Chapter 5 #3
After saying my goodbyes, I left the car, waving them off and scolding myself for those bad thoughts of mine. I aimed to get my issue under control, not fuel it by fleecing the Summers’ household. That would be fun, though.
A trickle of reality seeped in, telling me I needed to let my ill feelings towards the ex-cheer captain go. Storm and Molly were friends, and if I wanted to hang out with Mols, I’d have to accept that.
As I let myself into the house, I met Reed coming down the stairs.
He was wearing jogging bottoms and no top.
He must have been working out as he was sweaty, his hair damp and sticking to his head.
The large, scary wolf tattoo he shared with his brothers sat on his shoulder.
Its eyes would watch you no matter where you went, but it didn’t appear as fierce as Phoenix’s, even though they were identical.
“Hey,” he puffed, catching his breath.
“Hey, yourself?”
“Good day at school?” he asked, joining me in the hall as I placed my keys on the table and dropped my bag.
“Same as usual. I enjoyed my yoga session, though,” I responded, turning to face him.
Reed was the only one who never showed any reaction to my moods. He rose above it. No matter how many times I had attempted to rile him. He was the most level-headed brother, where I was concerned, anyway, not so much with the boys and Storm.
I knew that he was the main reason Storm was playing nice. She wanted to get into my foster brother's pants, probably already had. And as if reading my mind, Reed questioned.
“Wasn’t that Storm’s car?”
I folded my arms and tilted my head. “Yep. She dropped me home. How sweet is that?” I said with a sugary smile. Knowing she had an ulterior motive, and that he was standing right in front of me.
“I thought you guys didn’t get on?”
“I thought so too. It appears she’s now my new best friend. She invited me to the party this weekend.”
“Are you going?”
“Yeah, are you?”
“Maybe,” he replied, clearing his throat.
The need to poke at him flared through me. “I’m looking forward to meeting that Jacob dude. He sounds tasty.”
His face darkened. “Who?”
“Jacob. He’s their new driver. Ex-Marine. Storm wouldn’t stop talking about him.”
“Really?” I could see he didn’t believe me.
“Yes. I reckon he does more than just drive the car,” I needled with a saucy look.
“I doubt it. I know what you’re doing, Baby Sawyer, but I think we both know Storm would never fuck the hired help. She thinks way too much of herself.”
“Yet you think she’d be seriously interested in a foster boy from the wrong side of the tracks?”
A pained expression flashed across his face; it was fast, but I saw it.
And then I felt like shit.
I wished I could snatch the words back as soon as my comment hit home. “Reed, I’m sorry. That was out of order.”
“Maybe you should concentrate on getting your own shit together before focusing on other people’s. And besides, who gives a shit about serious? I don’t believe in happy ever afters anyway.” I was a bitch, no, worse than that. Reed’s face was now impassive, but I knew I had hit a nerve.
“I didn’t mean it, Reed. Please forgive me.”
“Well, at least that’s a step in the right direction,” Reed replied with a twist to his lips.
“What do you mean?” I was confused.
“You, saying sorry for something.”
He then rubbed his face with the towel around his neck. “Anyway. Watch yourself where that one's concerned,” he warned, talking about Storm. It was unnecessary.
I gave him a curt nod. “You too,” I said, my sarcasm having shrivelled up on the spot.
Reed had always been the hardest to understand, being a master of control. Anyone else would have told me to piss off or given me the finger, but as cool as ice, Reed just turned and walked away.
You nasty little bitch, Harper! I scolded myself.
I still didn’t trust Storm Summers as far as I could throw her, but for now, I would play nice. Mostly for Molly’s benefit. Well, that and access to the family silver. Joke!
As I watched my foster brother’s back flexing with each step, I shouted, “Are we good, Reed?”
“Yeah, we’re good. See you at dinner, sis,” Reed called back over his shoulder as he went into the dining room.
“Will do, bro,” I parroted hopefully. I knew when I’d fucked up. At least I did on that occasion.
Once he’d vanished, I made my way upstairs. My palms were itching the entire time.
* * * * *
Dinner was a strange affair. Phoenix and Hudson were late, which never went down well with Reed, as that meant he had to wait.
A hungry Reed was a cranky Reed. Interruptions to his mealtimes were unacceptable.
The only time you saw Reed show any emotion was when it was related to his stomach.
I had seen him pin a freshman against the cafeteria wall when he’d knocked Reed’s burger from his hand one day at school.
We thought the younger guy was going to pass out.
When the door went, Ma started handing out the plates.
Finally, Nix and Hud walked into the room.
As they both apologized and sat down, I could tell Nix wasn’t himself, and the fact that he hadn’t confided in me about anything yet continued to piss me off.
I knew he’d gone on a road trip with Hudson, and I felt jealous.
Jealous that their bond was more important than ours had been.
Everyone attempted to make conversation, but the atmosphere was off. I was also overcompensating for being a bitch to Reed earlier. It made me feel like a cartoon character.
“How’s everything with you and Molly, Hudson?” Ma suddenly blurted out, dragging everyone’s eyes from their plates. Ma had cooked meatballs, my favorite.
“Yeah, good, Ma,” he replied, shoving an entire forkful of spaghetti into his mouth.
“She’s such a sweet girl and so good with Harper.” Great. She made me sound like a child with special needs.
“Thanks, Ma,” I huffed, jabbing my fork into a meatball.
“You should take a leaf out of Molly’s book, Harper,” Reed began with a curl to his lip. I knew payback was coming for my comment earlier. His response to my overly nice behavior hadn’t been what I had hoped for. No guessing as to where he wanted to bury his hatchet.
“How so?” I asked with a sweet smile.
“Well, she could give you a few tips.”
“On what?” I could tell where this was going, but I played along and gave him a sense of victory after my meanness.
“How to be more feminine and act like a girl,” Reed smirked.
“As opposed to what?” Nix snorted. Fuck knew whose side he was on.
“A teenage boy.”
I was just about to say something about Storm and looking slutty, but was fortunately cut off.
“Enough,” Hudson barked. Shutting that shit down. “You don’t need any help from Molly, Harper. You’re fine as you are.”
Ma shifted in her seat and glanced around the table. “I’m surprised you’re not seeing each other tonight.”
“I dropped by her place earlier,” Hudson confessed, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
“She’s having a movie night with Richard,” he added, using Principal Miller’s first name.
Funny how they used to hate each other. But then Hudson had saved his daughter’s life, a fact that was sure to speed up any bonding process.
“I hope you guys are being careful,” Reed tittered with a huge smirk, and I almost choked on my water. The expression on Hudson’s face broke some of the tension in the room. It was the first time I had seen him look faintly embarrassed.
“That’s enough of that, Reed. Hudson isn’t stupid.” OMG, if Ma started talking about safe sex at the table, I would die on the spot.
Phoenix nudged me with his foot and shot me a look of warning as I attempted not to laugh. I rubbed my nose with my finger, slyly flipping him off, and his eyes narrowed.
What? It was refreshing to see our eldest brother knocked off his perch for once.
And then we all started talking about football, me included.
When Reed mentioned that he couldn’t find his letterman jacket, I smiled to myself. I knew exactly where he’d left that. In the back of Storm Summers’ car! I didn’t say anything to embarrass him; I still regretted being a shit to him earlier.
Later that evening, I was relaxing in my room, listening to music, when there was a knock on my door. A thrill at the thought of it being Phoenix swept through me. But it wasn’t, it was Hudson.
I pulled my door wider and motioned with an arm. “Do you want to come in?”
“Nah, I’m good. When I dropped by Molly’s, she asked me to give you this,” he said, handing me a package. It was wrapped in brown paper with a bow on it.
I saw an opportunity. “Where did you go after school?”
I took the package, and he leaned a broad shoulder on my door frame. “I was out with Phoenix.”
“I know that. Where?”
Being a shrewd fucker, he knew I was fishing. “You’ll have to ask Nix, Harper.”
“You do realize I had to sit in a car with Storm Summers.”
“So, it’s better than walking or taking the bus,” he replied.
“I doubt that. You know how she treated me in the past.”
He shrugged. “People change, Harper. Remember how I used to treat Molly?” And of course, I remembered. Hudson had the whole school against her for a few weeks.
“How are you and Principal Miller now?”
“We agree to disagree on occasion, but we’re OK.” After a beat or two, he added. “Give Storm a chance. Don’t forget, people do shit things when they’re hurting. She isn’t who you think she is.”
What? A massive bitch. Pfft. And how the fuck was one of the richest and prettiest girls in Newport hurting? The only pain she felt was when she had her eyebrows plucked.
You said you’d give her a chance, remember.
Hudson was still attempting to play to my sympathies. “You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. I’m sure Storm has issues, just like everyone else.” Of course she did. Deciding what outfit to wear each day for college; what a conundrum!
I drew the subject back to the bane of my life. “How about Phoenix’s issues. He was quiet at dinner. I know he’s opened his file.” Shit, the words were out before I could stop them. I had betrayed Molly’s confidence.
Hudson closed his eyes and rested his head against the wood. “Women. Can’t trust them as far as you could throw them.” Which was ridiculous, as Hudson could easily throw Molly and me both at the same time.
“She didn’t say anything else. It was mentioned in passing. So, don’t go all crazy on her ass.”
“I know you’re only asking because you care, Harper, but it’s not my shit to share, OK?”
“Yes. Fine. I get it.” I didn’t.
“He’ll tell you when he’s ready. Just give him time.”
Hud then left, and I closed the door, padding over to my bed with the strange package from Molly.
As I tore it open, I saw it was one of Molly’s bathing suits. A bikini, the gold one we had bought during a shopping trip the previous year. There was a note, daring me to wear it to Storm’s party.
I gave myself a talking to as I stood in front of my mirror, naked after my shower. Come on, Harper, you're almost seventeen; you only live once. These are supposed to be the best years of your life. God knows you’ve experienced your fair share of shit ones.
Pushing Phoenix and his guarded shit to one side, I made my decision.
I had spent too much time off the radar and unnoticed. It was time to come out of my shell. Phoenix could shove his warning to other boys up his perfect ass. If I wanted to screw the entire football team, that was my decision.
I would go to Storm’s pool party as a confident woman, let my hair down, and enjoy myself like the teenager I was supposed to be.