“Again, fuck you.”
“See? Like that. I’m already poisoning your sunny disposition.” He reaches forward and rubs his knuckle down my cheek. “Don’t go all hard on me now. Soft looks beautiful on you.”
Just like that, he turns around and leaves me frozen where I’m standing. I swear, the mood swings on that one is going to give me whiplash.
I’M SITTING IN MY room with Savannah, listening to her tell me about how she caught Jace and Paige hooking up. It doesn’t surprise me. Paige is always looking for a way to feel more in charge, and Jace could have practically anyone he wants. What catches me off guard more is when she mentions that Carter hasn’t messed around with anyone since New Year’s.
“I don’t know, Lane. I think he may actually be serious about this thing for you.”
I shake my head. “There’s no way. That boy is the definition of a player. The only thing keeping his interest on me right now is the fact that I’m not in his bed.”
She smiles. “And if it’s not?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what if it’s not just the chase he’s after? What if you’re the one he actually wants to throw out his playboy ways for?”
It’s not a question I’ve let myself entertain very often. Carter can be a sweetheart, when he wants to be, but I’ve also heard the rumors and the things that come out of his mouth. I’d be a fool to allow myself to think anything could become of him and me.
Just as I’m about to change the subject, Tessa barges in and does it for me—only not to one I’d like to discuss.
“What’s going on between you and Knox?”
My eyes widen as Savannah chokes on air. “Knox Vaughn?”
“Do you know any others?” Tessa dismisses her and then turns back to me. “Seriously. What’s up? I’ve never seen him chase after anyone like that before.”
“It’s nothing. He just wanted to apologize for being a douche.”
“He apologized?” The two of them gawk in unison.
“Yes?”
Tessa seems too shocked to say anything else, but Savannah moves to the end of my bed. “Delaney, trust me when I say this, you can’t get involved with him. He’s bad news. Him and his brigade of tyrants.”
“Hey!” Tess barks.
Savannah changes the focus of her attention. “What? You know it’s true, and besides, Delaney is entirely way too good for him.”
My sister relaxes as she sees her point. “Maybe Sav is right.”
“You know,” I begin, “I’m really tired of everyone telling me what to do. Who I should and shouldn’t talk to. Where I do and don’t belong. I’m not a child.”
“We know, and we’re not trying to control you.” Savannah keeps her tone calm. “It’s just, he’s trouble and you’re…pure. His world will chew you up and spit you out.”
I roll my eyes. “Tessa handles them just fine.”
Sav chuckles. “Tessa is just as bad as they are.” When Tess opens her mouth to say something, Savannah levels her with a look. “Don’t even start. You’ve been a little rebel since you were five.” She turns back to me. “I’m trying to protect you here, Lane. Stay away from him, okay?”
I don’t want to agree, especially after the way he made me feel today with the simplest touch. However, I know if I don’t, she’ll never let it go—so I nod, making a promise I’m already half certain I’m going to break.
THE RESTAURANT IS FANCY, requiring Tessa and I to both be wearing dresses—matching ones, thanks to my parents’ belief that being twins means looking the same in all aspects. I can tell it’s driving her insane, since she’s not the type to dress up in something so formal, but I don’t necessarily mind it.
Our aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents all fill the very large table while Tessa and I sit across from each other in the middle. Celebrating our birthday a week early makes me feel older than I actually am. After tonight, I’ll probably be convinced I’m already eighteen, even though I’m not. Still, it’s always nice to see family.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Dad says as he stands with his glass. “To my two beautiful baby girls. I can’t believe you’re both becoming adults. It feels like just yesterday I was trying to juggle you in my arms. I hope your birthday is everything you’ve always imagined. I love you.”
Tess subtly rolls her eyes while we all drink—champagne for the adults and sprite for us. However, I don’t miss the way Uncle Dom sneaks some of his alcohol into her glass with a wink. He’s always been the funcle of the family.
I spend the next few hours eating delicious food, answering questions about what university I’m learning toward, and blowing out candles on our shared birthday cake. By the time we go to leave, I’m exhausted. I climb into the back of the limo my father hired and rest my head on my sister’s shoulder. I don’t even realize I’ve fallen asleep until a loud squeal wakes me up.
“Laney! Laney, look!” she screams, and I tiredly gaze out the window.
Two Lamborghini Aventadors, one white and one black, sit in our driveway, with big red bows on them. Tess and I jump out of the limo with huge smiles on our faces, running over to look at the best presents known to man. My name in cursive is written on the bow for the white one, and Tessa’s is on the black—telling us exactly which is whose.
“Do you like them?” our dad asks, and for the first time in years, Tess smiles at him genuinely.
“Yes!” We both shout at the same time, running up to give both our parents hugs and kisses.
Dad smiles happily and hands us each a set of keys. “They’re very fast, very powerful, and very expensive cars. Drive them carefully.”
Everything out of his mouth after that is a blur as we check out our new cars.
Eighteen isn’t looking so bad.
7
KNOX
Being on the football team, I’ve been through my fair share of heavy workouts. Hell, there have been times I’ve thrown up from being worked so hard. And yet, nothing has knocked me on my ass as much as training for The Underground. Grayson and I have only been working with Jackson for the past week, but fuck am I sore. I’ve even gone as far as taking an ice bath to try to ease the pain in my muscles. The only thing that did was make my dick so small it practically tried to crawl up inside me.
“I can’t believe that bitch of a teacher called my dad,” Stone continues to rant. “I changed the report card from an F to a B perfectly. It was fucking flawless, and then she went and ruined it. I mean, it’s only woodshop. What kind of woman teaches woodshop anyway?”
“The bitchiest of them all,” Gage eggs him on.
He throws his arms in the air. “That’s what I’m saying! Such a fucking cunt, I swear. Now my prick of a father is talking about sending my ass to summer school to make it up. It’s woodshop! It’s not even required!”
Zayn groans and throws his lighter at Stone. “You complain like a whiny little girl, you know that? Be a goddamn man about it. Do something to get revenge and move the fuck on.”