His flirty friend laughs and my gaze darts to the way his button-down shirt gapes in the front, showing off his strong, tanned pecs. He watches me, his intrigue growing by the second, and I’m not going to lie, his attention is fun, but I’m in no mood for eighteen-year-old dudes and their need to get their dicks wet. “Shit, bro. This one’s got a bite as well as a bark. I wonder what else she can do.”
“Don’t even think about it, asshole,” I say, knowing I should reel it in before this gets any worse, or hell, before Colby finds me and insists on defending my honor by trying to beat the shit out of these guys, though he would lose. These guys look as though they eat bitches like Colby for breakfast. “If you need someone to suck your dick, why don’t you ask your friend here? He seems to have a big mouth. Clearly he needs something to shut him up.”
A strange hush falls over the room, the music still thumping but the bodies all seem to have stopped. Unease settles over me, and as I glance to the side, I realize that everyone is watching me. Now, I don’t know shit about private school politics, but I know drunk high school kids, and when something gains the attention of the whole room, it’s not good. These guys are obviously a big deal, and I just got myself into a world of trouble—exactly where I don’t want to be.
Flirty guy looks nervously toward the scary dude, and I conclude that I just insulted the king of the jocks. He doesn’t respond, and I don’t know if his silence should intimidate me, but as it is, I just have to dig myself a deeper hole. “Let me guess,” I say, trailing my gaze over him, taking in his big shoulders and strong chest, right down to the way his wet shirt sticks to his holy grail of bodies. “Quarterback? Whole school thinks you’re a bigger deal than what you are? Bad attitude and gets whatever he wants by acting like a twat, but gets away with it because the school sees you as royalty? ’Bout right?”
Flirty guy laughs, throws his heavy arm back over his friend’s shoulder and slaps his hand across his chest. “Holy fuck, bro. She got you down in one go.” He turns his attention back to me, the corner of his lip pulling into a cocky grin. “It’s been fun, but you’re climbing up the wrong tree, baby. I suggest you back the fuck down. I wouldn’t want to see a pretty little thing like you find herself in trouble.”
Reading into his words, I take it for what it is. He’s letting me off the hook, giving me a chance to run before shit goes any further south, and not needing to be told twice, I give him a tight smile and nod. “You and I know it’s already too late for that, but good idea nonetheless,” I tell him, averting my gaze, hating the way I can still feel his heavy stare on the side of my face.
I go to step away, but his hand shoots out and captures my chin. Scary dude steps into me, forcing my chin up until my eyes lock on his, holding me captive. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” His tone is deep and murmured, and despite the music, I hear every last word as though he spoke straight to my soul.
I try to keep myself calm despite the way my heart thunders erratically in my chest, so wild and terrified that it hurts. “Don’t make me knee you in the balls,” I warn him. “It’s a cheap shot, but trust me when I tell you, I am not above taking it.”
His gaze narrows and I try to keep myself breathing.
A moment of silence passes before his fingers begin to loosen on my chin. “Watch yourself,” he tells me as I tear my chin free from his warm grip. “I never forget a face.”
His threat is loud and clear. I’ve insulted him here tonight. I’ve spilled beer all over him, suggested he suck his friend’s dick, and called him out for being a typical douche jock. He won’t forget it, and at some point, I’ll have to pay. I refuse to release his stare, showing that I’m not scared of him despite the terror causing havoc over my body. “You sound like a treat,” I tell him. “Listen, great meeting you and all, but I’ve had a shit night and I’m not about to stick around and wait for one of your friends to start groping me, but it’s nice to know that you’ll be spending your days unable to forget my face when I can guarantee that the moment I walk away from here tonight, I won’t even think twice about yours.”
He continues watching me as his friend just stares, looking between the two of us as though he’s never witnessed someone having the balls to fight back. He’s almost mesmerized by me, and if I were on my own turf, I might even feel good about it, but the rich boys of a private school are unpredictable, and I want nothing to do with them.
I hear my name hollered through the room and my heart stops for only a moment.
Colby.
Fuck, I’d almost forgotten that asshole was looking for me. So, without wasting another moment, I shoulder past the Adonis and barrel toward the grand entrance, determined to get out of here. I don’t dare look back at Mr. StickUpAss or his friend Mr. TannedGoldenAndCocky and take off like Cinderella, bolting down the front steps as though her life depended on it. Though unlike her, I leave absolutely nothing to come back for.
Chapter 2
BRIELLE
Slamming the door of my old Honda Civic, I grip the steering wheel and let out a shaky breath.
Okay, so tonight could have gone a bit smoother. Sure, Colby was asking for a verbal smackdown and a shitload more, and I probably should have handled the whole beer on jock situation a little better, but what’s a girl to do? I’d just found out that my boyfriend had been screwing other girls, not to mention literally walking in on him with his dick buried in another girl’s pussy, and I hadn’t even had a chance to scream about it. To be fair, I think the scary jock dude got off easy. Plus, he’s an asshole, so I’m sure my bitchy attitude is nothing that he doesn’t handle on a daily basis. A guy like him is probably getting panties in a twist left, right, and center.
Wanting to get home, I shove the key in the ignition and feel the soft rumble of the engine vibrate through the car. Hitting the gas and easing out of my parking space, I spy Colby racing toward me, and I laugh as his hands fly up, trying to flag me down.
Asshole. He’s kidding himself if he thinks I’m about to give him a ride home so he can rattle off bullshit excuses, throw up in my backseat, and then insist that I’m to blame for his cheating.
No thanks, not today, Satan.
I flip off Colby and fly past him, loving the look of astonishment that crosses his stupid face, like he’s actually surprised I’d leave his ass behind.
My phone immediately begins blowing up and I silence it until a new call comes through.
“Girl, what the hell is going on?” Erica demands, not bothering with a hello, though what’s new? When you’ve been best friends since kindergarten, the formalities quickly fade away. “Colby’s blowing up my phone, demanding you call him back. What happened?”
I groan and hit the speakerphone button on the cracked screen before tossing my phone back onto the passenger seat. “Are you kidding me?” I mutter. “The dude—”
“There he goes again,” she says, cutting me off as I hear the familiar beep of her incoming call. “The asshole won’t quit calling. Does he think you’re with me or something? I thought you guys were going to that private party.”