Chapter 24 #2
Maybe I should have paid closer attention to him and where he went for high school. So I could keep track of things like that.
“Any new texts?” Hawk asks. He reaches over and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
I shake my head. “I blocked the number. Not that it will keep him from using another number.”
My chest tightens. I don’t know for sure it’s Jackson, but I feel like it is. I don’t know when he’ll show up again. Maybe he won’t. Maybe he just wanted to scare me because I ghosted him. What if it’s just a joke to him? And it’s tearing me up inside for nothing?
I can’t think about it. There’s too much that needs to happen tonight at the party. I don’t need to worry about him because I have the guys. They’re going to protect me. Take care of me. Damon’s shin rests against my back.
Mia turns to smile at me around her lollipop and give me a wink. She nudges me and jerks her chin toward the steps. I turn to look and see Olivia coming our way.
She comes down the aisle and stops directly in front of us. Her two friends stop behind her, effectively blocking the game.
“You’re in the way,” Damon says, leaning back against the bleachers behind him.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny, Damon.” She glances at me. “I suppose you’re as good a whore as any for him to use.”
Mia stands and gets between me and Olivia. “My brother and I talk, Olivia.” She looks Olivia up and down with disdain. “He said you were a decent fuck. A little too eager to get him into bed. Chase told him the only way to shut you up was to fuck your throat.”
My breath catches. How long has she known about Chase and Olivia? Since that party when I found out about his cheating? But I continued to date him. She’s supposed to be my friend. Why wouldn’t she say anything?
“Whatever.” Olivia gets up in Mia’s face. “You don’t belong here. You should go back to whatever public school rejected you.”
Mia laughs and her face turns serious. “You don’t know half of the shit that went down at my old school.
” Hands on her hips, she looks Olivia up and down like she’s taking her measure.
“Our queen bee doesn’t offer people money to stop looking at her man.
No, she gets real inventive. You wouldn’t last a day there.
She’d smack you down in an instant. If she didn’t, someone else would put you in your place. ”
“Why am I not surprised? Violence is, of course, the answer. How common of you.” Olivia looks at Mia like she’s beneath her, but she doesn’t back down.
“You don’t scare me, Mia. I’ve known girls like you all my life.
The ones who can only get guys by putting out.
” She pouts. “How’s that going for you here? ”
“Just fine actually. Thanks for asking.” Mia straightens and smiles politely. “Fuck off. No one wants you here.”
Olivia glares at Mia before looking at Damon.
“Damon,” she says it like he should stand up for her.
Damon leans forward and wraps his arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on my head. “Take a hint.”
She stomps her foot and walks away. Her lackeys follow after her.
Mia sits back down as Damon straightens. He watches her warily, but she doesn’t say anything to him. She does turn to me.
“When I told Tanner about Chase cheating on you last weekend, he told me what Chase told him about Olivia. I didn’t want to say anything since you seemed to want to get back with the fucker.” Mia shrugs. “I’m also not great at having female friends. And I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.”
I open my mouth, but I don’t know what to say.
She sighs and looks up at Damon. “Nice move, by the way. Very possessive grrr energy. I approve.”
“Mia…” What do I say?
“Evan, I thought I was hot shit at my last school.” She blows out a breath.
“My brother pulled a dickhead move with one of the top dog’s sister.
I didn’t know the whole story until later.
But he fucked up and deserved the shit they rained down on him.
I thought he was just dating her because she was a freshman. ”
Her eyes glaze over as she stares at the football field.
“I didn’t know how far he had taken it, or I would have beat his ass myself.” She shakes her head and looks at me. “He’s my brother. So I have to stand by him. I know none of this sounds good or like someone you’d want to be friends with. I also understand why you held things back from me.”
She glances at Damon, Hawk, and Cam before returning her gaze to me.
“Honestly, I think they really like you. Trust me, I tested them to see if they could be led astray. I didn’t even have to flirt five minutes with Chase to know he’d be all up on me if I let him.” She shakes her head. “But I want you to know, I wouldn’t take it there.”
“I’ve never really had a friend since elementary school.” I shrug. “I’m not sure how this whole thing works, but if you want to still be friends, I’m okay with it.”
Damon lightly tugs my hair and I tip my face toward him. His eyes narrow slightly, and I can tell he’s still not a Mia fan. I get it. Is she telling me all this to cover up any wrongdoings? Or is she being honest?
Only time will tell.