Her eyes slide to the table that holds the jocks before coming back to mine. I see that Scout and the bitch are making out. His hands are tangled in her blond hair while she straddles his hips. Her skirt pulled up so high you can practically see her pussy while she grinds on his lap, and that feeling of betrayal returns. The urge to throw Jamie’s drink at their heads is strong. But that’s what they want. They want a reaction from me. I won’t give it to them, so I turn my attention back to my friend.
“That’s what will happen if you try anything with them. And … and I can’t lose you again. If you choose to leave again, I will respect that, but not like that. I don’t want them to hurt you like they did Brenda Nash.”
It’s the first time she’s admitted she believed me. That she thinks they all had a hand in it. It’s not farfetched because they are a team after all. They don’t do anything that the others don’t know about. I think that’s why Scout tried to warn me off. He knew what had happened and that it wouldn’t hold up in court no matter what I said. Maybe he was trying to save me from being slaughtered by the town.
I swallow the fry and lump in my throat. “I didn’t think … You never acted like …”
“You know I believed you.” She grabs my hands in hers, and tears build in her hazel eyes. “You doubted me?” Her face scrunches in agony at my silence. “I’m sorry I ever made you think that. My father …” She swallows. “My father told me to keep my mouth shut and my opinion to myself, but I always knew you were telling the truth.”
Tears sting my eyes, and I pull her in for a tight hug. “Thank you.” I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that until now. I pull away. “I just … I just want things to go back to normal. As much as they can,” I lie. “Please understand.”
She bites her bottom lip but finally nods.
I tuck my head and look up through my lashes and see that Scout has moved onto her neck. Laney’s got her head tilted back, lips parted, and eyes closed. They’re practically fucking. When did the school start allowing sex at the lunch tables?
I’m going to make him so fucking jealous he won’t be able to stand it. I’ve done it once; I’ll do it again.
CHAPTER SIX
HENLEY
FRIDAY WAS PRETTY quiet. No one spoke to me other than Jamie. The guys didn’t even look my way in the cafeteria or in the halls. It’s their version of the silent treatment. A part of their game.
By the end of the school day, I found myself actually excited about going to the party. I’ve felt cooped up in the house since I returned. The only time I leave is to go to school. Before everything, I was always on the go—out at parties, Death Valley, or just hanging out with the guys—and always had something to do. I spent ninety percent of my time with them. Now I feel so alone. And as much as I hate them, it’s also eating me alive.
“Henley?” I hear my father call out.
“I’m in here,” I say from my closet. I’m going through clothes, trying to decide what I want to wear tonight when he enters. I turn to face him and frown. “Everything okay?” I ask, worried about him.
We haven’t had the chance to sit down and talk since I got back earlier this week. He left and has been occupied ever since he returned this morning. I feel like something is bothering him other than the obvious.
“I need to tell you something.” He sighs heavily. “Come here.” Grabbing my hand, he walks me over to the padded pedestal in the center of the closet and sits down. I sit down next to him.
“Is Jeremy okay?” I ask about the one person who means as much to me as he does. What else could get him this worked up?
“Yeah,” he says quickly. “It’s nothing like that.”
“Okay. Then what is it?”
“I … well, I’ve done something …”
“Sir?” We both look up to see Lance standing in my closet. He’s holding a phone in one hand while the other covers the receiver. “There’s a situation.”
“Can it wait a minute?” my father growls.
“I’m afraid not,” he says apologetically.
My father places his hands on his thighs and stands, letting out a sigh. He turns to face me and frowns. “We’ll continue this conversation tomorrow.”
I nod numbly as he exits the closet without further explanation, wondering what in the hell that was about. He said it didn’t have anything to do with my brother, so it can’t be that important.
I pick up my cell and send a quick message to my brother.
Me: Have you spoken to Dad lately?
He reads it and replies immediately.
Jeremy: No, everything okay?
Me: Yeah, I was just curious.
I lock my phone and let out a breath at my lie because I don’t want to worry him. He lives too far away to be running back here for nothing. Getting up, I turn to face my clothes when I hear Jamie’s voice. “Knock, knock, bitch. Hope you’re dressed,” she calls out before entering.
I turn to face her. “I’m almost ready. Just need to find something to wear.”
“Something that covers very little.” She begins to shuffle through my clothes until she finds something that catches her eye. “This. This is the winner. Plus, it’s going to make your tits look fabulous.” She winks at me.
Reaching down, I remove my shirt, not even bothered she’s in here with me. We’ve been best friends since we were little. We’ve taken showers together. Hell, before school ended last year, we had sex just feet away from one another. That was the last time I was with Scout before Death Valley.
Junior year
At the back of the property on Death Valley is a small lake. It’s manmade and covers a few hundred acres. There’s a bonfire to my right. Scout sits in a lawn chair, and I sit on his lap; one of his hands gently makes circles on my thigh while the other holds his beer. I’m drinking a water. I opted for a Molly the moment we arrived. Same as Jamie. She is currently making out with Rellik over to my right. They’re rolling around on the ground, moaning and dry humping each other.
Scout leans forward, whispering in my ear. “How do you feel, beautiful?” he asks. His hand on my thigh moves to my hair, grabbing a fistful and yanking my head back.
I gasp and look up at the night sky as he holds my head back at an odd angle. “Good,” I breathe.
He drops his empty beer bottle, and his now free hand slides under my shirt, finding its way to my left breast since I’m not wearing a bra. My breathing picks up as he teases my nipple by rolling it between his fingers. “I want to fuck you,” he states.
I grind my hips. “I want you,” I breathe. The Molly hasn’t kicked in a hundred percent yet, but I’m always down to fuck him. Scout has the power to make you want to give him whatever he wants.
“Spread your legs for me,” he orders, growling.
They fall open on their own, and I lean my back against him, my heavy eyes still staring at the sky. My body tingles at the sensation of the current drug in my system.
His hand slides into my shorts, and he shoves my underwear out of the way and finds my clit. I suck in a deep breath and roll my hips, silently begging for more.