Austin? Who the hell is that? Collins isn’t a big town, but it’s also not tiny. Who the hell is she, and why does he want to know when she arrives?
Me: And why do you want to know that?
Cole: It’s time to pay up!
Fuck!
I take another sip and then pour myself a new one. Pay up? How the hell am I going to pay up with a girl named Austin? What could he possibly want me to do?
I’m downing it when I catch sight of a brunette entering the kitchen. She’s wearing a red sweater that hangs off one shoulder, showcasing a black tank top underneath it with black skinny jeans and matching heels. Her dark hair curls down her back. I’ve never seen her before, so it has to be her. She picks up a red Solo cup and pours some Fireball into it before tossing it back. Then she pours another one. No one seems to notice her, letting me know that no one else knows her either.
I take out my phone and text him.
Me: She’s here. Kitchen.
He reads it but doesn’t respond. I take a deep breath and walk over to her, needing to know as much as I can about her before he comes down here. “Hi.”
“Hello,” she says with a nod of her head. She’s pretty, but I can’t say she’s Cole’s type ’cause he really doesn’t have one.
“I’ve never seen you here before.” I hold out my right hand. “I’m Becky.”
“Austin. And I just moved here.”
How the fuck does she know Cole? “Oh, how exciting,” I lie and grab a new Solo cup. “Are you going to Collins High?” She looks about my age.
“Yep.”
This doesn’t make any sense. Maybe his dad is dating someone, and this is her daughter, but even I know that’s reaching. His father doesn’t really date anyone around here. He just fucks them all. “I’m a senior. How about you?” I pry.
“Same,” she answers and pours herself another shot.
“I wonder if we’ll have any classes together.” Even though I don’t know her, it would be nice to have a clean slate. To make a new friend who doesn’t really know the real me.
“Who the hell throws a party on a Monday?” she asks, avoiding my previous statement.
“Cole Reynolds.” I roll my eyes when I answer, trying to feel her out. I pause to see if she says anything about him, but she doesn’t. So I add, “He and the Great White Sharks do whatever they want, whenever they want.” I give her a fake smile. Fuck the sharks. Well, all but Deke. “But they do throw some awesome parties.”
“Where are their parents?” she asks.
“Never around. They are all socialites in this town with big careers. Always busy and not enough time for their children.” I’m rambling and possibly telling her too much. She obviously knows nothing about Cole and the guys, and she said she is new to town. I take a drink to try to calm my nerves.
Where is Cole? He throws these parties all the time, but he stays up in the game room with the rest of the sharks. They very rarely grace us with their presence, and if they do, he ignores everyone. He thinks he’s fucking God.
“I see.” She nods once.
How does he know her? I’ve grown up with the GWS, and he’s never lived anywhere else. “Where are you –?”
“Austin?”
I look up to see Kellan standing in the kitchen. His brown eyes are narrowed on her, and she arches a brow at his tone.
Fuck …
“Cole is looking for you,” he snaps. “Let’s go.”
She turns back to look at me, rolling her eyes. Her eyes meet my surprised ones, and she asks, “What?”
I just shake my head ’cause I’m not sure what to say to her. Whatever she’s done, it wasn’t good. And they will make her pay for it. She ditches her cup and grabs the bottle of Fireball and walks out behind him.
