“Enough,” Hudson said, standing and drawing Molly up with him. He wouldn’t want last year being discussed so casually in front of his girl. The man who had arranged to have Micah stabbed, Anton Creed, had also kidnapped Molly. Until Hudson and Phoenix had thankfully saved her.
“Well, I would hope you’ve all got my backthistime. Instead of fighting over stolen cell phones and leaving me without my wing men,” Micah stated in an antsy tone.
My ears pricked up. “Whatdid you say?”
He nodded towards his brothers, “The fight, last year, in the lot over there. Dickless, Moron, and Cocksucker were brawling when Creed’s cronies sent theirmessage.” He pointed to his injured side. I remembered the moment well, as it was Molly and I who found Micah bleeding out between two cars. It was his other point that required clarity.
“No, go back. What do you mean,fighting over phones?”
He dashed a hand across his nose. “That’s how it started, right? The fight. Two bitches had their cell phones taken, and Nash Straker and Josh Sanderson accused Cole Smith and Michael Dexter of stealing them.”
Cole and Michael had been at St Andrew’s back then, and Nash and Josh were Harbor Heights students. They were now all at the same college together and got along, most days.
My stomach churned as I thought about that night. Micah was still talking, but I zoned out.
St Andrew’s had lost to Harbor Heights High that year, and a group of players had turned up at our victory party, causing trouble. It was that party that had almost put me off parties for good. But the news ofhowthat fight started made me feel a bit sick.
A cold trickle of something indescribable ran down my spine, and I shivered. Phoenix slid his strong arm around my shoulders and tugged me into his side. But I hadn’t shuddered due to the cool evening’s sea air.
It was the news of the reasonbehindthe fight. The St Andrew’s boys hadn’t stolen shit. I knew exactly who took those cell phones, as it was me.
It was the same night I had taken Tate Parker’s Louis Vuitton purse.
“Hey, is everything OK in there?” Nix whispered in my ear. He knew I’d been traumatised that night, I had to take time off school, and he’d stayed with me.
“Yes, I’d just rather not talk about that night.”
Everyone had picked up on Hudson’s silent message to his boys to clear stuff away, and both Nix and I stood and helped to roll up the blanket.
“Home time, I think?” Phoenix said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
Nix grabbed my backpack and shoes. “Will you stay with me tonight?” he asked softly. Ensuring that none of the others were listening.
“Yes.” He stared down at me with such longing that my heart soared in my chest. And I decided to push thoughts of the nightmare that went down last year out of my mind. Including the part about the phones I had taken. Those very phones would be in one of my boxes back in my old room at Radcliffe Manor. Maybe I needed to get rid of them, destroy them somehow. Would that make what I had done go away?
Yes, I still had my problem, but things were getting better. I had gradually started to put strategies in place to stop myself from succumbing to my need to take shit. It was hard, seeing people with nice things that made them happy, triggered something inside me.
Remembering Reed on his cell earlier, I asked. “Has she messaged?” Phoenix had bummed a ride off Reed, as Hudson had explained he was stopping at Molly’s.
“No. I messaged to ask if she was OK, but I’m still unopened,” Reed said, holding his hands up. “Fuck knows. I’ll call her in the morning.”
“So, you’re finally admitting you're together?” Micah said with a grin.
“I’m admitting jack shit, brother.”
“We’ve all known you’ve been screwing for ages, man,” he added with a grin. Everyone sighedloudly. “Maybe you shouldn’t go there, considering she’s nowNix’s little sister,” Micah chuckled, attempting to poke the beast again. FFS Micah, read the room.
“Thanks for the backup, man, but I’m not quite there yet,” Nix snarked with a groan.
We were all on our feet and set off walking across the sand towards the steps. When we got to the lot, we all said our goodbyes, and Molly drew me in for a hug.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” she whispered as the boys put our stuff into the trunks of both Hudson’s Ranger and Reed’s Jeep.
“Thanks,” I said, drawing back and glancing towards Phoenix. “He’s asked me to stay with him. Do you think it will happen tonight?”
Her blonde brows lifted as she glanced to ensure Hudson hadn’t heard. “It’s up to you Harper. Don’t let him rush you.”
