He grips my upper arm firmly, but not painfully, and pulls me to his chest. “I’m only trying to look out for you.” His mouth is so close to mine that I feel his breath against my lips. He leans in and plants a kiss on my cheek.
Shoving both fists into his chest hard enough to push him back an inch, “What the fuck are you doing?” I hiss before I yank my arm away and shove him even harder to move him back enough for me to exit the pool.
I stomp past Jessie, who’s still in the pool, and let her know I’m heading up to the room to get changed. I don’t know what kind of bullshit Hayden is on or where he gotthe audacity to nudge his head into my business, but I need a moment to myself. There’s one sure way to piss me off, and Hayden figured it out.
Ryder
Watching the way Kelsey stomps away from Hayden makes me both relieved and vibrating with rage. I silently hope she will leave and go back to the safety of her own home, but at the same time, I want to beat the shit out of my brother for kissingmy girland pissing her off like this.
My hands fist the balcony railing until my knuckles turn white. Hearing her giggling while she was riding on Hayden’s shoulders shouldn’t have made me feel like this. I glance over the side of the house, but with Jessie’s balcony being on the side wall, I can’t see it from here. Once Kelsey had disappeared back in the house, I turned and re-entered my room, closing the door behind me. Normally, I would leave the door open to listen to the commotion from below, but I want to listen for my Little Bird’s footsteps coming up the hall.
I press my ear to the solid oak door, just as I hear the harsh creaking of the stairs from her angry steps. She’s huffing and mumbling angrily, the words unintelligible. When Jessie’s bedroom door slams shut, I bite my lower lip, fighting the grin that lifts the corners of my mouth. I take a deep breath, attempting to clear my mind. I can’t get attached to her. She isn’t safe here in the game I play. The sooner this ends, the better.
Grabbing my cellphone from my nightstand, I pull up a name I know won’t refuse.
Meet me by the fire in three minutes.
Lexie:
Already here ;)
I’ll achieve one of two things by using Lexie. I’ll either piss Kelsey off so bad she’ll leave and never show her face around us again, or I’ll give her a taste of her own medicine for what she pulled with Hayden in the pool. When I get down to the fire, Liam and Theo are already seated, and each has a girl on their thighs. Lexie runs over to me, pulling me by my wrist till we reach the empty chair, then she pushes my shoulders, backing me into the chair until I sit. I don’t like touch, and she knows that, but I’m allowing it for the show I’m putting on for the girl I know is watching from above.
“What’s up, man?” Theo greets, just as Liam says, “I haven’t seen you all night, where have you been?”
“Had some business to finish up at the office.”
“Gotcha. Well, glad you made it. Let me know if you need some help with him.”
I know the guys have been bored without any activetasks, but this one is all mine. I’ll remove each of Lester’s fingers until he gives up all he knows about the underworld. I know he’s been working for them all his life, and he’s fifty-four years old. I need to know who runs it, because I’m fucking tired of people trying to kill me around every corner.
Lexie plops down on my thigh, crosses her legs, and leans into my side. I hear the door slide open from the balcony above us, but my back is turned, so I can’t see her. Lexie’s arm curves around my neck, and my body tenses, wanting to shove her away, but this is all a part of the show.
4
KELSEY
I’m starting to memorize the layout of Jessie’s house. Quickly finding Jessie’s room, I twist the doorknob and kick the door shut behind me. The way our apartment on campus was always tidy, I figured her room would be the same. Heaps of clothes lay scattered across the floor, along with shoes and her makeup. It’s not dirty, but it could use a good pickup.
I find my jean shorts and crop top that I laid on the bed, throw them on quickly, and remove the clip from my wet hair. I pick up the hairbrush off the floor and smooth down my long, brunette hair. The pool created a rat’s nest in it.
I think back on Hayden and what he said at the pool.
‘I’m only trying to look out for you.’
Look out for me? I can look out for myself. Who does he think I’m in danger of? The boogieman? I laugh outloud at that. He’s fucking crazy or had too much to drink tonight.
My joint got crumpled in my pocket, but it will have to do. Stepping out onto the balcony, I slide the door closed behind me. Exhaling the smoke slowly, to make sure I get the full benefits of the forbidden lettuce. I slide the chair closer to the railing, slump down in my seat, and toss my legs up on the railing. If I had a balcony at home, nobody would see or hear from me again. I would live on it, enjoying the peace around me. Doing nothing but listening to the birds chirping and flying in the wind without a care in the world.
My eyes are closed, and my head is tilted back against the chair, listening in on the chatter going on down in the courtyard. High-pitched laughter snags my attention, so I listen intently like the nosey bitch I am.
“…You wish!” Followed by more fake flirty laughter that grates on my already irritated nerves, making my lip peel back in disgust. One thing I can’t stand is apick me girl. Anyway, I’m bored and in need of a distraction, so I drop my feet and sit up to snoop in on the conversation. It’s the same group of people from earlier, and that annoying laughter is coming from the bitch who told me to watch my back.
“Lexie, how are you not tired?” One of the guys asks, while the girl on his lap paws at his chest.
“Tired of what?” Her voice squeaks, and it’s the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.
“Hopping dicks. Is that not exhausting?” He scoffs. Theother guy and girls laugh, and I hear Lexie huff from all the way up here. She doesn’t even seem phased by that jab, making me wonder if the guy has a point.
