“But you only get photographed outside of school now,” I say. People are terrified of the power his father and his company seem to have that they don’t dare post any pictures that could ruin his reputation. So, it can’t be that bad, right?
A long pause. “It seems to be from a new tabloid magazine. One that my father hadn’t taken care of yet.”
“How bad is it?” Levi asks without hesitation.
Jake clears his throat. “It's me, laid out on a table in King’s Wolf, shirtless with my pants zipper down, while a girl takes a body shot off my stomach and slips that damn paper with her number into my pants.” We all gasp and he smiles sarcastically. “Don’t worry, you guys weren’t in the frame, and it won’t happen again. Johnathan Greymoore II is on top of it.” His smile turns grim and I can see the spark that was previously in his eyes fade.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
KAMILA
Two and a half months before graduation day…and the incident
I’m lying on the beach waiting for Cameron and Ana while also waiting for a response to the latest text I sent them. I didn’t give them a chance to say no to coming, no questions and no exceptions. Mom finally allowed me to borrow her car, and I drove it all the way to Long Beach. It’s not that long of a drive when there’s no traffic. Ever since the weather started shifting, I’ve been craving the sight of a sunset from the sand. The stars should appear soon as well. It’s two views I love for the price of one.
A week ago, Cam got his first car. An early graduation gift from his parents. He and Ana started driving it everywhere. They’ve been spending a lot of time alone together, but I can tell they need it, especially since their last big fight. Ana doesn’t know I heard everything they said three months ago in our house. Cam does, though, but it was left unspoken. The way she was talking to him that day was meaner than usual.
Is she really willing to hold him back from Driscoll? And what was with her asking Cameron if he was in love with me? We’re best friends, always will be, and that’s that. Of course, I didn’t tell anyone else aboutthis. I'm good at keeping secrets, but I am a terrible liar. It worries me that they might break up before we all go off to college. The only thing keeping me sane is knowing they made the same promise the day I found out they started dating.
“Even if we do break up at any point, I would never intentionally hurt Ana. We both promised to never put you in the middle. She’s your sister, and I plan to be your best friend for a long, long time.”
Cam had said that to me right before cheerleading practice the day my sister confessed her feelings to him.
Leaning on my left side, I get a better view of the sky, which is now colored in pink, purple, and orange hues. It eases some of the tension in my body, yet I can’t help it when my mind wanders to thoughts of the future. Cam still hasn’t heard back from Driscoll, and neither have I. We should’ve by now, but we stupidly forgot one document, and it put us behind. Although we both get accepted into our backups, which is great, but it’s not Driscoll. The letter should be coming within the next week or so. I’m a nervous wreck, and that’s the reason I suggested coming here. I think we could all use the change of scenery, and I also haven’t spent time with them outside of school in a while.
The sun is about to finish setting when I hear voices come from behind me. It’s not necessary for me to sit up to know who's coming. I’ve been hearing those high-pitched shrieks my entire life. They’re fightingagain.The voices don’t get any louder, meaning they must’ve stopped walking. I can tell they’re attempting to whisper, but Ana’s voice carries, and today, so does Cameron’s.
“I’m trying to spend as much time with you as I can before graduation, Ana. Your sister asked for one day,” Cam says with a heavy sigh.
“I just want to be alone with you!” Ana whisper yells, making me flinch.
Jeez, hermana. Tell him how you really feel.
“She asked for one fucking night in the past two weeks.”
Exactly. Thank you.
His voice is slightly hoarse, which means they’ve been at this for a while, I’m guessing almost the entire drive over here.
“I’ve just been so horny for you lately, babe. We haven’t done it in your car yet and this is the perfect place.”
Nausea builds, and I swear a little vomit makes its way up to my throat.
“Babe, this is not the time. We’ve been having plenty of sex lately and have already done it every day this week. Kami hasn’t been part of anything we do lately, it’s not fair to her. Can we please try to have a nice time?”
Ireallydon’t need to hear this. I’ve been hanging out with my squad mates and the football team after school all week because I knew they were gonna bone like crazy. Being with the team has been a little awkward. Jordan broke off our ‘arrangement’ about two weeks ago so that he could start dating Maddy, who’s also on the cheerleading squad. It feels odd seeing them together in the halls and after practices, yet I’m happy for them and have no feelings of jealousy or anger towards the situation.
“Hey Kami.” I’m now lying flat on my back, finding Ana and Cameron hovering over me.
“Hey, guys.”
“Are we just going to sit here on the beach in the dark?” Ana says, annoyed. “It’s cold.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop whining. Cam, give her your sweater, and both of you lay down to look at the damn stars.”
While they make themselves comfortable, I turn my attention back to the sky.
“Kamila—”
