Chapter 19
R en
This was humiliating. Not only did I have to wear this stupid green jumpsuit that was so big I had to roll up the legs and arms like ten times, but we’d been assigned to litter duty.
A couple of the garbage cans were knocked over, and all the wrappers, cans, and snot rags were blowing around on the front lawn of the school.
If they decided to make chasing garbage around an Olympic sport, I would get gold.
Nash had sat back and laughed as I sprinted across the lawn after a takeout bag that blew away.
Now here I was wandering around behind him with a garbage bag as big as I was.
Of course, he took the fun job of stabbing the runaway trash like he was spearfishing with a sharp stick.
“Keep up, Princess, I have other things to do tonight,” Nash said, and it was good that I wasn’t the one holding the sharp tool, or I would’ve used it on him a dozen times already.
“I’m so sorry I’m not as tall as you, your Highness,” I said, scowling at his back as we trudged through ankle-deep snow. It wasn’t super deep, but I was still half his size. I couldn’t move that fast unless I ran, and there was no way in hell I was going to look like his dog trotting beside him.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Um…have you seen me? I don’t have your stride length.
Add in slippery snow, and I’m way slower.
” I shivered as the wind picked up, swirling the snow around.
“Besides, our community service is based on time, not how far we get. I’m not even sure why we are out here.
The stuff is blowing away faster than we can get to it. ”
“Use my footprints,” he said, stabbing three potato chip bags. I was ready to throttle him or maybe dump my bag on his head.
I wanted to yell, I already am asshole.
“I’m not arguing with you about my speed. We need a new bag. This one can’t fit anymore, and it’s slowing me down.” I was looking down to follow his tracks when I slammed into him.
Stumbling back, Nash grabbed my arm and helped keep me steady.
“Can you warn me before you stop,” I asked.
“I could’ve stabbed myself on your stick.
” As the last word tumbled from my mouth, I cringed.
The instant smile that spread across Nash’s face told me he was thinking the same thing.
I held up my finger. “Don’t do it. Not what I meant. ”
He licked his bottom lip and looked me up and down like I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing, and I suddenly wanted to lay down in the snow and cool off.
“Where’s the fun in that? Besides, you really should watch where you’re going.
It would be a shame if you were stuck by a random stick that wasn’t mine.
” One side of his mouth pulled up into a wicked, lop-sided grin.
“Go ahead, Princess, smack me and see what happens. I could really go for something more fun to do in this snow than pick up garbage.”
So many things to say ran through my mind, but I took the high road. Glaring at Nash, I turned around and walked back the way we came.
“You know those coveralls make your ass look adorable,” he said.
“I didn’t realize you were into the I just shit my drawers look,” I said and once more wanted to smack myself.
What the hell was wrong with me today? I was hanging around Myles too much.
That had to be it. Nash laughed, and I couldn’t help but join in.
He looked different when I glanced over my shoulder.
His normal I’ll tear your heart out broody look was almost gone.
“Seriously, though, not many people can pull off garbage picker attire, but you do it well. The way it hugs your body in all the right places is making me hard in all the right places.”
Don’t do it, don’t say anything. He’s after a response.
My new mantra was running on a steady loop through my mind.
“I love how you think you can ignore me.”
“I thought I was doing an excellent job of it.”
“No, you’re doing an excellent job of pretending to ignore me, but under all those layers, your body is screaming for me to touch you.”
“Ha! I’d rather cuddle a grizzly, sit on a cactus, or go swimming with great whites than have you touch me like that. You, on the other hand, can’t keep your hands to yourself, so I’d stop projecting.”
Reaching the sidewalk, I kicked the snow off my work boots, but it was useless. We’d been out in the snow for over an hour, and I didn’t want to ruin my good hiking boots, so my feet were two blocks of ice. All I could think about was a hot shower.
“Do you want me to prove you wrong?” I froze and looked up at Nash.
“What I want is for us to be done, a coffee and a hot shower, but there’s still forty-five minutes left.
” I pulled my toque down lower on my head and shivered as the wind blew my hair around my face and rustled the garbage bag.
Nash stood there so long that I thought for sure he was going to mouth off again, but instead, he just said he’d be right back with more bags and walked away.
Taking the few awarded minutes away from Nash, I turned to stare at the forest on the far side of the property.
Two guards walked casually along the path, and I watched them until they disappeared behind the sports complex.
That was the direction of home. If the attack hadn’t happened, I’d be sitting in Mum’s room while she knitted.
We would be talking about my day at school while dinner was in the oven, something simple like a casserole for me and a vitamin-packed shake for her.
Just looking North made me long to see home again and hug Lizzy.
We still texted every day, but it wasn’t the same as seeing her, and we were both busy.
It felt like we were drifting apart a little more each day, and I hated it.
Laughter, like from cackling witches, erupted behind me. “This uniform is far more appropriate for you.” I didn’t need to look to know the sound of Vicky’s grating voice.
“Funny because I was thinking that with all the garbage you spew, picking up trash would be where you feel the most at home.” I turned to face her and what seemed like the entire cheerleading squad. I tapped my chin. “Or was that a shit collector?”
Vicky crossed her arms, and the other girls followed suit. Hello Stepford Wives , what the fuck was up with that?
“What do you want, Vicky? Have you run out of puppies to kick?” I glanced at the forest. “Maybe you should go play in the forest and find some other innocent creatures to abuse. If you get lost, I promise I’ll come looking for you.”
The collective sucking of teeth wigged me out more than anything else could. It sounded like snakes were dropped from the sky in front of me.
“We’re here to tell you to leave our men alone.” Vicky looked serious, but I couldn’t help laughing. “I mean it. Stay away from our men.”
“You’ve lost it for real. Aside from Nash, who the hell are you even talking about?”
A pretty brunette stepped forward, her hazel eyes vicious as she glared at me. “Blake is mine, and I saw you flirting with him.”
“Does Blake know he’s yours,” I asked, and all the girls covered their mouths.
“See, I told you she was a bitch,” Vicky said, stepping in closer to me.
“It’s a legit question because he’s never mentioned you…whatever your name is.” Her eyes bugged out of her head, and I really needed to shut up before I made an enemy of everyone.
“Axel is mine, and you keep screwing things up for me. You kissed him at the party he took me to, and now he’s suddenly panting after you. Then you go and get his face messed up. Coach said that he will take like a month to heal.”
I lifted a brow at her. “There is so much wrong with all of that statement. First, yes, I kissed Axel, but he said he didn’t have a girlfriend.
Second, I didn’t mess up his face. He did that all on his own by being a dick wagging, douche canoe.
Third, you need better taste because he is a psycho.
Fourth, I’d rather eat this garbage than touch him, and finally, when he told you he wouldn’t be healed by next month, did he happen to ask for you to make him feel better by getting on your knees? ”
Their collective gasp made me cringe. Did they all step out of the same packaging at the same time?
“I told you we need to teach her a lesson,” Vicky said, and my back stiffened.
“Yeah, let’s get her,” Raquel said, and as much as I didn’t want to retreat from them, I took a step backward.
They lunged at me as a group, and in my rush to turn and run, I slipped on the snowy ground, landing hard on my side.
Yelling, I ended up in a tug-o-war match with the girls, who sounded like a flock of ravens as they screeched at me.
My hat went flying, and claw-like fingers dug into my head and pulled my hair.
“Get off of me!” I swatted at the closest pair of legs, and someone yelled as my fist connected. “Get off of me,” I screamed again, trying to get up. But I was stuck on my back like a turtle on its shell.
Vicky heaved hard on the bag, and it pulled me slightly off the ground before ripping open. I was instantly covered in all the garbage I’d just collected. The howling laughter made my blood boil as I pushed off the disgusting filth.
“Quick, take a photo,” Vicky said as phones were pulled out.
My heart was pounding as I pushed myself up, seething with rage.
“Hey!” Nash’s booming voice shut the cackling up.
Vicky dramatically flopped on the ground beside where I’d been lying a moment ago.
“You bitch! You tripped me,” Vicky said, and I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
“Well, you’d make a great soccer player,” I mumbled as I watched her roll around, holding her shin like I’d kicked her.
“It hurts so bad. Nash, help me,” Vicky whined as he walked through the group of girls standing around in a perfect arc.
I sucked in a deep breath, ready to defend myself all over again, but instead, he lifted a brow at Vicky lying in the snow before looking at me.
“Are you okay?”