“Call me,” she says as she steps back.
Everyone watches her leave with confused looks on their faces and once she’s gone, Stone turns to me. “Who the fuck was that?”
I shrug. “Don’t know. Don’t care.”
The six of us split up. Easton and Tessa leave in E’s car, Gage hitches a ride with Stone, and I get in with Z. It only takes a minute, however, before he eyes me suspiciously.
“Everything all right?”
My brows furrow. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know. You showed up late, and as soon as you got there you chugged three beers, took four shots, and did a line of coke. I just want to make sure there isn’t a reason for it.”
Thoughts of the meeting last night move to the forefront of my mind and dread fills my stomach. Maybe Grayson was right. Going that hard when we have to train tonight probably wasn’t the smartest decision I’ve ever made. Still, Zayn can’t know about this. Not any of it.
“You worry too much, dick. I’m fine.”
He may not believe me, but he drops the subject for now.
COMING TO THE DINER for breakfast after a wild night has become a sort of tradition for us. We’re here almost every weekend, to the point where they keep the largest corner booth they have open for us. The waitress, Harriet, is a sweet old woman. She reminds me of my grandmother, which is probably why she’s the only woman I’m respectful toward.
“Here you go, boys,” she says as she places the plates in front of us.
We all thank her in unison before digging in. It’s amazing how good food tastes when you’re hungover. It’s like your body craves it to the point where it becomes so much better than usual. It’s mouthwatering.
“So, what did you guys think of Tessa’s sister last night?” Gage questions.
Stone takes a sip of his drink and nods. “She’s fucking hot.”
“You guys met her?” I knew Tess was bringing her, but I was too out of my mind to notice if she did or not.
Zayn smirks. “Yeah. It’s a shame you didn’t.”
“Don’t speak too soon.” Easton nods toward the door. “Here she comes with Tess.”
I turn my head and my jaw ticks when I recognize the girl walking next to Tessa. Her brown hair is curled and rests gently against her chest. Her face lights up as her sister says something I assume was funny but couldn’t hear. She’s fucking gorgeous, and that’s an issue for me. Not only is she the girl who was standing with Grayson and Savannah last week, but I have foggy memories of talking to her last night. She’s innocent and pretentious, and was somewhere she definitely didn’t fucking belong.
Seeing her now with less drugs and alcohol in my system, the similarities between her and Tessa are obvious, and I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out last night. Still, there’s something about her. Something that makes my stomach churn, and it isn’t a welcome feeling.
“Hey douchebags,” Tess greets us. “Hope you don’t mind. I brought Laney along.”
I give her a knowing look. “Even if we did, you’d do it anyway.”
She smiles sweetly, grabbing one of Easton’s home fries and tossing it into her mouth. “Oh, right. You were off doing God knows what.” She waves her hand between her sister and I. “Delaney, Knox. Knox, Delaney.”
“We’ve met.” I turn my attention to Delaney. “Still showing up places you don’t belong, I see.”
Her eyes narrow, and I can tell I’m already testing her patience. “Like I told you before, you know nothing about me or where I belong.”
Hmm, so little Miss Perfect has a feisty side. Good. She’ll never make it in this world thinking everything is sprinkles and rainbows. I can still remember the look on her face when I lifted up my shirt, and the way she practically booked it from the room immediately after. She’s as pure as they come. If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll stay the fuck away from me.
“Now, now.” Tessa attempts to defuse the situation. “Knox, don’t be an ass. Laney, sit.”
I scoot further into the booth, and Delaney reluctantly takes the seat next to me. The scent of her perfume filters through my hangover fog. It’s light—flowery, but not cloying—and I swallow down the urge to breathe in so deeply that I choke on it.
When I notice how she hangs halfway of the bench in order to avoid being pressed up against me, I grip her belt loop and pull her in closer. “What are you so afraid of? I don’t bite…hard.”
She fidgets and seems uncomfortable, but stays put. It’s exactly how I want her—nervous, alert, on edge. She shouldn’t be at ease around guys like me. She’s too clean, too perfect.
“Knox, let me get a sip of that orange juice.”
Gage moves to grab my drink, but I pull it away. “Fuck no. I saw the girl you were with last night. I don’t want whatever you may have caught from her.”
He chuckles. “Like yours was any better? You don’t even remember her damn name.”
“Because names don’t matter. The way she sucks my dick does.”
“You were with someone last night?” Delaney whispers, and I can tell by the way her breath hitches that she didn’t mean to voice that question.
I raise one eyebrow as I look at her. “Why? You jealous?” She shakes her head and focuses down at her lap. “Sorry, babe. I don’t fuck virgins. Too much drama.”
“Good thing I’m not interested.”
A small grunt echoes in the back of my throat. “That’s not what it looked like last night.”
“What the hell happened last night?” Tessa practically shouts.
“Nothing,” her sister hisses, trying to quickly dismiss the topic.
Leaning back, I cross my arms over my chest. “It didn’t look like nothing to me.” I focus my attention on Tess. “I showed her my abs, and she looked like she was about to drool before she ran out of the room.”
Laney turns to glare at me. “That’s not true!”
“It definitely is. You’re a prude. Just admit it.” My taunting is finally starting to get to her, I note with satisfaction.
“Go to hell,” she spits, hatred burning in her eyes.
I smirk. “Oh, Bambi, where do you think I came from?”
Exhaling a heated puff of air, she gets up from the table and starts walking away. Tessa groans and calls out after her.
“Where are you going?”
“Bathroom.”
Tess’s levels me with a look as she slips out of the booth and follows her sister. I can’t help but laugh. Fucking with Delaney may be my new favorite hobby. The way she gets all fired up and throws all her perfect manners to the fucking wind—it’s amusing, and sexy as hell.
“Do you always have to be such a prick?” Zayn chuckles.
A smug grin spreads across my face. “Don’t act like that’s not why you love me.”
“You have to admit,” Stone begins as he watches the two girls head toward the back of the restaurant, “the good-girl act suits her.”
“I don’t think it’s an act,” Gage counters.