchen, her sobs punctuating the tension.
I probably should have felt even an ounce of guilt at making my stepmom cry, but the truth of it was, adults were supposed to set the standards. To teach their kids respect and integrity. My old man might have taught me how to throw a perfect pass, but he failed miserably when it came to teaching me how to be a stand-up guy. Even after losing his shot at going pro, after meeting Mom and settling down, he couldn’t give up his football-star life. He and Mom spent years pretending, years of playing their roles as doting father and mother, husband and wife. When really it was all a sham. Mom stayed with him out of obligation, while he clung onto a dream that would never be his, finding solace at the bottom of a bottle or a stranger’s bed. I never wanted to treat someone the way Dad treated Mom. Someone he was supposed to care about, to love. Which is why I planned on never settling down. I’d seen enough news articles on football players and the impact of the game on their personal lives and relationships to know that it wasn’t worth the headache or heartache.
It wasn’t worth it.
But football, the game, that was worth it.
It was all I needed.
By the time I arrived at school, first class was already in session. Not that it mattered I was late. Teachers regularly turned a blind eye to my tardiness or absence. Instead of sneaking into AP Math, I decided to hit the gym. After my run in with Hailee and then Denise, I needed to burn off some extra steam, and practice wasn’t until after school.
But even after a good work out, I was still restless. It coursed through my veins, making it hard to focus. Usually, I’d text Jenna or one of the other gymnasts or cheerleaders to see if they wanted to help me relax, but the only person I wanted to text was the one person I shouldn’t.
I’d snuck out of Felicity’s room yesterday morning for a reason. To avoid any awkward conversations, where she got the wrong idea, and I had to dig my way out of the hole I’d gotten myself into in the first place. But my dick seemingly didn’t appreciate not getting his because before I knew it, he had me pulling out my cell phone and texting her.
Me: Where ru?
Felicity: You are alive then? I thought maybe you’d been abducted by aliens…
Me: I didn’t want to get you into trouble with your parents.
Felicity: That almost sounds sweet... if it were true.
Me: It could be true.
It wasn’t, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.
Felicity: But we both know it isn’t. What do you want, Jason? I’m in class...
I smirked at her reply. Even via text conversation I could imagine her sassing me; hand on one hip, eyes wide and simmering with indignation. Her mouth all pouty and begging for attention.
Fuck.
This had shitstorm written all over it; yet, I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I was so used to girls doing whatever I asked, jumping at a chance to be with me, that Felicity’s banter was refreshing. So much so, I wanted more. Craved it like an addict craved their next hit. Because while I didn’t need a distraction from football, maybe a distraction from all the other bullshit around me was exactly what I needed.
Me: Meet me after class.
Felicity: I can’t. I have this thing called class; you should look it up sometime.
Me: Skip. I bet it’s on your list...
The three little dots indicated she was replying, but time passed and still nothing. I’d been joking about the list thing but figured I’d hit the jackpot.
Me: I’m right aren’t I? It’s totally on your list.
Felicity: I’ve cut class before.
Me: And I’m a virgin. Come on, skip class and check another thing off your list... I’ll make it worth your while.
Felicity: You really shouldn’t make promises you have no intention of keeping!
Me: Maybe this is one promise I want to keep?
I was pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to feel so smug about luring her in, but I couldn’t deny it left me feeling all kinds of awesome.
When she didn’t reply, I typed another text.
Me: We can finish what we started at your house?
Felicity: When you came over and we TALKED?
Me: The only words I remember you saying are, ‘Oh God’ and ‘More’. Come on, Giles. It’s senior year. You’re running out of time and you know you want to.
Please want to. I stared at my cell, willing her name to appear.
Felicity: You’re going to have to work A LOT harder than this.
Shit. I hadn’t expected it to get this far, not really. But now she was in, I didn’t plan on backing out. One more taste. That’s all I needed.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself as I sent:
Me: Challenge accepted.
Chapter Fifteen
Felicity
“Hey,” Mya jogged up beside me. “What’s got your attention?”
“Oh nothing.” I shoved my cell in my pocket and flashed her a bright smile.
“Oh, really, the same nothing that had your attention at lunch and in government?” Her brow rose. “Come on, you can tell me. It’s one of them, right? Asher or Jason.”
“Ssh,” I grabbed her hand, pulling her closer.