Sabrina pops up, looking more like Scarlett than ever before. “What’s the hot topic?”
“Lawson has a crush.” Scarlett gives a little wink. “Although it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to admit it to the one who matters most.”
“The girl in question?” Sabrina wrings her hands together as if she’s unable to contain her excitement for the juicy little tidbit.
“Nope”—Scarlett flatlines before adjusting my collar—“himself.” She gives me a light slap over the cheek. “Don’t be afraid to fall for someone. It only hurts if you lose them to somebody else.”
Sabrina nods in agreement. “Stubborn is as stubborn does. Lord knows I’ve been pigheaded to a fault and look at me. I’m all by my lonesome. All of my Mr. Rights are having fun with somebody else. Trust me, baby brother, it’s no way to live.”
Scarlett and Sabrina spot someone they know and take off with an enthusiastic scream.
But Rex keeps his morbid stare locked right over me. “Dude, if this is true, and you’re into her, I want you to know there’s nothing wrong with that. I’d back you with Jet if you ever needed it. Lucky is going to meet someone someday, and it’s going to get serious. Jet is just going to have to get used to it.”
A tension wire snaps deep in my gut, and I loosen at the thought of Rex sticking up for me.
“That’s nice of you, man. But I’m good.”
“If you say so.” He takes off, but I’m still busy replaying my sister’s words. She’s going to meet someone someday.
Lucky Madden is going to meet someone someday, and it’s going to get serious.
The memory of her lips pressed to mine sends a current rippling throughout my body that I’ve never felt before. I scan the room and don’t spot her, so I pull out my phone instead.
Where are you?I hit send, hoping to get a response, and, like magic, she texts right back.
Getting my groove on with my first serial boy toy. I’ll be busy the rest of the night. If my dorm is a rockin’, don’t come a knockin’. And according to that bulge in his jeans, there will be nothing micro about this night. Go find a ho and mind your own damn business.
I head out into the bar and spot Lucky talking to a familiar looking bastard, Eli Gates.
A part of me demands to rip his head off, and another part of me demands I stay the hell out of it.
I head back to The Row, and every step away from the bar feels like another step closer to a broken heart.
Closer to my own personal hell.
The entire next week, I pick her up as we drive out to the middle school for lunch. Lucky doles out the insults as if nothing ever happened, and we’re right back to bantering about any and everything. For some reason, I’m ready and willing to take just about anything Lucky will throw my way because a part of me is glad to simply have her next to me. I watch as Lucky introduces Emily and a few of the loner girls to each other, and soon enough they’ve formed their own little clique. I introduced Freddy and a few of my new pals to the girl crew and bam, they’re one big, happy, no longer lonely family.
We head back for Briggs, and Lucky asks to be dropped off at The Row.
“Easy enough, that’s where I’m headed.” I swallow hard, trying to stave off the question that’s been trying to surface all week. “So, what’s up with you and Gates?”
“Oh, you know”—she looks out the passenger window, and I can’t see her face—“we’re about to hit the finish line. I like to rope them and land them on their back pretty quickly.”
“Is that so?” A fire brews in my veins, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to be force-feeding Eli his balls a little later.
“That would be so. How about you? Did your sister and Daisy find you a nice little tramp so you can put your stamp on her? I see that tiny disc eating into the leather of your wallet. It looks to me like it’s starting to collect dust.”
I park in front of Beta house and snatch my wallet out of the center console.
“It’s getting plenty of use. And yes, Daisy and my sister are working on it. But believe me, I don’t need them to help me land someone. I’ve got them lining up around the locker room trying to get my number.” True as God. Every girl at Briggs seems suddenly far more interested in me than ever before, and truth be told I had no trouble with the ladies before this dick bling fiasco.
I hop out of the truck, and Lucky follows me into Beta house. “What are you up to?” I can feel the magma percolating in my veins once gain because I’ve got an Eli-Gates-feeling that I know exactly what and who she’s looking for.
“Just checking out the prospects.” She hums as her perfume hooks me by the nose and makes me crave it, makes me crave her. “Before I know it, Eli will be old news, and I’ll be ready to rumble under the covers with serial boyfriend number two.”
“Sounds more like a bodily function than a relationship.”
“It takes one to know one,” she mutters while shooting me a death glare.
