“In case it’s not clear,” Jase says, drilling a look at Julia. “I was your boyfriend at the time your so-called friend shoved her hand down the front of my jeans.”
“I can explain,” Anita says in a meek tone, clutching on to Julia’s arm. “It was a setup to gather evidence to show you how that bitch was stabbing you in the back and your boyfriend was disloyal.”
I clap loudly in a deliberately slow fashion. “I’ll give it to you. That’s a good comeback, but we all know it’s a crock of shit.” I cock my head to the side. “Besides, Julia already knew. Isn’t that right,neighbor?”
Julia looks over at the crowd before lifting her shoulders and tilting her head up high. “I think you should leave,” she says, and hurt splays across Anita’s face for a split second. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.” Julia escorts her out the door, and the crowd disperses now the entertainment is over.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Ashley
“Nerve of that bitch,” Chad says, pulling me around to his front. “Just say the word, Siren, and we’ll ensure she never shows her face here again.”
I wrap my arms around Chad’s waist, peering up at him. “I can handle her, but thanks.”
He leans down and kisses me before moving his lips to my ear. “I’ve hardly seen you all night. Come sit on my lap. I want to celebrate with you.”
An additional layer of guilt settles on my shoulders. Avoiding Chad isn’t the solution. I’m only compounding the situation. “Of course, babe.” I tuck myself into his side. “Lead the way.”
I feel Ares’s heated eyes glued to my body as Chad guides me back into the living room. Jase quietly follows, claiming a seat as far away as possible, pretending like I don’t exist again.
I snuggle into Chad while slowly sipping a beer, listening to the banter, and watching the crowd dancing to the tunes bouncing off the walls. Bree is arguing over in the corner with the guy wearing the inappropriate pants and shirt combo, and I wonder who he is to her and why they are exchanging such heated words. “Babe.” I shout into Chad’s ear. “Do you know who that guy is talking to Bree?”
Chad looks in the direction I’m pointing while he swigs from his beer. “Jase introduced me to him tonight. He’s the son of a family friend. Toby something. He’s a sophomore. Lives in the end house.”
I thought I’d seen him parking his car one time, but it was dark out, and I wasn’t sure. He doesn’t remotely resemble a student, and I’m wondering what the story is. Feeling eyes on me, I turn around, my gaze locking with another somewhat familiar guy. I am pretty sure this guy lives in the other house on this side of the road, but we haven’t formally met.
He’s model handsome with blond hair and striking blue eyes. I watch Jase approach him, whispering something in his ear.
“Who’s that guy?” I ask my boyfriend. “I think he lives here too.”
Chad turns to look, nodding. “Yeah, he’s Knight Carter. Another guy Jase grew up with. He’s a freshman like us. Seems cool.”
I watch Jase and Knight disappear into the hallway, pondering why all of these so-called family friends seem to be crawling out of the woodwork. Is it just me, or is something off about the whole scene?
I last another hour before calling it quits. It’s clear the jock crowd is determined to party all night, but I’m pooped because I had fuck-all sleep last night after the shower incident with Ares. Wolf whistles ring out as I kiss Chad goodnight before making my way upstairs.
I’m yawning as I climb the stairs, so I almost miss the moaning, groaning sounds as I approach the top level. Shaking my head, I wonder what idiots decided to ignore the rules and come upstairs.
There are designated areas downstairs to fuck around, and we left the two guest bedrooms on the second level unlocked. Is it too much to expect them to obey and give us our privacy? I locked our room from the outside anyway, so I don’t really care. All I want right now is to crawl into bed and forget the last few days ever happened.
Until I step around the corner and see Julia on her knees in the hallway with Ares’s dick in her mouth. His jeans are pooled at his ankles, and he’s not wearing a shirt.
Of course, he isn’t.
Julia hasn’t noticed me yet, but my loathsome stepbrother has. He fixes me with an arrogant grin as he grabs the back of her head, pivots his hips, and drives his pierced cock deeper in her mouth. She almost chokes on that thing, digging her nails into his naked thighs in clear warning. Not that the asshole pays any attention, roughly shoving his dick in and out as he grins at me.
Acid crawls up my throat as heated emotion races through my veins. For a nanosecond, it almost feels like jealousy.
But come on.
This is Ares.
I don’t give a fuck about that manipulative douchebag.
So what if he’s letting her blow him the day after he finger fucked me in the shower and we both came?
I’m not envious.
