“F-f-fuck you.”
“Yeah, Queenie, that’s never gonna happen.” He chuckles then walks away.
Her face is beet red when she looks at us and clears her throat. “Again, I’m sorry.” Then she hurries to the door.
“What the hell was that all about?” Brisa laughs.
Kiki looks at me as if she’s waiting for me to tell them about the PBJ incident.
I close my eyes, telling her no.
She looks back at Brisa. “She has the hots for Justice.”
“So she’s trying to make friends with us to get to the boys?” Tris laughs. “Someone should really tell her we’ve been there, done that.”
“I’m pretty sure she just figured that out.” I shrug.
After doing a half-ass abs workout—half-assed because I refuse to change when I can’t really work out because of the boot—I say goodbye to the girls and sneak out, hoping to avoid Reeves and the other two horsemen. It works, but when I turn the corner, leaning against the wall is the freshly showered Lone Ranger of the horsemen—Tobias Easton.
“Got a minute?” he asks.
“For you?” I smile, and he pushes off the wall. “No.”
I start walking down the hall, but he easily catches up with me.
“She’s trying to right her wrong with you and Kiki.”
“Yeah, well, excuse me if I don’t buy her bullshit.” I stop, turn, and look up at him. “Tell me, Easton, why the hell do you care?”
“I don’t,” he snarls.
“Don’t come at me being all calm and acting like you give a fuck about her, and then bitch-slap me with asshole.”
His jaw tenses.
“Unless you do care about her.” I cock my head to the side. “Do you?”
“I care that she has another year in this place, and the only way she knows how to get ahead is by climbing on other people’s backs, a learned behavior. I care that she learned her lesson and is trying to make amends for the first time in the four years that I’ve known her, and you’re not giving her a second chance when it is in your nature to do so.”
“So, this lands on me now, huh?” I laugh.
He laughs wickedly. “You don’t get your shit back on track, you’re gonna have to eat those words.”
“So, now you care about me?”
His face contorts and a look of disgust mars his otherwise beautiful features. “I wouldn’t say care. Pissed fits better. I’d most definitely be pissed that I missed watching you choke on your choices.”
I snap my mouth shut to stop the venom from spewing.
He smiles knowingly and nods. “Oh, I see. You’re playing a game here. Holding back because you don’t want your shit to land on JT’s face tomorrow.”
I clench my fists, and he looks down and shakes his head.
“I came at you real, Truth, and you’re holding back because of your bloodlines and loyalty.” Before I can stop him, he reaches in my pocket and pulls out my phone before handing it to me. “Do yourself and your brother a favor. Accept her invitation so that she can save face and, by doing so, I guarantee your brother’s face will be saved in return.”
My body burns hot in anger, and my blood begins to boil.
“Everyone going to that party sees the accepts and declines. I’m not asking you to go. I’m telling you to accept her white flag and show her some grace.”
“She’s shown me none,” I snap.
He shakes his head. “You have no idea what she has opened herself up to by inviting you.”
“Like I give a damn.”
“You care about your brother’s face? You wanna save the tireless explanation and mountains of lies you may have to give your folks when he walks into Cleaver-ville with concerned parents asking questions? Accept the fucking invite.”
My chest tightens, knowing he is alone, but also, fuck him, he doesn’t have to be. I see how everyone not only looks at him but up to him. He’s built that wall, and he stands at the ready to defend it.
“Have you?”
Annoyed, he pulls his phone out, holds it up, hits the notifications, and then hits accept. “Yeah, I did.”
I look at him. “You better not hurt him, or I swear to you, I will sneak in your house, club you over the head, ensuring you’re knocked out, and then smother you in your fucking sleep.”
His brows shoot up. “Oddly specific details. How long you been planning that?”
“You swear on all you love that if I do this, not a scratch on his face.”
He nods, and I hold out my hand. He looks down at it in disgust.
“I don’t have cooties, asshole. Shake on it or fuck you.”
When he grips my hand, I don’t feel a jolt of electricity like I previously thought I would. No, not even a little static electric spark. But I feel flutters in my stomach, my heart, and my fucking head, and it pisses me off.
I quickly pull my hand away and hit accept. “If she mean girls me after this, I will destroy her and you.”
“I can guarantee she won’t.”
“He’s going to eat you alive.”
He nods once, turns, and then walks away.
He’s in love with her. He is in freaking love with her, and that’s why he’s doing this. He’s in love with her, and that’s why he doesn’t hang out with Harrison around her.
Bile burns in my throat as I send a text to the crew.
- I accepted her invitation for tonight. Doesn’t mean I’m going, but I did. And if you guys do go, just remember to watch your backs. I don’t trust her at all.
Chapter Thirteen
Idiom
My lips are sealed.
Truth
Thank God I can breathe through my nose.
Sitting in the bleachers, surrounded by the entire family, except Brand and Tags, who both are tied up with work, I’m having the best time on Seashore Academy property than I’ve ever had.
Luna has chosen to sit on my lap because, as she says, “Momma Bella’s and Kiki’s belly are too big, and you’re my next favorite.”
Bella palms her face.
“At least she’s honest.” Kiki laughs.
“Just you wait,” Bella sighs.
“You’re cute and warm. I’ll take third.” I laugh.
Now, with sticky fingers being wiped all over me, I’m secretly second-guessing my decision, and Uncle Jase, who tried to lure her from me and failed, is looking all too smug about it.
The bleachers around us are less empty since the start of the game. I can safely assume all the girls who sat close to us because they expected to see Brand Falcon are now sitting farther away with their normal cliques as intermission is about to come to an end.
Wiping Luna’s hands with the wet wipes that Uncle Jase was hiding and Aunt Carly snagged while she was whispering something in his ear, no doubt something dirty since he was distracted, a cloud covers the sun.
I get an elbow to the ribs and scowl at Brisa, who looks incredibly amused.
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Steel, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, fuck no,” I grumble, and Luna starts laughing as she looks over her shoulder at me. “Shh … don’t tell on me.”