Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
RYDER
A bout a year ago, the senior class at Highland High started throwing bonfire parties. The location of each bonfire event is kept secret until the last minute when a mass text is sent out, giving the GPS location for where to show up. Tonight, we’re headed to an abandoned warehouse an hour north of Fallen Brook.
Julien drums his fingers to the beat of the music playing over the radio and looks out at the scenery flying by as we drive down an old county road. In my rearview mirror, I can see Elizabeth in the front seat of Jay’s truck, Jay at the wheel, and Hailey and Maria behind them in the back.
“How’s your leg feeling?” I ask Julien. I noticed earlier that he was limping as he walked.
Last week during a game of pick up at the park, Marshall, an asshole who plays on Highland High’s soccer team, got a little aggressive and drove his spiked shoe into Julien’s calf. It ripped about six inches of skin off his leg. We had to take him to the hospital. If rumors are to be believed, Elijah beat the shit out of Marshall the next day.
Julien stretches his leg out as far as it can go in the footwell. “It doesn’t look as bad as it did a week ago, and it seems to be healing quicker than the doctors expected. I’ll have a scar.”
“You can impress the girls with stories about how you got it. Say it was a shark attack or something.”
Julien chuckles. “Yeah, like that scene in Jaws , where they’re sitting around shooting the shit and comparing wounds.” Julien looks at his phone. “The warehouse should be right up ahead.”
I can already see cars and trucks lined up all along the sides of the road. The glow of the bonfire creates a halo in the distance. I pull over to park behind an SUV, and Jay parks behind me.
I hear Maria as soon as I open my car door.
“Holy shit! This place is packed.”
Julien doesn’t wait for anybody and starts walking, or rather limping. His leg must be bothering him more than he lets on. I’ll make sure to keep an eye on him tonight, but for now, my attention is solely fixed on the beautiful blonde emerging from Jay’s truck.
Black skinny jeans, black knee-high leather boots, and a green blouse that leaves little to the imagination. Her hair is plaited in some kind of fancy braid that wraps around her neck and falls over a shoulder. I watch as Jay pushes her up against the side of his truck and kisses her neck, sending her into a fit of giggles. My jaw clamps down hard. Seeing them together never gets any easier.
Maria approaches with a wide smile. “Hey tall, dark, and handsome. Aren’t you coming?”
Tearing my gaze away from the girl who still owns my heart, I sigh. “Yeah.”
“I can be your wingman tonight. You know, my Goose to your Maverick,” she says, referring to the Top Gun movie.
“As long as I don’t have to sing.”
Her brown eyes go comically big. “What? You haven’t lost that loving feeling?”
“Nope.”
“Don’t you feel the need for speed?”
“Already drive a Dodge Hellcat, so I’m good.”
“Wanna buzz the tower?” Maria hip bumps me to get me going.
“You’re a riot, Goose.”
“I have my special talents, Mav,” she says, clicking her tongue and making finger guns.
I find myself laughing at her antics. “You’re corny as hell.”
“A hell of a lot of fun,” she replies, hooking her arm through mine as we walk to catch up with the others.
Elizabeth glances back at us, a frown on her face.
“It’s my first time at a bonfire party, and I’m in the mood to try my first beer. You can be my DDB.”
“DDB?”
“Designated Drinking Buddy. Keep up,” she teases. Spying the row of open coolers, she asks, “Want one?”
I hadn’t planned on drinking tonight since I drove.
“I’m good.”
“Hell yeah, you made it!” Fallon shouts.
He’s with a few other guys from Highland High. Fallon and I have been friends for a long time, but you wouldn’t know it. Not even Jay, Julien, and Elizabeth really know. We have a complicated history.
Walking over, we tap fists. “Hey, man.”
“Where were you last night?”
I didn’t go to the Friday night races because Dad needed my help with inventory.
“Garage.”
I do a double take when Jacinda suctions herself to his side and licks up his neck. He reaches around her back and casually cups her breast beneath the strap of her tank top. My gaze drops briefly to her chest, because, well, shit, I’m a guy. Jacinda notices me looking and smiles.
“Hey, Fallon,” Julien says when he joins us.
He ignores Jacinda. He can’t stand her. She has a thing for Jayson and hasn’t been the nicest person to Elizabeth.
“Heard about what happened. How’re you doing?” Fallon asks.
Julien shifts his center of gravity to take pressure off his injured leg. “Better.”
“Marshall is a prick. He deserved that beatdown from Elijah.”
“Wouldn’t know,” Julien replies.
Fallon grins. “Uh-huh. Speak of the devil,” Fallon says when Elijah arrives. “Just talking about the fight.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” is all Elijah says, but none of us miss the bandage he has around his right hand.
Julien slaps my back. “Going to get wasted. I’ve earned it. I promise not to throw up in your car.”
“Thanks,” I reply, not amused.
He and Elijah peel off, lost in their own conversation.
Fallon looks past me. “I see that kitten’s here.”
I have no clue when he started calling Elizabeth ‘kitten,’ or why for that matter.
Someone yells his name, and he lifts his middle finger.
“Party calls. Text me later. I bought something that I want you to check out.”
“What happened to the Brabham?”
The guy seems to buy a new car every month. I enjoy the benefit of being the person who gets to work on them. Other than my dad, he doesn’t trust anyone else to touch his precious car collection.
Fallon’s ice-blue eyes twinkle under the light of the bonfire. “Still have it. Wanted something new.”
“There’s an orphanage somewhere that would love some of that money you like to waste.”
He laughs. I’m glad I love the guy. Fallon may pretend to be a narcissistic rich prick, but underneath his facade of false assholery is a man with a huge heart. He cares. Deeply. And he’ll burn the world to the ground to protect those he loves. He’s the antithesis of his upbringing. His father is an abusive sadist, and his mother…she deserves a special place in hell.
Jacinda peers back at me as Fallon drags her away. “See you around.”
Jayson shoves a beer I don’t want into my hand.
“She’s trouble,” he says and takes a long pull of his drink, guzzling over half of it.
My gaze naturally drifts in Elizabeth’s direction. “Not interested, so it doesn’t matter.”
“She seemed very interested,” he replies. “Maybe you should?—”
Maria runs over. “I’m going to get drunk tonight and hump some legs!”
This girl has zero filter.
“That’s not something you want to announce to everyone,” Elizabeth says as several boys’ heads turn our way with interest.
Since it’s Maria’s first bonfire party, I give her a couple of important tips. “Okay, Goose. There are two rules to remember.”
“What, like don’t talk about fight club, or what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?”
“Close.” I hold up one finger. “Rule number one: Don’t accept a drink from anyone.” I lift a second finger. “And rule number two: Just say no to drugs.”
Maria snorts and pulls the fingers I’m holding up, bringing them to her forehead and giving me a mock salute.
“Yes, sir!”
Elizabeth watches our exchange, a fresh scowl on her face.
Close to the bonfire, a guy pops the trunk of his Monte Carlo, revealing a huge sub-woofer. The air vibrates to the bass beat of the music blasting out.
Maria spins in a circle, arms above her head. “Hell yeah! Wanna dance, handsome?”
“Pass.” There’s no way in hell I’m dancing.
“Your loss.” She gyrates her ass over to the bonfire, Hailey trailing behind her.
“Lizzie! Get your butt over here!” Maria shouts.
Jay kisses her shoulder. “Baby, go have some fun.”
“I’m not in the mood.” She takes a sip of her bottled water.
We both know she’s dying to get out there. Her hips are already moving to the beat of the music. A girl passes in front of us carrying four beers. Jayson reaches out and snags two of them.
“Asshole!” the girl yelps before she sees that it’s Jayson. Then, she goes “Oh!” and blushes bright red. “Hey, Jayson. Hi, Ryder.”
Elizabeth frowns. She’s been doing that a lot tonight.
“Thanks for the beer.” He turns around, completely ignoring her.
“Lizzie! Come on!” Hailey calls.
“Elizabeth, seriously. Go dance,” I tell her.
She glances warily at Jay when he pops the top off one of the bottles he stole and downs that one just like the first.
She’ll be nursing Jay’s inebriated ass later at the rate he’s going. And he isn’t a fun drunk either.
“Go, Elizabeth. I’ve got him,” I assure her.
She hooks her pinkie with mine and squeezes before leaving to join the girls.
Once she’s out of earshot, I tell Jay, “You need to slow down.”
“Whatever. I don’t need a babysitter,” he slurs slightly, somewhat buzzed and heading toward tipsy fast.
“Suit yourself.”
Something stirs inside me when I hear Elizabeth’s voice belt out the lyrics to the song she’s dancing to. I love hearing her sing.
“She’s so fucking sexy,” Jay groans.
I couldn’t agree more.
“You should hit up Maria.”
For the second time in as many minutes, I reply, “Not interested.”
He throws down his empty bottle. “Be right back.”
Stalking over, he grabs Elizabeth and smashes his mouth down on hers.
I know I should turn around and leave. Why torture myself? But that’s exactly what I do. I watch him kiss her. I watch him grab her ass and lift her up. I watch her legs wrap around him. I watch his lips suck on her neck. I stand there like a lovesick idiot and watch it all, wanting to be him, jealous that I’m not. Jayson stumbles off with her, and I watch that, too.
“Hey.” Jacinda slides in next to me, holding out a bottle.
I take it.
Bad decisions are always made when heartbreak and beer are involved.