I was running the show now. Balls or no balls.
“Stop crying,” I snapped.
His wails instantly dissolved to whimpers. One of my crew snickered when he even hiccuped. I stepped closer until I was standing on the ring of pink glitter around him.
“Jason?” I called, and he stepped forward, waiting for my command. “Search his pockets.”
He did as he was told with a crooked grin, which dissolved into disgust when he pulled out a crumpled Lincoln covered in lint and something… sticky. “Gross,” Jason griped.
“Find out who that”—I pointed to the Butterfinger lying on the ground covered in glitter—“belonged to and give them the cash.”
“But that’s the last of my allowance!” Tommy raged.
“Does it look like we give a fuck?” Vaughn coolly replied.
It always amazed me how easily curse words flowed from his lips. He did it naturally and never seemed to care if an adult might hear. Considering who his parents were, I guess he wouldn’t. His mother’s family not only founded this town but his grandfather was also the mayor. And if that weren’t enough, his father… well, no one knew what his father did, but what we did know was his father was bad news. Everyone in Blackwood Keep gave Franklin Rees a wide berth. Including his son.
Jason set off to complete his task. It wouldn’t be hard to find the kid because Tommy wouldn’t have just settled with taking the candy. Somewhere on the playground was a helpless kid nursing a black eye or a busted lip.
“What do you want to do with him?” Ever inquired, sounding bored already. I knew he was probably eager to be done with Tommy. Ever was a terror, too. However, it was usually just himself that he ended up hurting. Mr. and Mrs. McNamara were having a tough time controlling their son’s restlessness. Or perhaps running a multibillion-dollar hotel chain didn’t allow much time for parenting. It seemed beneath Ever to act out just to seek attention from his parents. Then again, maybe that was just the crush speaking. Ever was no different than any other kid.
But I was.
I had to be the only kid on the planet who wished their parents would forget they ever existed. Right?
“We’re going to let him go,” I answered, earning Vaughn and Ever’s disappointed frowns and Tommy’s hopeful stare.
“Seriously?” Vaughn griped.
I nodded and stepped even closer to Tommy. I wasn’t afraid he’d try anything. Not even he was that dumb.
“But you’re going to stop picking on the smaller kids, and you’re going to stop talking crap, or else you’re going to find out what was behind door number two. We clear on that, Vann?”
Tommy nodded eagerly.
“Good. You can go.”
He tried to step around me so he could leave out the back way where no one would see him covered in sparkly pink glitter. Did he really think it would be that easy?
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He stopped dead in his tracks. “L-leaving.”
“Oh, no. We didn’t get you all dressed up for nothing, hot stuff. You’re going to take the scenic route. Let everyone see what a pretty girl you are.”
Vaughn and Ever both snickered.
“But—”
“Walk,” I commanded, leaving no room for argument in my tone.
Vaughn closed in on him, forcing Tommy to back up step after step until he was retreating on his own. Ever suggestively whistled as Tommy hurried away as fast he could, covered in all that glue and glitter.
We followed at a slower pace, wanting to witness his humiliation without being dumb enough to be caught red-handed.
Vaughn and Ever were still howling while I allowed myself only a small smile. I didn’t like what I had to do, but I knew it had to be done. Still, I never claimed to be an angel, so a teeny-weeny part of me enjoyed it.
As we rounded the corner, their laughter came to an abrupt halt at the rough yet high-pitched trill piercing the air. Strangely, I began to hum ‘Aint No Sunshine’ by Bill Withers as I drifted toward the sound and the culprit behind it. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
At first.
There was this boy—tall, lanky, and dressed in all black. The sun shining through the leaves of the tree he was holding up highlighted the red in his lush brown hair. His eyes were closed as he held his cupped hands to his mouth, oblivious to the stares of everyone around him. I was sure I’d never seen him before yet I couldn’t take my eyes away as he played what I could only guess was a harmonica. It wasn’t until he reached the end of the number that he slowly opened his eyes and lowered his hands, letting me see the sensual set of his wide mouth. His head suddenly swiveled my way and then he grinned, lazily pushing away from the tree as if the world personally spun to his rhyme. I held my breath as I stood transfixed.
Did I mention he was achingly beautiful?
As I stared at him, the pain in my belly increased until it felt like I was being stabbed from the inside.
Something this good couldn’t be true, which meant he had to be bad news.
“What the hell?” Ever exclaimed as he and Vaughn walked right up to him. Suddenly, I felt punched in the gut. It was obvious that they knew each other.“Jamie?”
“Who the hell else could I be?” Trouble shot back.
My lips flattened as I watched the hypnotic roll of Jamie’s hips as he met my friends halfway. Someone was mighty sure of himself.
The boys hugged, being careful not to let their embrace linger too long and risk appearing less macho. The newcomer then turned to Vaughn, and to my surprise, they embraced, too. Wide grins covered each of their faces, and I could already see the mischief brewing in their eyes. I shifted uncomfortably because, for whatever reason, I felt left out.
They were happy to see their friend, which was perfectly understandable.
Except my gut wouldn’t stop warning me that the tide was changing, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. And when faced with danger, I did what any sane person would do.
I turned and ran the other way.
There were no calls for me to come back as I fled the park, which meant my friends hadn’t even noticed I had left. I ran all the way home, and though I was drenched in sweat and out of breath, the tumbles in my tummy hadn’t stopped. It felt as if I’d left a piece of myself back there, and I was sure it was my pride. I’d run like a coward, and I didn’t even know why. Pressing a hand to my lower stomach, I frowned. The fluttering had finally ceased, but now it felt like my insides where being wrung dry, ebbing every few seconds, and leaving behind a dull ache. My skin was warm, and it had nothing to do with the sun beaming down on me like my own personal spotlight. A few seconds later, I was grateful there was no one around when I doubled over. A small cry even slipped through my lips. And then another cramp hit me before I could straighten.
Now I wasn’t one to curse. Mother said it isn’t ladylike.
But what the hell?
I limped through the gates and slowly made my way up the drive, not stopping until I reached my private bath. Normally, I’d turn up my nose at all the pink walls and decorations my mother insisted on, but there was no time. Suddenly, the baggy cargo shorts were too constricting, so I hurriedly unbuttoned them and shoved them down my trembling legs. When it still felt like my stomach was being squeezed, I realized it was the elastic in my panties. In a moment of desperation, I shoved them off, too, and the sight of blood immediately brought tears to my eyes.